1 \u2013 Around 20 percent of the Earth\u2019s surface is covered with mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2 \u2013 There are mountains and mountain ranges in the ocean. Many islands are actually the tops of mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3 \u2013 Half of the world\u2019s population depends on mountain water. The mountains are a store house of water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4 \u2013 About 80 per cent of our planet\u2019s fresh water originates in the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 \u2013 Mountains occur on all continents , in all latitude zones , from arid hot desert and tropical forest to arid polar icecaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6 \u2013 Mountain ecosystems are important for biological diversity , particularly in the tropics and warmer temperate latitudes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
7 \u2013 Mountain are often rich in endemic species.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
8 \u2013 The world\u2019s mountains encompass some of the most spectacular landscapes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
9 \u2013 They are also a natural sanctuary for some animals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
10 \u2013 On the top there are birds and insects and the lowest parts , goats and sheep are found.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
11 \u2013 Water from mountains is also used for irrigation and generation of hydro-electricity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
12 \u2013 Mountains play a critical role in the water cycle by capturing moisture from air masses; when this precipitation falls as snow , it is stored until it melts in the spring and summer , providing essential water for settlements , agriculture and industries downstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
13 \u2013 In semi-arid and arid regions , over 90 percent of river flow comes from the mountains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
14 \u2013 Most of the world\u2019s rivers are fed from mountain sources , with snow acting as a storage mechanism for downstream users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n