Book 20, Question 22
What Do Mountain Words Like Peak, Ridge, and Saddle Mean?
Mountain words help people describe places exactly! A peak is the high point, a ridge is a long line of high ground, and a saddle is a dip between two peaks. Let's learn a few more.
More fun facts
- A gap is a low area between two higher landmasses, such as mountains.
- The most rugged gaps are often called notches, and they usually have steep cliffs on either side.
- Wide gaps are sometimes called saddlebacks because they have the shape of a saddle.
- There are Saddleback Mountains in Maine, Arizona, and Australia.
- Outside the United States, gaps are often called cols.
- The South Col is the gap between Mount Everest and Lhotse, and it is the most popular spot for climbers' final camp.
- A pass is a gap in a mountain ridge that gives people an easier route across.
Sources: National Geographic Education, National Geographic Education
Questions kids ask
What is a col?
A col is another name for a gap, the low point between two mountain peaks.