There are many interesting geographic formations about
Monaco. The most prominent feature of this unique city-state is the fact that
it is located at the base of the mountains, along the Mediterranean Sea. If one
were to look at a photograph of Monaco, it appears as if the city is crammed
just between the mountains and the sea.
The large mountain that Monaco is
located at is named Mont Agel. This mountain is 1,148 meters tall, but its peak
actually lies in France. The tallest point of Monaco is on it’s slope, at 161 meters.
The interesting thing about this landform is that it appears to have been
created by converging plate tectonics. Monaco lies just on the boundary of the
Eurasian plate and the African plate. The force of these two plates pushing
together is likely what caused Mont Agel to rise.
Map of Plate boundaries
If you look at the mountain,
you will also notice the layers and patterns of sedimentary rock, or strata.
The mountain also features many faults, also caused by the pressure of the
moving plate tectonics.
Possibly the most interesting geographic feature of
Monaco is called “The Rock Of Monaco”. This rock can be described as a “monolith”,
or an area where erosion exposes metamorphic or igneous rock. The creation of
The Rock of Monaco was caused by mechanical erosion, as you can see through the
rough appearance of the rock.
All of these mountainous features are a part of
what makes Monaco so beautiful.
