Mountains cover 52% of Asia, 36% of North America, 25% of Europe, 22% of South America, 17% of Australia, and 3% of Africa. As a whole, 24% of the Earth's land mass is mountainous. Also, 1 in 10 people live in mountainous regions. All the world's major rivers are fed from mountain sources.

The highest mountain on Earth is Mount Everest.

The peak that rises farthest from its base is Mauna Kea on Hawaii. This would make it the highest mountain. However, we measure altitute from sea level, not from the bottom of the sea.

Some isolated mountains were produced by volcanoes, including many small islands that reach a great height above the ocean floor.

In the United States, a mountain is 1,000 feet (304.4 metres) or more in height from bottom to summit. A hill is 500 (152.4 metres) to 999 (304 metres) feet. A hill that is less than 500 feet high is a knoll.

In the United Kingdom the term "hill" is commonly used for all hills and mountains, regardless of height.

Related Terms
source - the source for most rivers occurs in the mountains
hill - like a mountain but smaller and often with a more rounded top
plateau - can be considered a mountain with a flat top
glacier - often found in the mountains
volcano - often creates a mountain
cliff - the sides of mountains
peak - the top of a mountain
waterfall - as water falls from a mountain a waterfall may be created
river - often starts in the mountains
mountain pass - a way to travel through a group of mountains
mountain range - a chain or group of mountains