Firefly Guide to Mountains

by Scott, Doug

• ISBN13: 9781554070527
• ISBN10: 155407052X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-17
• Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd

Summary

An illustrated, concise reference to the Earth's mountains.This comprehensive and compact resource begins with an exploration of the powerful geological and other natural forces that create and shape mountains. Environmental sensitivity and unique weather conditions like snow and ice, avalanches and glaciers have lasting effects on mountains, and many diverse societies and economies exist in mountainous regions.This easy-to-use guidebook features an atlas of the world's major mountain regions that shows topography with detailed descriptions and informative tables of key facts and figures.Guide to Mountains is an ideal and handy quick-reference book that naturalists, mountain climbers, skiers, hikers, and travelers of all ages will enjoy and find useful.

Author Biography

Doug Scott, CBE, has made 45 expeditions to the high mountains of Asia. He has reached the summit of 40 peaks, of which half were first ascents, and all were climbed by new routes or for the first time in Alpine Style climbing, without the use of artificial oxygen. He has reached the highest peaks on all seven continents -- "the seven summits." He is a past President of the Alpine Club and he was made a Commander of the British Empire in 1994. In 1999, Scott received the Royal Geographical Society Patron's Gold Medal.

Table of Contents

Introduction	p. 4
Mountain Formation	p. 6
Mountain Erosion	p. 14
Rocks	p. 19
Water and Rivers	p. 23
Snow and Ice	p. 27
Climate and Weather	p. 34
The Flora of Mountain Zones	p. 43
The Fauna of Mountain Zones	p. 63
Mountain People	p. 78
Mountain Economy	p. 112
Mountain Sports	p. 144
A History of Climbing	p. 168
Atlas of Mountains	p. 212
North America	p. 213
South America	p. 218
Europe	p. 223
Africa	p. 233
Asia	p. 235
Southeast Asia	p. 242
The Arctic	p. 246
Famous Mountains	p. 248
The National Parks	p. 255
Acknowledgments	p. 267
Index	p. 267
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

Excerpts

IntroductionThis is the most comprehensive Guide to Mountains available in a single volume. I'm sure it will appeal not only to those who need to know more about the mountains for their professions but also to those who wish to inform themselves before or after visiting mountain regions. The book is distinguished by the high-quality reproduction of the photographs, superb artworks and excellent mapping.As a former geography teacher; I find the early chapters on the formation and geology of the mountains, mountain erosion and weathering, and climate and weather of particular interest. They are surprisingly deep in content given the limited space available, and they'll be a useful reference for those embarking on mountain studies for the first time. There is also up-to-date information on the effect of global warming on the mountains themselves.The authors comment perceptively on the decline of mountain communities -- so many of which are heading down to the towns -- and provide sensible suggestions and practical steps to rectify this appalling situation. The history of mountaineering is brief yet impressively comprehensive, as is the atlas of mountains, even if space does not permit the inclusion of everyone's favorite haunts.The Guide to Mountains provides a solid grounding in mountain studies, and may inspire readers to embark upon studies of a more esoteric nature, such as mountains in art or poetry, or mountains as sacred to the many people who live among them.Doug Scott, CBE