HUMAN ACTIVITIES IN FOLD MOUNTAINS AREAS

Farming : Higher mountain slopes aren’t great for growing crops so they’re used to graze animals, e.g.

mountain goats. Lower slopes are used to grow crops. Steep slopes are sometimes terraced to make

growing crops easier.

Hydro-electric power (HEP)

Steep-sided mountains and high lakes (to store water) make fold mountains ideal for generating hydro-

electric power.

Mining

Fold mountains are a major source of metal ores, so there’s a lot of mining going on. The steep slopes

make access to the mines difficult, so zig-zag roads have been carved out on the sides of some

mountains to get to them.

Forestry

Fold mountain ranges are a good environment to grow some types of tree (e.g. conifers). They’re grown

on the steep valley slopes and are used for things like fuel, building materials, and to make things like

paper and furniture.

Tourism

Fold mountains have spectacular scenery, which attracts tourists. In winter, people visit to do sports

like skiing, snowboarding, and ice climbing. In summer, walkers come to enjoy the scenery. Tunnels have

been drilled through some fold mountains to make straight, fast roads. This improve communications

for tourists and people who live in the area as it’s quicker to get to places.