A massif () is a principal

mountain A mountain is an elevated portion of the Earth's crust, generally with steep sides that show significant exposed bedrock. Although definitions vary, a mountain may differ from a plateau in having a limited summit area, and is usually highe ...

mass, such as a compact portion of a

mountain range A mountain range or hill range is a series of mountains or hills arranged in a line and connected by high ground. A mountain system or mountain belt is a group of mountain ranges with similarity in form, structure, and alignment that have arise ...

, containing one or more summits (e.g. France's

Massif Central The (; oc, Massís Central, ; literally ''"Central Massif"'') is a highland region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France. Subject to volcanism that has subsided in the last 10,0 ...

). In mountaineering literature, a massif is frequently used to denote the main mass of an individual mountain. As a purely scientific term in

geology Geology () is a branch of natural science concerned with Earth and other astronomical objects, the features or rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which they change over time. Modern geology significantly overlaps all other Ea ...

, however, a "massif" is separately and more specifically defined as a section of a planet's crust that is demarcated by faults or

flexure A flexure is a flexible element (or combination of elements) engineered to be compliant in specific degrees of freedom. Flexures are a design feature used by design engineers (usually mechanical engineers) for providing adjustment or compliance ...

s. 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 Plate tectonics (from the la, label=Late Latin, tectonicus, from the grc, τεκτονικός, lit=pertaining to building) is the generally accepted scientific theory that considers the Earth's lithosphere to comprise a number of large te ...

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 Cydonia (, ) is a region on the planet Mars that has attracted both scientific and popular interest. The name originally referred to the albedo feature (distinctively coloured area) that was visible from earthbound telescopes. The area borders ...

is an example of an extraterrestrial massif. Massifs may also form underwater, as with the Atlantis Massif.

List

Africa

* Adrar des Ifoghas –

Mali Mali (; ), officially the Republic of Mali,, , ff, 𞤈𞤫𞤲𞥆𞤣𞤢𞥄𞤲𞤣𞤭 𞤃𞤢𞥄𞤤𞤭, Renndaandi Maali, italics=no, ar, جمهورية مالي, Jumhūriyyāt Mālī is a landlocked country in West Africa. Mal ...

* Aïr Massif –

Niger ) , official_languages = , languages_type = National languagesAmbohiby Massif –

Madagascar Madagascar (; mg, Madagasikara, ), officially the Republic of Madagascar ( mg, Repoblikan'i Madagasikara, links=no, ; french: République de Madagascar), is an island country in the Indian Ocean, approximately off the coast of East Africa ...

Benna Massif Benna may refer to: Places * Benna, Burkina Faso, a town in Boulgou province of Burkina Faso * Benna Massif, a massif in the region of Guinea Maritime in Guinea * Benna, Piedmont, a ''comune'' in the Province of Biella in Italy * Benna (lake), a ...

– Guinea * Bongo Massif –

Central African Republic The Central African Republic (CAR; ; , RCA; , or , ) is a landlocked country in Central Africa. It is bordered by Chad to the north, Sudan to the northeast, South Sudan to the southeast, the DR Congo to the south, the Republic of th ...

Ennedi Plateau The Ennedi Plateau is located in the northeast of Chad, in the regions of Ennedi-Ouest and Ennedi-Est. It is considered a part of the group of mountains known as the Ennedi Massif found in Chad, which is one of the nine countries that make up ...

– Chad *

Kilimanjaro Massif Mount Kilimanjaro () is a dormant volcano in Tanzania. It has three volcanic cones: Kibo, Mawenzi, and Shira. It is the highest mountain in Africa and the highest free-standing mountain above sea level in the world: above sea level and ab ...

–

Kenya ) , national_anthem = " Ee Mungu Nguvu Yetu"() , image_map = , map_caption = , image_map2 = , capital = Nairobi , coordinates = , largest_city = Nairobi ...

–

Tanzania Tanzania (; ), officially the United Republic of Tanzania ( sw, Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania), is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It borders Uganda to the north; Kenya to the northeast; Comoro Islands ...

Oban Massif Oban ( ; ' in Scottish Gaelic meaning ''The Little Bay'') is a resort town within the Argyll and Bute council area of Scotland. Despite its small size, it is the largest town between Helensburgh and Fort William. During the tourist season, th ...

–

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

* Marojejy Massif –

Mulanje Massif The Mulanje Massif, also known as Mount Mulanje, is a large inselberg in southern Malawi. Sapitwa Peak, the highest point on the massif at 3,002 m, is the highest point in Malawi. It lies 65 km east of Blantyre, rising sharply from the su ...

–

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeas ...

* Virunga Massif –

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...

– Rwanda– DR Congo *

Waterberg Biosphere The Waterberg ( nso, Thaba Meetse) is a mountainous massif of approximately in north Limpopo Province, South Africa. The average height of the mountain range is 600 m with a few peaks rising up to 2000 m above sea level. Vaalwater town is l ...

–

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

Algeria

Collo Massif The ''Collo massif'', sometimes called ''Kabylie de Collo'', is a mountainous forest massif of Algeria located in the north-east of the country and constituting part of the Tell Atlas. Geography Geographers distinguish several "Kabylies": Gre ...

* Edough Massif * Khachna Massif

Antarctica

Borg Massif Borg Massif is a mountain massif, about long and with summits above , situated along the northwest side of the Penck Trough in Queen Maud Land, East Antarctica. The tallest peak, at , is Hogsaetet Mountain. The parallel, ice-filled Raudberg ...

Craddock Massif Craddock Massif is a mountain massif in the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains, in the Chilean claim of West Antarctica. Location and highest point Craddock Massif is located at the southeastern side of Vinson Massif, between Hammer C ...

* Cumpston Massif *

Vinson Massif Vinson Massif () is a large mountain massif in Antarctica that is long and wide and lies within the Sentinel Range of the Ellsworth Mountains. It overlooks the Ronne Ice Shelf near the base of the Antarctic Peninsula. The massif is located ...

Otway Massif Otway Massif () is a prominent, mainly ice-free massif, about 10 nautical miles (18 km) long and 7 nautical miles (13 km) wide, standing at the northwest end of the Grosvenor Mountains at the confluence of Mill Glacier and Mill Stream Gl ...

Asia

Annapurna Annapurna (; ne, अन्नपूर्ण) is a mountain situated in the Annapurna mountain range of Gandaki Province, north-central Nepal. It is the tenth highest mountain in the world at above sea level and is well known for the diffic ...

–

Nepal Nepal (; ne, :ne:नेपाल, नेपाल ), formerly the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal ( ne, सङ्घीय लोकतान्त्रिक गणतन्त्र नेपाल ), is a landlocked country in S ...

* Bromo-Tengger-Semeru –

Indonesia Indonesia, officially the Republic of Indonesia, is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania between the Indian and Pacific oceans. It consists of over 17,000 islands, including Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and parts of Borneo and New Guine ...

Chu Pong Massif The Chu Pong Massif (also known as the Chu Prong), in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, is a mountain with complex topography, valleys, and forests that stretches into Cambodia. The Chu Pong is situated north of the Gia Lai river, south of the Ia ...

–

Vietnam Vietnam or Viet Nam ( vi, Việt Nam, ), officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam,., group="n" is a country in Southeast Asia, at the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, with an area of and population of 96 million, making i ...

Dhaulagiri Dhaulagiri is the seventh highest mountain in the world at above sea level, and the highest mountain within the borders of a single country (Nepal). It was first climbed on 13 May 1960 by a Swiss-Austrian-Nepali expedition. Annapurna I () is ...

– Nepal *

Gasherbrum Gasherbrum ( ur, ) is a remote group of peaks situated at the northeastern end of the Baltoro Glacier in the Karakoram mountain range. The peaks are located within the border region of Xinjiang, China and Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. The ...

– China-

Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...

Kangchenjunga Kangchenjunga, also spelled Kanchenjunga, Kanchanjanghā (), and Khangchendzonga, is the third highest mountain in the world. Its summit lies at in a section of the Himalayas, the ''Kangchenjunga Himal'', which is bounded in the west by the ...

– Nepal–India * Knuckles Massif – Sri Lanka * Kondyor Massif –

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-eig ...

* Kugitangtau Ridge –

Turkmenistan Turkmenistan ( or ; tk, Türkmenistan / Түркменистан, ) is a country located in Central Asia, bordered by Kazakhstan to the northwest, Uzbekistan to the north, east and northeast, Afghanistan to the southeast, Iran to the sout ...

Kumgangsan Mount Kumgang () or the Kumgang Mountains is a mountain massif, with a peak, in Kangwon-do, North Korea. It is located on the east coast of the country, in Mount Kumgang Tourist Region, formerly part of Kangwŏn Province, and is part of ...

–

North Korea North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the northern half of the Korean Peninsula and shares borders with China and Russia to the north, at the Yalu (Amnok) and T ...

* Logar ultrabasite massif –

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

Mount Ararat Mount Ararat or , ''Ararat''; or is a snow-capped and dormant compound volcano in the extreme east of Turkey. It consists of two major volcanic cones: Greater Ararat and Little Ararat. Greater Ararat is the highest peak in Turkey and th ...

– Turkey *Mount Everest massif (including Lhotse) – Nepal–Tibet (China) *Mount Kinabalu – Malaysia *Mount Tomuraushi (Daisetsuzan), Mount Tomuraushi – Japan * – Pakistan

India

*Bundelkhand *Nun Kun *Panchchuli *Shillong

Iran

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

Kazakhstan

*' *Kokshetau Massif *Mount Ku *Myrzhyk *'

Europe

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

France

*Alpilles *Aravis Range *Armorican Massif *Bauges Massif *Beaufortain Massif *Belledonne massif *Bornes Massif *Massif des Calanques, Calanques Massif *Massif des Cerces, Cerces Massif *Chablais Alps, Chablais Massif *Chartreuse Massif *Dévoluy Massif *Massif des Écrins *Jura Mountains *Lauzière massif * * *Massif de l'Esterel * *Monte Cinto massif *Taillefer Massif *Queyras Massif *Vanoise Massif *Vercors Plateau *Vosges Mountains

Italy

*' *Monte Grappa, Grappa Massif *' *' *Monte Ermada *Sila Massif *Speikboden (South Tyrol)

United Kingdom

*Ben Nevis massif *Cornubian Massif *Long Mynd *Snowdon Massif *Ben Klibreck *Cairngorms massifs

North America

Canada

*Laurentian Mountains, Laurentian Massif * *Mount Logan *Mount Cayley *Level Mountain *Mount Edziza *Mount Meager massif *Mount Septimus

United States

*Adirondack Mountains, Adirondack Massif *Denali *Grandfather Mountain *Mount Juneau *Mount Katahdin *Mount Le Conte (Tennessee), Mount Le Conte *Mount Shuksan *Mount Timpanogos *Shenandoah *French Broad *Teton Range

Oceania

*Big Ben (Heard Island), Big Ben – Heard Island *Ahipara Gumfields (New Zealand), Ahipara Gumfields – New Zealand

Caribbean

*Massif de la Hotte – Haiti *Valle Nuevo Massif – Dominican Republic

South America

*Brasilia Massif – Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay. *Neblina massif, Neblina Massif – Venezuela–Brazil *Colombian Massif – Colombia *North Patagonian Massif – Argentina *Deseado Massif – Argentina

Submerged

* Atlantis Massif – part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean *Tamu Massif — the largest volcano on Earth

References

{{reflist Landforms Mountains