Hill chain

The chain-like arrangement of hills in a chain is a consequence of their collective formation by mountain building forces or ice age earth movements. Hill chains generally have a uniform geological age, but may comprise several types of rock or sediment.

Hill chains normally form a watershed. They are crossed by roads that often use a natural saddle in the terrain.

Examples

• the Argonne hill chain, in France.
• the Fläming south of Berlin in Germany.
• the Malvern Hills in central England.
• the ridge between the Taunus and Vogelsberg, which lies south of Giessen and forms the watershed between the Lahn valley and the Wetterau in Germany.