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Lesson of The Week-  

Quote of the Day: 

 If a man has a "why" he can overcome almost any "how". 

                                     -Friedrich Nietzsche

See you all next week!  

Smile, laugh and enjoy your life and learning!

 Aloha- I have spent a lot of time on Mauna Kea, the world's highest mountain when measured from the ocean floor.  I was wondering recently what are the other great mountains of the world and I decided to pursue this thought with you all.  Mountains have been revered by ancient cultures for a long time and serve as symbols of grandness, endurance and wisdom.  Do you have any mountains near you?  What is your relationship to them? 

Lets look at some of the great mountains of the world.

Theme:  Mountains of the World

Reading

Writing

Grammar Revisited:   hafta & hasta

Listening

Tall mountains have different climatic conditions at the top than at the base, and will thus have different life zones at different altitudes. At the highest elevations, trees cannot grow, and whatever life may be present will be of the alpine type, resembling tundra. Just below the tree line, one may find subalpine forests of needleleaf trees, which can withstand cold, dry conditions.

In regions with dry climates, the tendency of mountains to have higher precipitation as well as lower temperatures also provides for varying conditions, which in turn lead to differing flora and fauna. Some plants and animals found in these zones tend to become isolated since the conditions above and below a particular zone will be inhospitable and thus constrain their movements or dispersal. On the other hand, birds, being capable of flight, may take advantage of montane habitats and migrate into a region which would otherwise not provide appropriate habitat. These isolated ecological systems, or microclimates, are known as sky islands.

The reason mountains are colder than lowlands has to do with how the sun heats the surface of the earth. The sun's radiation is absorbed by land and sea, whence the heat then radiates into the air. The density of air decreases at higher altitudes, and with the thinning of the atmosphere, the insulating effect of the air decreases, resulting in less heat retention. Thus, air temperature decreases with an increase in altitude at a general rate, called the lapse rate, of 5.5°C per 1,000 m (3°F per 3,000 ft).

Mountains are generally less preferable for human habitation than lowlands; the weather is often harsher, and there is little level ground suitable for agriculture. At very high altitudes, there is less oxygen in the air and less protection against solar radiation (UV). Acute mountain sickness (caused by hypoxia - a lack of oxygen in the blood) affects over half of lowlanders who spend more than a few hours above 3,500 meters (11,483 ft).

Many mountains and mountain ranges throughout the world have been left in their natural state, and are today primarily used for recreation, while others are used for logging, mining, grazing, or see little use. Some mountains offer spectacular views from their summits, while others are densely wooded. Summit accessibility is affected by height, steepness, latitude, terrain, weather. Roads, lifts, or tramways affect accessibility. Hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, rock climbing, ice climbing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding are recreational activities enjoyed on mountains. Mountains that support heavy recreational use (especially downhill skiing) are often the locations of mountain resorts.

Mountains are made up of earth and rock materials. The outermost layer of the Earth or the Earth's crust is composed of six plates. When two plates move or collide each other, vast land areas are uplifted, resulting in the formation of mountains. Depending upon the geological process, as to how the mountains are formed and the mountain characteristics, there are five major types of mountains.

Fold Mountains: Fold mountains are the most common type of mountains. Examples of fold mountains are the Himalayas (Asia), the Alps (Europe). They are formed due to collision of two plates, causing folding of the Earth's crust. The fold that descends on both sides is called anticline; whereas, the fold that ascends from a common low point (on both sides) is called syncline.

Fault-Block Mountains: As the name suggests, fault mountains or fault-block mountains are formed when blocks of rock materials slide along faults in the Earth's crust. There are two types of block mountains, namely the lifted and tilted. In the former type, the mountain has two steep sides; whereas, the tilted type has one steep side and gentle sloping side. Example of fault-block mountain is the Sierra Nevada mountains (North America).

Volcanic Mountains: Volcanic mountains are formed due to volcanic eruptions, for e.g. Mount Fuji (Japan). They are formed when volcanic magma erupts and piles up on the surface of the Earth.

Dome Mountains: Dome mountains are formed when the hot magma rises from the mantle and uplifts the overlying sedimentary layer of the Earth's crust. In the process, the magma is not erupted, but it cools down and forms the core of the mountain. Example of dome mountain is the Navajo Mountain in Utah. They are called dome mountains due to their appearance that resembles dome shape.

Plateau Mountains: Plateau mountains are pseudo mountains that are formed because of erosion. An example of plateau mountain is the Catskill Mountains (New York). They usually occur near the fold mountain ranges.

There are also some mountains that are formed as a result of many forces of the Earth. Though the Rockies in North America is formed due to folding, there are mountains in the same range that are formed by faulting and doming. In nature, there is a continuous process of glaciation, soil erosion, and mechanical and chemical weathering, which altogether play a major role in altering the shape and characteristics of mountains.

Name	Country	Continent	Meters	Feet
Mount Everest	China, Nepal	Asia	8,850	29,035
K2	China, Pakistan	Asia	8,611	28,251
Kangchenjunga	India, Nepal	Asia	8,586	28,169
Lhotse	China, Nepal	Asia	8,516	27,940
Makalu	China, Nepal	Asia	8,485	27,838
Kangchenjunga South	India, Nepal	Asia	8,76	27,808
Lhotse Middle	Nepal	Asia	8,430	27,657
Kangchenjunga West	Nepal	Asia	8,420	27,25
Lhotse Shar	Nepal	Asia	8,400	27,559
Cho Oyu	China, Nepal	Asia	8,201	26,906

Look at this list of the top ten highest peaks in the world when measured from sea level.  Make 10 comments based on the data.  Go To: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-worlds-tallest-mountains.htm for additional research.  The goal is to look at data and then make some analytical comments.

Please answer the following questions in your journal.  Try to write in complete sentences and give detailed answers.

1.  Write about an experience

     you had with a mountain.

2.  Why do mountains

     symbolize to humans?

3.  What are ways in which we

     can enjoy a mountain and

     what features make it

     enjoyable?

4.   Tell about the most famous

      mountain in your country.

5.  Geologically what type of

     mountain is it? (#4)

hafta = have to      hasta = has to     = must

This is a non professional (casual) pronunciation that is never written but commonly used in friendly conversation.

I hafta go soon

I hafta but some milk before I go home.

They hafta win this game to go on to the finals.

She hasta work overtime tonight.

Jill hasta pick up her kids at 2PM.

Our family hasta sing at the show on Friday.

Speaking

Mountain Idioms

a mountain to climb = a difficult task

To win the championship this year...well that quite a miountaint o climb, but if we focus and work hard anything is possible

a mountain of ____ = a lot of

Jim is struggling with a mountain of debt.

We have a mountain of trouble to face when we get back.

Olympus Mons

Did you know?

Olympus Mons (Latin for "Mount Olympus") is a mountain which is located on the planet Mars.

It is a little under three times as tall as Mount Everest, and is in fact the tallest known volcano and mountain in the Solar System.

Mount Olympus was formed during Mars' Amazonian epoch. Since the late 19th century — well before space probes confirmed its identity as a mountain.

Olympus Mons is a shield volcano just like Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa on the Big Island of Hawaii.  It is 21 kilometers high!!!

This is a sad story but what does it say about the human spirit that people will risk death to get to the top of a mountain?