Hill

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For other uses, see The Hill (disambiguation) and Hill (disambiguation). A hill is a landform which has a distinct summit that extends above the surrounding terrain, in a limited area.

Terminology

The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective, but a hill is generally somewhat lower and less steep than a mountain. In the United Kingdom it is popularly believed that the Ordnance Survey defines a "mountain" as a peak greater than 1000 feet (305 meters) above sea level, a belief which forms the basis of the film The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain; in fact the OS maintains no such distinction today. ^* The Oxford English Dictionary, by contrast, suggests a limit of 2000 ft (610 m). Mountains in Scotland are frequently referred to as "hills" no matter what their height, as reflected in names such as the Cuillin Hills and the Torridon Hills.

Formation

Hills may form through a number of geomorphic phenomena: faulting, erosion of larger landforms, and movement and deposition of sediment by glaciers (eg. morraines and drumlins, or by erosion exposing solid rock which then weathers down into a hill. The rounded peaks of hills results from the diffusive movement of soil and regolith covering the hill, a process known as downhill creep.

Many areas that would otherwise have hills do not because of glacier cover during the Ice Age. The contrast between the extreme plains of northern Indiana, and the extreme hilliness of southern Indiana is a result of this.

There are various specific names used to describe particular types of hill, based on appearance and method of formation. Many such names originated in one geographical region to describe a type of hill formation peculiar to that region, though the names are often adopted by geologists and used in a wider geographical context. These include:

Drumlin – an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial action.
Butte – an isolated hill with steep sides and a small flat top, formed by weathering.
Tor – a rock formation found on a hilltop; also used to refer to the hill itself, especially in South West England.
Puy – used especially in the Auvergne, France, to describe a conical volcanic hill.
Pingo – a mound of earth-covered ice found in the Arctic and Antarctica.

Historical significance

Hills have played an important role in history.

Many settlements were originally built on hills, either to avoid or curb floods, particularly if they were near a large body of water, or for defence, since they offer a good view of the surrounding land and require would-be attackers to fight uphill. For example, Ancient Rome was built on seven hills, protecting it from invaders.

In northern Europe, many ancient monuments are sited on hills. Some of these are defensive structures (such as the hill-forts of the Iron Age), but others appear to have had a religious significance. In Britain, many churches at the tops of hills are thought to have been built on the sites of earlier pagan holy places. The National Cathedral in Washington, DC has followed this tradition and was built on the highest hill in that city.

The American Indians also often laid many of the deceased on a site and then covered it with dirt, creating a hill-like feature called a mound. These burial grounds are in general called tumuli and can be found all over the world.

Military significance

Hills provide a major advantage to an army, giving them an elevated firing position and forcing an opposing army to charge uphill to attack them. As a result, conventional military strategies often demand possession of high ground. Hills have become sites for many famous battles, including the Battle of Bunker Hill (which was actually fought from Breed's Hill) in the American War for Independence and Cemetery Hill and Culp's Hill in the Battle of Gettysburg, the turning point of the American Civil War. The Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War won Americans control of Santiago. The Battle of Alesia was also fought from a hilltop fort.

Other significance

The terrain is often made more rugged and hilly on golf courses to make the holes harder to play. For example, the hole may be located at the top of a hill, and the course is designed specifically to make it almost impossible to allow the golf ball to rest near the top; it would roll down, and the player would have to try again. Some homes and even college campuses (almost always in rural areas) often keep or make hills for a more scenic atmosphere.

Popular culture

References

External Links

Geomorphology | Hills | Landforms | Mountains

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