Why Are the Rocky Mountains Jagged but the Appalachians Rounded?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why are the Rocky Mountains jagged but the Appalachians rounded?

The Big Idea

Age makes the difference! The Rockies are young mountains with steep sides and sharp peaks, while the Appalachians are much older and have been worn down to rounded hills. Over time, mountains get smoother, like a pebble in a river.

Young Rockies

Step one: the young Rockies. The Rockies were mostly lifted up within the last 80 million years. That is young for mountains, so they still have steep sides and sharp peaks.

Icy Carving

Step two: glaciers carve. During cold ice ages, glaciers flowed down the Rockies and carved out bowls and ridges. That left behind pointy, jagged peaks and steep walls of rock.

Old Appalachians

Step three: the old Appalachians. They are over 400 million years old. Wind, rain, and ice wore them down to low, rounded hills, and they may once have been as tall as the Himalayas.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Rain washes tiny bits of rock downhill. Wind blows loose pieces away. Ice cracks rocks apart when water freezes in the gaps. After millions of years, the peaks turn into rounded hills.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The Rockies are about 80 million years old, which is young for mountains. The Appalachians are more than 400 million years old. Mountains do not stay the same forever, even though they seem so solid. They slowly get smoother as they get older.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Look at a brand new crayon and a worn-down crayon. Which one is sharper? Rocks wear down in the same way, only much, much slower! Share what you discover with a grown-up.

Outro

Young mountains are jagged, and old mountains are rounded. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!