southwest
southwest
The side of the mountain range that faces the wind often has lush plant life. This is because clouds pile up there and drop their moisture before crossing over the mountains, often evaporating as they do so.
The windward side.
A mountain range that runs side by side is called a parallel range.
windward windward windward
It is called a rain shadow, and is true. It can be wetter on the prevailing windward side and drier on the lee side of a mountain range.
A col is a low point or saddle between two peaks in a mountain range. It impacts the geography by providing a passageway for water, animals, and sometimes humans to cross from one side of the mountain range to the other. It can also influence the distribution of plant and animal species in the area.
The prevailing winds will force the clouds to climb when they reach the mountain range. As the clouds rise they drop their moisture. So the windward side of the mountain will get rain, and the leeward side of the mountain will be drier.
The mountain range that runs down the western side of South America is the Andes Mountains. They are also the longest mountain range in the world measuring 4,300 miles in length.
Mountain ranges are natural barriers because they are high. That makes it difficult or impossible for various forms of life to cross from one side of a mountain range to the other.
Deserts often form on the leeward side of a mountain.
deserts