1Living on Top of the World
Imagine looking out your bedroom window and seeing a giant, snow-capped peak every single day! In mountain countries like Bhutan, Nepal, and Switzerland, the landscape is shaped by massive rocky towers and very little flat ground. Bhutan is actually the highest country in the world, with an average elevation of over 10,000 feet! Because the air is thinner high up, people who live there have adapted to the altitude. To make use of the steep land, farmers create 'staircases' on the hillsides called terraces. This clever engineering allows them to grow crops like rice and potatoes on land that would otherwise be too slanted to plant anything!
2Clever Ways to Get Around
When your neighbor lives on the other side of a deep valley, you can't just walk across the street. People in mountain countries have invented incredible ways to travel. Instead of long, winding roads that take hours to drive, many places use cable cars or gondolas to zip high above the trees from one peak to another. Engineers also dig massive tunnels right through the middle of solid rock mountains. Switzerland is home to the Gotthard Base Tunnel, which is the longest railway tunnel in the world, stretching over 35 miles deep underground! This helps trains carry people and goods across the Alps in record time.
3Nature’s Giant Water Towers
Mountains are more than just beautiful views; they are like giant water towers for our planet. About 20% of the world's land is covered by mountains, and they catch huge amounts of snow during the winter. When the weather warms up, that snow melts and flows down into rivers, providing fresh drinking water for billions of people. Living in these regions requires being very resourceful. People often build their homes from heavy stones found right in the mountainside to stay warm during chilly nights. From the high Himalayas to the European Alps, life in a mountain country is a daring adventure every single day!
