Top 15 Most Beautiful Mountain Ranges Around the World and How to Enjoy Them
Mountains are some of the most beautiful landscapes on earth, they evoke
feelings of beauty as well as strength when you think of them standing tall
against the skies and spanning for miles. Many have tried to conquer them by
scaling their massive peaks, while others spend their lives exploring them.
Entire communities have spent their entire lives in mountainous regions,
trapping as well as skinning
animals and some still do today. Mountains can be places of deep snows and
harsh environments but they can also be places to build cabins and sit by
the fire to enjoy the snowy weather in comfort.
They are shining examples of nature in its purest form, both fierce and yet
comforting at the same time. Some are attracted to mountains for the challenge
or for thrills, while others seek them out for a vacation and relaxation. One
way or the other, it is mostly for a good time and fun. Here you will find the top 15 most beautiful mountain ranges
to visit and things to do while you are there.
15) Northwest Rocky
Mountains of Montana
Though the whole mountain range of the Rockies is over 3,000 miles long and
stretches from the upper regions of Canada to lower New Mexico, it is probably
in the state of Montana that the mountains are the most beautiful. They stand
tall at the western most border of the state and have snowy white caps almost
all year long. Only in the summer and the hottest days of spring is there no
snow to be found.
The Rockies of Montana
The Rockies were formed 55 to 80 million years ago during the Laramide
orogeny due to several plates shifting directly underneath North America. The
area was barren of human life until the end of the Ice Age when humans started
to cultivate it. After explorations by some Europeans, most notably Lewis and
Clark, the region became popular for mountain men after game and furs. Since
then, the land has not become widely populated, and Montana is one of the least
populated states. However, there are still wonderful things to do there.
Yellowstone National Park is easily one of the biggest places to
visit, sitting close to the town of Livingston. You can go and explore the area
either by car or on foot. The park is the home of Old Faithful, a hot water
geyser, that is so accurate it's become its own tourist spot located right
on the border of Montana and Wyoming. Inns and camp grounds sprinkle the area at
competitive prices, so no matter where you stay it's going to be at your own
personal comfort level.
Old Faithful at Yellowstone National Park
14) Matterhorn
Region of Italy
In the country of Italy, the mountainous region is known by three names. Mont
Cervin by the French, Matterhorn by the Germans and Italy has their own name
for it, Monte Cervin. The highest point of
the region is 14,690 feet, making it one of the highest of the Alps. One of the
most iconic areas of the Alps, it is a fun place to visit but deadly to climb.
Since 1865, more than 500 people have died trying to scale this mountain.
However, many more have survived and gone up the rocky surface to see the top.
Matterhorn
Many have taken the history as fascinating and a challenge, they visit every
year. These days there is the Matterhorn Museum to visit, which describes the
history from its formation to those who have climbed it. There are also many
railroads and cable cars so that you can get around more easily. Resorts like
the Sunnegga Ski Resort or Gorner Ridge, both of which are in the town of
Zermatt, are open year round and make it the perfect place to visit no matter what month it
is.
13) Ko'olau
Mountains of Hawaii
There is much more than just surfing and the beach to Hawaii, one of the
alternative spots to visit is the Ko'olau Mountain Range. Oddly enough, despite
its name and the fact that it's widely considered a range, it is actually only
just one mountain. In prehistoric times, the range was a single volcano that
erupted several time and grew for almost a million years. Sometime after it
became dormant, erosion from the sea claimed most of it and caused it to fall
into the ocean. The remaining large rock formation reaches up to 3,100 feet high
and is affectionately referred to as “windward” in the native tongue.
Ko'olau Mountains
One of the most interesting places to visit is the Ko'olau Golf Course, it's unique from several of Hawaii's normal locations with
its lack of an ocean view and rustic feel. The course is considered hard but a
good challenge and harnesses the feeling of golfing in a jungle. It's clearly
unorthodox in comparison to the rest of the state and for its one of a kind feel
is a must see.
12) Tetons of
Wyoming
The Tetons of Wyoming rest North of Montana, the range is part of the whole that
makes the Rocky Mountains stretch over two states. Its formation 6 to 9
million years ago makes it relatively young in comparison to others and has
left it with a striking view on many sides.
The Tentons of Wyoming
Due to its beautiful location, it has been used as the setting for many
mountain, cowboy movies and television shows over the years. Some of these
include a movie by the famous John Wayne, The Big Trail. Interestingly enough,
this was also his debut film.
It has its own national park called the Grand Teton National Park, the
location offers camping and vacation packages as well as tickets for short
visits along with several activities. There you can hike, go rafting, camp and
go fishing. Just outside the park are several villas for shopping and inns, just
in case you are not the camping type or want a more homey places to visit.
Several stores carry hand made crafts and items made right in the state.
Grand Tenton National Park
11) Lizard Range of
British Columbia, Canada
With such an odd name, it certainly grabs your attention and it's a fun
experience. It's one of the smaller
mountain ranges on the list and has little striking history to it. However, it
is in the present that these mountains are really amazing.
View of Lizard Range Mountains from Fernie, British
Colombia in Canada
By waferboard,
via
Wikimedia Commons
This range hosts the Fernie Alpine Resort, it's original name was once Fernie
Snow Valley before it was sold to a Canadian resort company in 1977. The resort
has skiing and snowboarding all year round because of the cold weather. It offers unique powder snow for easy skiing
in addition to the other fun activities it has to offer. The Fernie Alpine
Resort is ranked in the top ten of ski
resorts in Canada with almost a dozen lifts all over the mountain to save time
for its guests who wish to fully enjoy the snowy location.
Another nice location is the Lizard Creek Lodge in Fernie, British Columbia.
Many rooms come with small kitchens and spacey living rooms, endowing them with
the feel of an apartment. The design is specific for long stays, either a week
or longer, though prices are not constant and will depend on when you visit.
10) Dolomites of
Italy
The range of the Dolomites was first made famous in the time of World War One, at the time the line ran between the Italian and the Austro-Hungarian forces.
This line went all along and through the Dolomites, creating such a rich history
that several museums were erected celebrating the battles. Most of these can be
found at the location of Five Towers or Cinque Torri.
Dolomites of Italy
Many trails that were made during the war are now walking trails that
visitors can enjoy at their leisure, some of these places to visit can take
weeks to walk and have several huts along the way that hikers can
spend the night in before starting again in the morning. During the
winter months there are the classics of skiing and other snow sports. In the
summer when there is warm weather, there are attractions, like: hang gliding,
boating and bike riding. Resorts are open all year round for people who are
less into exploring the wild areas and enjoy the idea of relaxing in comfort
much more. Two such top ranked resorts are the Hotel Lorenzetti and the Hotel Spinale in Madonna di Campiglio.
9) Great Dividing
Range of Australia
The Great Dividing Range is Australia's largest mountain range and the third
longest land-based range in the world, separating the Eastern coast from the
inland. It stretches from the northeastern tip of Queensland, running along the
eastern coastline through New South Wales and into Victoria before fading into
the central plain at the Grampians, eastern Victoria. Prior to the European
settlement in 1788 the ranges were home to the Australian Aboriginal tribes, some decorated caves and trails left by them still exist today.
A popular town in the region is the area of Bright, which is not exactly a
town but a large range of land that offers many cottages and small apartments
to stay at. It‘s a peaceful atmosphere that can help you avoid being trapped in
a cramped hotel for days, many of the small houses for rent offer weekend or
week-long packages for prices as low as a few hundred dollars. There are also
many festivals in the Bright area but the specialization is cycling. There are
several races that take place in the area over different months and they are so
popular, many of them have grown into full fledged festivals.
8) Canadian Rockies
of Banff, Canada
In the northern country of Canada, the Rockies are comprised of the Canadian
region of Banff. The Canadian Pacific railway, completed in 1855, runs through
it for the transportation of goods and for commerce. There are five national
parks within the area of the Canadian Rockies and four of them are locked
together by borders. The four parks that are interlocked are Banff, Yoho,
Kootenay and Jasper. The final and fifth park, Waterton, is located away from
them to the south. The four previously mentioned together make the Canadian
Rocky Mountain Park World Heritage site, a nice place to visit.
Canadian Rockies of Banff
There are over 100 hotels in the area and some are specialized for certain
needs. The Georgetown Inn in Canmore is specifically for couples and rated the
number one romantic getaway of the area. Paradise Lodge on Lake Louise is more
for full families with large rooms and fully stocked kitchens. More than just
the large hotel, there are also several cabins to rent if you desire space and
privacy.
7) Sierra Nevada of
California
Running 400 miles north to the west and over 70 miles wide, the Sierra Nevada
range is not the largest in the world or even the country. However, it does have
the tallest peak in the United States at 14,505 feet.
Sierra Nevada in California
Today, the area has three national parks: Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings
Caynon. There are also 20 wilderness areas and two national monuments, one of
which is the Devil’s Postpile National Monument. With about ten towns in the
region, there are several places to stop and relax for the night while
sightseeing. Many of the towns are worth exploring with out of the way
museums and art galleries that are gems to run across.
Yosemite National Park
One of the cities that is great for a visit is Reno, gambling is legal there
and it provides fun that is more than just snowboarding or ski resorts. There is
also an active nightlife in the downtown district to keep things fresh and
energetic for you.
6) Andes of Peru
The Andes is recorded at being the longest mountain range in the entire world at 4,300 miles long and 120 miles wide, its peaks have an average height
of about 13,000 feet. Besides being the longest, it is almost the tallest as
well. It is beaten only by the ranges of Asia in height and has over 50
volcanoes spread throughout the region.
The Andes of Peru and the Ancient Incan City of Machu
Picchu
Due to the area being so large, it is no surprise that is has so many different
things going for it. Hiking trails are spread all over and there are many cities
as well as buildings to be explored that belonged to the Incas years ago. Aside
from just random buildings and abandoned cities is the Inca Temple of
the Sun, known as Qoricancha-Templo del Sol found in the ancient Incan city of
Machu Picchu. This historic landmark was made by
the Inca people who had the desire to study the sky.
For an area that is still active, the Plaza de Armes is great to visit. Originally built by the Incas, it is now a bustling shopping center in Cuzco. If
you want history mixed with local flavor, it’s a great place to go for a
souvenir or two.
5) Japanese Alps of
Japan
The Alps of Japan are actually several different mountain ranges that were first
named by William Gowland, an archeologist who was famous for his finding in
Japan. The area comprises of the Hida Mountains, Akaishi Mountains and the Kiso
Mountains. Aside from just tourism, it is a place to visit and travel to
for those on pilgrimages. People on a spiritual journey go to the highest peaks
for enlightenment and good health, one of the common destinations is Mount Ontake.
Japanese Alps
The Chubu Sangaku National Park is a well known tourist spot that offers
transportation between locations for ease of travel. Around the base of the
Alps, there are seven different cities that all have different sight seeing
spots including forests, castles, ski resorts and local commerce.
Many festivals take place over the year for different holidays and seasons,
giving any visitor plenty of activities as well as nice shows to enjoy no matter when
they come by to visit.
4) Chugach Mountains
of Alaska
The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the most northern set of the
several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western
edge of North America. Its length of 250 miles reaches from east to west,
extending from the Knik and Turngain Arms of the Cook Inlet on the west to
Bering to the Tana Glacier along to the Tana River on the east.
Chugach Mountains
The highest point of the Chugach Mountain is Mount Marcus Baker at 12,884
feet, residing along the Gulf of Alaska ensures an annual average of over 600
inches of snowfall.
The name Chugach is from an Eskimo tribal name recorded by Russian explorers,
which wrote them as Chugatz and Tchougatskoi until Captain William R.
Abercrombie of the United States Army spelled the name Chugatch in 1898 and
applied it to the range.
The mountains are protected in the Chugach State Park and the Chugach
National Forest. They are known for their popularity when it comes to outdoor
activities, like the World Extreme Skiing Championship that is annually held in
Chugach Mountains near Valdez.
3) Himalayas of
India and Asia
With a name that means “dwelling in snow” or “abode of the snow” it's certainly
obvious what to expect in this place to visit. A cold and snowy location, it is
famous for the highest peak in the world, Mt. Everest. The whole range started
its development over 70 million years ago when a plate started to move at only
15 cm per year. Thrusting up into the mountain range that we know today at the
Himilayas, the rocky formation continues to grow at a pace that is actually very
fast for mountains. They rise about 5 mm per year and while this does not seem
like very much, it means many people can actually watch the still active
mountains develop. As one of the still active ranges, this is an interesting
development to be able to observe as the years pass.
Himalayas of India and Asia
There are several ways to experience the range, either by free exploring or
by taking guided tours that are offered all year long. Going through lush
jungles, wide rivers and amazing cliffs provides adventure to any that might
want to find it. It is easily a land of beauty that you can get lost in, you might find yourself happy if you do.
2) Tian Shan of
Kyrgyzstan
This region has many different names by the locals, all with several meanings.
It is alternatively spelled Tien Shan and commonly called Heavenly Mountains or
Empyrean God. The surroundings are quite large and striking, truly deserving the
names that they have earned over the years. With a majestic beauty unlike
any other, the area offers a calm and serene atmosphere. It's a perfect
place for people who wish to get away from everyday life and relax. There are
also many legends surrounding the heavenly mountains, including the tale of
immortality-granting peaches. One of the common attractions is the legends
themselves, seeing them told and performed in the area’s many theaters. The
festivals in the capital Bishtek are especially popular and there are several
almost every month. Several renditions of legends are done annually, including
legends about the origins of Santa Claus in December.
1) Southern Alps of
New Zealand
These mountains were named by Captain James Cook in 1770, the range covers almost all the way along New Zealand's
south island even though it's not the tallest or longest range in the world. Its development has continued up to today from the past 45 million
years and in the last five years the growth has been the fastest for the
region.
The area is widely protected and almost inaccessible for the purpose of
preservation. However, it is still a wonderful place to visit because of its
beauty and activities. In Queenstown, many hot air balloon tours are given to
see the mountains and not disturb them. There is also a growing tour made after
the world hit movies, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which shows the locations
where shooting took place.
Final Words
Each of the mountains mentioned here is truly a glorious sight to behold and a
wonderful place to visit. With so many ranges that span around the world, anyone
would be hard pressed to find a more comforting place to stay. Like a mother
that wraps you up in her arms on a cold day then shares a hot cup of cocoa
with you, the resorts of the areas are all very warm and inviting. Beautiful
lands await you to come and see them, holding natural delights that need to be
seen in order to be believed. Animals of all types and various interesting
plants are there to be captured by your camera, in order to help you create
memories that will last you for the rest of your life.
Challenges await those that would wish to conquer these snowy rocks, climbing
up the rough surface in order to prove your physical fitness and sheer
tenaciousness. Prove that you can climb the peak of your life at any time by
visiting the mountains and going all the way to the top. There
surely isn't a better feeling than when you reach the very top and breathe in
the fresh cold air. Let it fill your lungs as you look out at the land
stretching below and know that you reached that special place under your very
own power. If there is a more empowering feeling than that in the world, people
have yet to discover it.
Find the mountains that are just right for you and go see them. Visit as a
hardcore visitor or a casual tourist in the mood to relax and lay back, there is
surely a perfect place for you to visit at one of these ranges.
