A mountain range is a large terrain, usually extending to the surrounding land in a limited area at the top of a mountain. A mountain is usually steeper than a mountain. Mountains are formed by tectonic forces or volcanism. These forces can raise the earth's surface locally. Mountains are gradually eroded by rivers, weather conditions and glaciers. A few mountains are isolated peaks, but most of them are in huge mountains.

Compared with the altitude, the climate in the mountainous area is colder. These colder climates have a strong impact on mountain ecosystems: there are different animals and plants at different altitudes. Due to less hospitable terrain and climate, mountains tend to be less used for agriculture and more used for resource exploitation and recreation, such as mountaineering.

The highest mountain range on earth is Mount Everest in the Himalayas of Asia, with a peak 8850 m (29035 ft) higher than average sea level. The highest known mountain range on any planet in the solar system is Mount Olympus on Mars, at 21171 m (69459 ft) above sea level.

There are three main types of mountains: Volcano, fold and block. All three types are formed by plate tectonics: when parts of the earth's crust move, collapse and subduction. Pressure, isostatic rise and igneous rock intrusion force the surface rock upward, thus forming a landform higher than the surrounding characteristics. The height of the element makes it a hill or, if higher and steeper, a mountain. Dashan body tends to appear in a long linear arc, indicating the boundary and activity of tectonic plates.