The Alps are Young Fold mountains, formed during the Tertiary period (roughly 30–65 million years ago). In contrast, the Urals and Appalachians are “Old Fold mountains” from the Paleozoic era and the Aravallis are one of the world’s oldest relict ranges. Young mountains like the Alps are taller and more jagged due to recent tectonic uplift. ANSWER: (A) Alps
Share
The Alps belong to the Tertiary mountain-building phase, making them “Young” in geological terms. Unlike the Appalachians or the Urals, which have been eroded into low, rounded hills over 250 million years, the Alps retain extreme vertical relief and sharp, glaciated peaks. Geographically, they represent the central core of the Alpine-Himalayan belt. Their youth is evidenced by their high elevation and frequent seismic activity. In contrast, the Aravallis are “Old” or “Relict” mountains that have been so heavily weathered that they now exist as mere stumps of their former height.