Gravelly Alps (Grav-llee Ahlps)

Gravelly Alps is a mountain range, with two main points sticking out above the rest- These mountains are known as Mount Oscar and The Crag. The Gravelly Alps gets its name from the mountain climbers who had trouble getting a grip on the mountain, due to how loose the gravel and soil are, with splotches of gunpowder scattered around. The Crag is known for random explosions on the top of the mountain during thunderstorms, due to lightning striking patches of gunpowder.   Gravelly Alps are the smaller mountain range of Beland, but they still reach a height of ten thousand feet.

Mount Oscar and The Crag have a relatively low amount of wildlife, especially compared to the Ivory Fields or Forests of Denvar, but they still have a few unique animals. Namely, gravel goats, mountain gorillas, and great hawks. The Crag also houses a terrible beast, deep inside- The Beast of the Crag. The Gravelly Alps have a severe lack of plants, with the occasional pine tree, abundant moss, lichen, and vines being the main flora of the area, excluding the hidden jungle. The hidden jungle is a hidden spot of nature, hidden inside of a cavern with a large hole in the roof for sunlight, and houses a diverse ecosystem inside of it.

Gravelly Alps experiences seasons, unlike Blazing Ridge. During winter, almost the entire range is covered in snow and battered with heavy winds. During the summertime, the black stone of The Crag heats up to such a degree that hikers have been known to get first-degree burns from touching the rock. The temperatures of the Gravelly Alps vary greatly from season to season, and so do the animals. The gravel goats stay year-round on the Gravelly Alps, due to their thick fur for the winter and tough hoofs for the summer. Mountain gorillas prefer to stay in the shade of some of the hidden jungle during the summer, and during the winter come down the mountains into the Ivory Fields. The great hawks hibernate during the winter, in large roosts nestled inside of caves to protect themselves from the snow and wind. During the summer, however, great hawks are extremely active and have been known to carry away even entire buffalo.

The Gravelly Alps have been known to have random explosions during thunderstorms, due to lightning striking gunpowder patches and igniting them. Locals call these "Gravel Rumbles." They have been known to start avalanches with a large enough explosion, particularly during winter. Sheets of gravel, gunpowder, rocks, and bones have been found to tumble down the mountain towards whatever unfortunate object is in its path.  Mount Oscar is a dormant volcano that has lay inactive for hundreds of years, with vines growing all along it, and people hiking right over the mouth. However, in recent times, top scientists believe that it may erupt again, which has been hinted at by the volcano, with smoke billowing out of caverns at seemingly random intervals, and tremors across the top of the peak.

The climate of the Gravelly Alps varies from season to season greatly, with it reaching up to four feet of snow in the winter months, and the stone being scalding hot during the summer months. Per season, the mountains can be broken down like this:   During springtime, the mountains are windy and rainy, but fair otherwise. A normal temperature of sixty degrees Fahrenheit is estimated. During springtime, rainwater usually collects in a small lake at the mouth of Mount Oscar. This is also the season most prone to gravel rumbles.   During the summer, the mountains are arid and hot, with the black stone of The Crag reaching temperatures hot enough to burn the skin at the touch. Mount Oscar is almost always drained of the water that collected in the mouth by summer, due to the intense heat evaporating the miniature lake.   During autumn, the mountains are a bit chilly, with frost starting to collect on the mountainside.   During wintertime, the mountains are piled with snow reaching up to four feet in height, and the mountain is coated in a thick sheet of ice in some areas. Heavy winds batter the sides of the mountain, dislodging snow and gravel in some cases and causing avalanches.

The Flora & Fauna vary slightly, but there are some differences and similarities:

• Both Mount Oscar and The Crag are home to Gravel Goats. Gravel goats are a type of mountain goat native to the Gravelly Alps, and are aptly named so. With the same jump height and climbing ability as a normal goat, but with thick hooves made to withstand heat and latch onto loose gravel and rock.
• Mount Oscar and The Crag also share an avian species: Great Hawks. Great Hawks are the largest bird in Beland, with a wingspan of up to fifteen feet in length. They have been known to even be able to carry away entire buffalo, and parents know to keep their children inside when they hear their cries coming down from the alps.
• Mount Oscar has a hidden geographical feature inside- The Hidden Jungle. Inside of the hidden jungle, is an incredibly diverse ecosystem, home to mountain gorillas, frogs, and even jaguars. Scientists are still trying to figure out how to gain easy access to the location for research purposes.
• There is not a lot of flora across the gravelly alps, save the hidden jungle. There is, however, an abundance of moss and lichen rooted in the gravel, attempting to hold it together. These grey plants are commonly named "Gravel Grabbers."

The Gravelly Alps is widely renowned for one thing: Gunpowder. The mountains have so much gunpowder, in fact, that the neighboring nation of MystDale has figured out how to create firearms in just a few hundred years. This resource is extremely beneficial to the population of MystDale, and yet detrimental to towns at the base of the range. This is because the gunpowder can detonate during thunderstorms and send avalanches down the entire mountain, building up speed as it tumbles. The mountains are also rich in fossils, buried deep beneath the rubble and perfectly preserved because of resin which drips down through the cracks of the stone and gravel.

The Gravelly Alps has a relatively low tourism industry, especially compared to Blazing Ridge. However, it is an extremely popular destination for mountain climbers, where the gravelly slopes pose a challenge for the adventurous. There are no known resorts in the mountains, and there are simply a few rest camps for mountain climbers on the way up.