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Massif

Principal mass of a mountain

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Through Mountain, Summit and Geology

As a purely scientific term in geology, however, a "massif" is separately and more specifically defined as a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or flexures. In the movement of the crust, a massif tends to retain its internal structure while being displaced as a whole. A massif is a smaller structural unit than a tectonic plate and is considered the fourth-largest driving force in geomorphology.

The word "massif" originates from French (in which the word also means "massive"), where it is used to refer to a large mountain mass or compact group of connected mountains forming an independent portion of a range. The Face on Mars is an example of an extraterrestrial massif. Massifs may also form underwater, as with the Atlantis Massif.

List

Africa

Algeria

Antarctica

  • Borg Massif
  • Craddock Massif
  • Cumpston Massif
  • Vinson Massif
  • Otway Massif

Asia

India

Iran

  • Dena
  • Hazaran
  • Kheru-Naru (Chekel)
  • Kholeno
  • Mount Damavand
  • Sabalan
  • Takht-e Suleyman Massif
  • Zard-Kuh

Kazakhstan

  • Degelen
  • Kokshetau Massif
  • Mount Ku
  • Myrzhyk
  • Semizbughy

Europe

  • Aarmassif – Switzerland
  • Ardennes Massif – France–Belgium–Luxembourg
  • Åreskutan – Sweden
  • Arlberg – Austria
  • Bohemian Massif – Czech Republic
  • Ceahlău Massif – Romania
  • Gotthard Massif – Switzerland
  • Hesperian Massif – Iberian Peninsula
  • Jungfrau Massif – Switzerland
  • Mangerton Mountain – Ireland
  • Montgris – Spain
  • Montserrat – Spain
  • Mont Blanc massif – Italy–France–Switzerland
  • Rhenish Massif – Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and France
  • Rila – Rhodope Massif – Bulgaria–Greece
  • Troodos – Cyprus
  • Untersberg – Germany–Austria
  • Vitosha Massif – Bulgaria

France

  • Alpilles
  • Aravis Range
  • Armorican Massif
  • Bauges Massif
  • Beaufortain Massif
  • Belledonne massif
  • Bornes Massif
  • Calanques Massif
  • Cerces Massif
  • Chablais Massif
  • Chartreuse Massif
  • Dévoluy Mountains
  • Massif des Écrins
  • Jura Mountains
  • Lauzière Massif
  • Luberon
  • Massif Central
  • Massif de l'Esterel
  • Massif du Mercantour-Argentera
  • Monte Cinto Massif
  • Taillefer Massif
  • Queyras Massif
  • Vanoise Massif
  • Vercors Plateau
  • Vosges Mountains

Italy

  • Gran Sasso d'Italia
  • Langkofel Group
  • Grappa Massif
  • Massiccio del Matese
  • Massiccio del Pollino
  • Monte Ermada
  • Sila Massif
  • Speikboden (South Tyrol)

United Kingdom

  • Ben Nevis massif
  • Cornubian Massif
  • Long Mynd
  • Snowdon Massif
  • Ben Klibreck
  • Cairngorms massifs
  • Scafell massif

North America

Canada

  • Laurentian Massif
  • Le Massif de Charlevoix
  • Mount Logan
  • Mount Cayley
  • Level Mountain
  • Mount Edziza
  • Mount Meager massif
  • Mount Septimus

United States

Oceania

Caribbean

Central America

South America

Submerged

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