Why They Matter
Water for People
Mountains capture water from the atmosphere and store it as snow and ice that supplies streams and rivers throughout the year. Half the world’s population depends on mountains for their drinking water or hydroelectric power.
Because mountain habitats can change quickly as elevations increase, they are often home to a greater diversity of plants and animals than nearby lowlands. On some mountains, especially at medium elevations in warmer latitudes, many species are endemic, meaning that they are found nowhere else in the world.