Question 2
0 / 1 pts
What is this folding landform (N 27.79983 E 56.60040)? Why is this mountain a
topographic high?
If you are using Google Earth an eye altitude of 20 km allows you to see the entire
feature. Then, I recommend that you move to the eastern end of the topographic high
(N 27.805215° E 56.635427°) to look carefully at the orientation of the strata to the
north and to the south of this point.
This anticlinal mountain is a hard layer of rock at the top of the upfold.
This plateau was uplifted by normal faulting.
Correct Answer
This synclinal mountain is a hard layer of rock last preserved in the center of the downfold.
You Answered
This monoclinal mountain is a hard layer of rock preserved at the bend of the fold.
Sometimes anticlnes are topographic highs while synclines are topographic lows. However, more often
than not, the topographic reality is opposite of the structure. In this case, the center of the syncline is a
topographic high (a plateau more than a mountain). This is because a resistant layer of rock (resistant to
weathering and hence erosion) is preserved in the bottom of the structural syncline. See the lecture for
more explanation.
