Fold mountain ranges.

Africa does not have many fold mountain ranges. These mountains occur when layers of fairly young sedimentary rocks are subjected to tremendous pressure.

Folding is due to great compressional forces, which lead to the bending of rocks. It takes place very slowly over many thousands of years. The layers of young sedimentary rocks are soft, so when acted upon by the earth movements, they fold to form synclines and anticlines.

The synclines form valleys while anticlines form hills and mountains. Examples of Fold Mountains in Africa are:
  • the Atlas ranges in North West Africa extending from Morocco to Tunisia.
  • The Cape ranges in South Africa and
  • Akwapim ranges on the border between Ghana and Togo.

Fold ranges have a characteristic of being extensive and covering even more than one country.

                    Some folding can be fairly complicated. What do you see in the photo above?

 
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