Australia is known for its beautiful scenery, ranging from breath taking ocean views to magnificent mountain tops. The Blu Mountains in New South Wales, Australia happen to be one of those mountain tops.

The Blue Mountains (far away shot)

These mountains are formed from layers and layers of sedimentary rocks. The sedimentary layers that are deposited are called strata. Through the hardening of strata lithification begins. When these sedimentary rocks first start out, they are loosely arranged rocks that gradually compact together. After the compaction of these rocks they cement together to form hard layers; the process of lithification. 

The Blu Mountains (up close view of the layers of strata) 

   Sediments that formed The Blue Mountains were sandwich creates sandstone. After the strata hardens erosion begins to take place. Erosion breaks up rocks due to natural agents such as water. Folding begins due to the erosion of the Earth's surface. By the compression of the Earth's sedimentary rocks erosion occurs to create hills, mountains and ridges. When erosion begins there is an uplift of these rocks and another layer of strata forms. Then lithification begins again and another layer of rock is compacted then cemented together. Over time these layers build up and form mountains or other landmasses.

Through the processes of lithification, strata, folding and erosion beautiful mountains are formed like The Blue Mountains in Australia.