- Mittelgebirge
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A Mittelgebirge (singular, the term is German) is a relatively low mountain range, a typical geographical feature of Central Europe, especially Central and Southern Germany; it refers to something between hill country (German: Hügelland) and a proper mountain range (German: Gebirge or Hochgebirge). The term is not precise, but typically refers to topography where the peaks rise at least 200 metres (660 ft) to 500 metres (1,600 ft) above the surrounding terrain (as opposed to above sea level). In contrast, Hochgebirge (e.g. the High Alps) is used to refer to mountain ranges rising above approximately 1,500 metres (4,900 ft).
Well-known examples are e.g. in Germany the Black Forest, the Swabian Alb and its eastern continuation, the Franconian Jura, in Hungary the Mátra, in France the Vosges and the Massif Central, in Belgium and Luxembourg the Ardennes, in Britain the pikes of the Lake District, the Pennines, the Scottish Highlands and the Snowdon Massif, in Ireland the Macgillycuddy's Reeks, in the United States some ranges of the Appalachians, such as the Green Mountains (Vermont).
In the plural, die Mittelgebirge usually refers to the Central Uplands of Germany which is a belt of low mountain ranges or hills between the Northern Lowland and the Alpine Foreland.[1]
References
- ^ Dickinson, Robert E (1964). Germany: A regional and economic geography (2nd ed.). London: Methuen, p. 18 ff. ASIN B000IOFSEQ.
Categories:- Geomorphology
- Geology stubs
- Germany stubs
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