#mountain range

• Ala Shan — A proper noun designating a massive desert region and a correlated mountain range located in the western part of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China, forming a major structural subdivision within the extended ecological system of the Gobi Desert; it also represents the name of a vast administrative league (Alxa) managing this arid territory. This geographical plateau of outstanding geoclimatic importance is structurally characterized by giant sand dunes among the highest on Earth, isolated interdunal saline lakes, and fragile ecosystems legally protected against accelerated desertification in Central Asia.
• Alatau — A generic geographical name of Turkic origin attributed to several branched mountain ranges and massifs within the Tian Shan, Altai, and southern Siberian or Central Asian regions (such as the Dzungarian Alatau, Trans-Ili Alatau, or Kuznetsk Alatau); a large structural mountainous relief characterized by high ridges, alpine glaciers, and deep valleys. These massifs play a crucial climatic and hydrological role within the transboundary river basins of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, China, and the Russian Federation.
• Allegheny Mountains — The established Romanian name for the Allegheny Mountains, a mountain range in eastern North America that forms part of the Appalachian Mountain system. This major geographic region extends through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia, characterized by high plateaus cut by deep valleys and rivers, and well known for its rich coal deposits and forestry resources.
• Alpen — The German or frequent international designation for the Alps, the largest and highest mountain range located entirely within the European continent. It also represents the name of a municipality and historical settlement in the North Rhine-Westphalia state, Germany. In a structural geographical context, the term serves as an onomastic root for numerous concepts related to mountain topography, glaciology, and high-altitude tourism.
• The Alps — The most important, extensive, and highest mountain range located entirely within the European continent, stretching as a structural arc across the territory of eight states (including Switzerland, France, Italy, and Austria). This mountain massif, with its highest peak at Mont Blanc (4810 m), represents the central hydrographic, climatic, and tourist hub of Western Europe, marked by imposing glacial landforms.
• Altai — A massive mountain system in Central Asia, stretching as a structural arc across the borders of Russia, Kazakhstan, China, and Mongolia; it also designates an autonomous republic within the Russian Federation (Altai Republic). This geographic region is renowned for its spectacular alpine landscapes, unique biodiversity, rich mineral deposits, and historical significance as the cradle of the Altaic languages and various ancient nomadic cultures.
• Altyn Tagh — A major mountain range located in Central Asia, northwestern China, forming a natural geographical barrier between the Tarim Basin and the Tibetan Plateau. This arid and massive mountain system is characterized by high peaks, an extremely dry climate, and high-altitude desert landscapes, playing a crucial role in shaping the hydrology and climate of the surrounding regions.
• Anti-Lebanon — A mountain range located in the Near East, oriented from northeast to southwest, extending along the border between Lebanon and Syria; structurally, it develops parallel to the Lebanon mountain range, separated from it by the fertile Bekaa Valley. The highest peak of this mountain system is Mount Hermon, a region of major strategic and hydrographic importance for the entire area.
• Anti-Taurus — A mountain range located in the southern and eastern region of Turkey (Anatolia), representing a structural extension and a northeastern branch of the main Taurus mountain system. This mountain massif, characterized by spectacular karst topography, deep valleys, and peaks that often exceed three thousand meters in altitude, functions as a natural geographic barrier between the Anatolian plateau and the Mesopotamian plains.
• Andes — The Romanian designation for the Andean Cordillera, the longest continental mountain range in the world, located along the west coast of South America; a massive mountain system traversing seven states, characterized by high volcanic peaks, vast plateaus, and a crucial role in defining continental climate and biodiversity.
• Appalachians — A massive and ancient mountain range located in eastern North America, extending from the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador to the state of Alabama in the southern United States. This structural mountain system is characterized by rolling terrain, parallel forested ridges, and rich coal resources, being famous for its forest biodiversity and the long, famous Appalachian Trail.
• Apennines — A major mountain range located in Italy, stretching for approximately 1200 kilometers along the entire length of the Italian Peninsula, forming its geographical and hydrographic backbone. This mountain system, characterized by spectacular karst relief and latent seismic activity, reaches its maximum altitude in the Gran Sasso massif.