Top 10 Most Stunning Mountain Ranges

Located in the Swiss Alps on the border between Switzerland and Italy, the Matterhorn is a majestic mountain with four distinct summits. Its distinctive pyramidal shape has made it an iconic symbol of the Alps, appearing on numerous postage stamps and souvenirs. The Matterhorn stands at 4,478 meters (14,692 feet) above sea level, making it one of the highest peaks in the European Alps. In 1865, British mountaineer Edward Whymper became the first person to successfully climb the mountain.

Situated on the main island of Honshu in Japan, Mount Fuji is a highly symmetrical and sacred mountain with a summit elevation of 3,776 meters (12,388 feet) above sea level. The mountain is considered one of Japan's three holy virtues and has been an important cultural icon for centuries. A total of over 100 climbers attempt to conquer the mountain every year. Mount Fuji was originally considered a dormant volcano but stopped erupting around the 17th century.

Spanning across Canada and the United States, the Rocky Mountains are one of North America's most spectacular mountain ranges with peaks reaching elevations of over 4,400 meters (14,436 feet). The range has numerous glaciers and abundant wildlife, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts. The Rockies stretch for over 1,800 kilometers (1,118 miles) and have been shaped by millions of years of geological activity.

Situated in Asia, the Himalayan mountain range stretches across eight countries including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan. It is home to several of the world's highest peaks, with Mount Everest at an altitude of 8,848 meters (29,029 feet) above sea level. The Himalayas have been formed over millions of years by the collision between the Indian tectonic plate and the Eurasian plate, resulting in some of the most spectacular mountain scenery on Earth.

Located along the western edge of South America, the Andes mountain range stretches for approximately 7,000 kilometers (4,350 miles). It is home to several major cities such as Santiago, Chile and Lima, Peru. The highest peak in the Andes is Aconcagua at 6,962 meters (22,841 feet) above sea level.

Situated in Central Asia, the Tian Shan mountain range runs across China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Kyrgyzstan. It has numerous peaks exceeding 7,000 meters, including Jengish Chokusu at 7,439 meters (24,406 feet) above sea level. The region was heavily influenced by Chinese, Mongolian, and Russian cultures.

Located in Central Europe, the Carpathians stretch across Romania, Ukraine, Slovakia, and Hungary. They were formed as a result of tectonic activity that began around 20 million years ago, resulting in peaks up to 2,500 meters (8,200 feet) high. The highest peak is Gerlach Peak at 2,655 meters (8,713 feet), with a mountain range covering around 130 km (80 miles).

Situated on the western edge of Canada's British Columbia province, this part of the Rockies has over 100 peaks exceeding 3,000 meters in height. It is popular for skiing, hiking and other adventure sports due to its accessible trails, scenic landscapes and high snowfall. In total there are nine major mountain ranges within it.

Straddling Europe and Asia, the Ural mountains have numerous peaks of over 1,500 meters. Russia's Ural Mountains cover around 2,300 kilometers (1,430 miles) in length and stretch from western Siberia to eastern Russia. Geologically older than the nearby Altai range, they started forming about 250 million years ago and became a key boundary dividing Europe.

Situated between Eastern Europe and Western Asia, the Caucasus mountain range is home to Mount Elbrus at an altitude of 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) above sea level. It has been shaped by tectonic activity that occurred millions of years ago and consists primarily of granite rocks formed over approximately 500 million years ago. This region also features several other notable peaks, including the summit of Mount Shkhara at 5,193 meters (17,045 feet).