These mountain ranges were formed due to a type of convergence. There are 3 methods of convergence including ocean crust colliding with continental crust, ocean crust colliding with ocean crust, and then continental crust colliding with continental crust. We can eliminate ocean crust colliding with ocean crust since we are speaking about mountains on a land mass. We can also eliminate ocean crust colliding with continental crust as the mountain ranges are landlocked and we are not speaking about island arcs. So this means that the form of convergence that made these mountains must be continental crust colliding with continental crust. The two plates pushing against each other create compression which in turn pushes the plates up and forms the mountains. The very steep slopes of these mountains are due to extension faults. This formation has led to Storm Peaks having mountains with the highest elevation in all of Northrend.
