Mountain

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v50.12 · v0.47.05 This article is about the current version of DF. Note that some content may still need to be updated. More Info · V

Mountains illustration

A mountain is a biome with a naturally-high elevation, usually culminating in a peak. Volcanoes are often on a mountain.

As part of a starting site, mountains provide jagged terrain and impassable cliffs. They usually have very limited water resources, i.e., few ponds or streams, although many streams and rivers originate from the base of mountain ranges. They often have sparse vegetation, and depending on the elevation may lack any sort of usable soil. In Adventurer mode it's impossible to cross a mountain tile in fast travel mode, even if you have flying capabilities.

It is not possible to start a fortress on an exclusively-mountain biome; however, fortress sites can straddle mountains on one side and more (or less) hospitable biomes on the other, which will provide more valuable diversity of wildlife and resources.

Mountains imply high elevation in the surrounding area. This can result in a "forest" biome that does not actually have any trees, since, above a certain elevation, there may be no soil and, therefore, no place for trees to actually grow. When choosing a starting fortress site, be sure to check the elevation map (using the Tab key), and try to get a mix of low and medium or high elevations if possible.

Mountains are covered with grass when first encountered, but if the grass is removed (whether due to grazing, construction, or simple trampling), it will never grow back^Bug:4164. Keep this in mind when designating pastures, lest your animals starve.

Minerals

The stratification listed for mountains in Dwarf Fortress usually consists of one lighter rock type, generally a sedimentary stone (such as limestone, mudstone or dolomite), and then two further layers of heavy intrusive igneous (such as granite or gabbro) or metamorphic rock (such as gneiss, quartzite, or phyllite). Stone, and subsequently ores, are always in abundance in mountain biomes.

Wildlife

Creatures

Name
b Bobcat
c Chinchilla
c Coyote
e Eagle
o Great horned owl
m Hoary marmot
k Kea
k Kingsnake
g Mountain goat
p Peregrine falcon
w Wolverine
w Wombat
Y Yak

In savage mountains:

Name
b Bobcat man
c Chinchilla man
c Coyote man
e Eagle man
B Giant bobcat
C Giant chinchilla
C Giant coyote
E Giant eagle
O Giant great horned owl
M Giant hoary marmot
K Giant kea
K Giant kingsnake
G Giant mountain goat
P Giant peregrine falcon
W Giant wolverine
W Giant wombat
o Great horned owl man
m Hoary marmot man
k Kea man
k Kingsnake man
g Mountain goat man
p Peregrine falcon man
w Wolverine man
w Wombat man
Y Yeti

In good mountains:

Name
g Mountain gnome

In evil mountains:

Name
g Dark gnome

Vermin

In savage mountains:

Name
∙ Two-legged rhino lizard

In good mountains:

Name
∙ Fairy
∙ Fluffy wambler
· Pixie

Vegetation

Grasses

Name
. Bentgrass
. Cloudberry
. Cottongrass
. Fescue grass
. Hair grass
. Meadow-grass
. Mountain avens
. White mountain heather

In good mountains:

Name
O Bubble bulb
. Downy grass

In evil mountains:

Name
O Staring eyeball
≥ Wormy tendril

"Mountain" in other Languages Dwarven: onol Elvish: thele Goblin: ngosla Human: thakom

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