Massif
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In geology, a massif is a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole. The term is also used to refer to a group of mountains formed by such a structure. In mountaineering and climbing literature, a massif is frequently used to denote the main mass of an individual mountain. The massif is a smaller structural unit of the crust than a tectonic plate.
The word is taken from French (in which the word also means "massive"), where it is used to refer to a large mountain mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range. One of the most notable European examples of a massif is the Massif Central of the Auvergne region of France.
The Face on Mars is an example of an extraterrestrial massif.[1]
Contents |
[edit] List of massifs
[edit] Africa
[edit] Antarctica
[edit] Asia
- Annapurna Massif - Nepal
- Chu Pong Massif - Vietnam (overlooks site of Battle of Ia Drang)
- Hazaran - Iran
- Kangchenjunga Massif - India
- Daisetsuzan National Park - Japan
- Kondyor Massif - Russian Federation
- Kugitangtau Ridge - Turkmenistan
- Nun Kun- India
- Panchchuli Massif - India
- Logar ultrabasite massif - Logar, Afghanistan
[edit] Europe
- Armorican Massif - Brittany, France
- Ceahlău Massif - Romania
- Chartreuse Massif - France
- Cornubian Massif - United Kingdom
- Jungfrau Massif - Switzerland
- Long Mynd - England, United Kingdom
- Massif Central - France
- Massif Montgris - Spain
- Mont Blanc Massif- Italy/France
- Vitosha Massif - Bulgaria
- Bristol Massif - United Kingdom
[edit] North America
- Juneau Massif - Juneau, Alaska
- Edziza Massif - British Columbia, Canada
- Laurentian Massif - Quebec, Canada (French: Massif des Laurentides)
- Le Massif - a ski mountain northeast of Quebec City, Canada
- Lincoln Massif - Lincoln, Vermont
- Massif Mountains - a high range of mountains in Haiti
- Meager Massif - British Columbia, Canada
- Logan Massif - Yukon, Canada
[edit] Oceania
- Big Ben Massif - Heard Island
[edit] South America
[edit] Submerged
- Atlantis Massif - part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean.
[edit] References
- ^ Britt, Robert Roy (2006-09-21). "Mars Face Makeover: Controversial Formation Observed from New Angles". Space.com. http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/060921_mars_images.html. Retrieved on 2009-05-04.
