The Appalachians are considered Relict (or Residual) Mountains because they are the eroded remains of a once-towering range. Originally formed over 250 million years ago, they were once as high as the Alps. Millions of years of wind, water and ice have worn them down into the lower, rounded, forested hills we see today. ANSWER: (B) Appalachians
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In geomorphology, a Relict Mountain is one that has survived the long-term process of denudation. The Appalachians represent an ancient orogenic belt. While the Rockies and Cascades are geologically “young” with high, sharp peaks, the Appalachians are “old.” Their current height is a mere fraction of their original elevation. This range is a classic study in how mountain systems evolve over geological time; what we see today are the hard, resistant rock cores that have resisted erosion more successfully than the surrounding land, standing as a “residual” testament to ancient tectonic collisions.