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The Grampian Mountains or Grampians are one of the three major
mountain ranges in Scotland
They extend southwest to northeast between the Highland Boundary Fault
and Glen Mor (the Great Glen), occupying almost half of the land-area of
Scotland.
The mountain range includes Ben Nevis, the highest point in the British
Isles at 1,343 meters above sea level. Ben Macdui, the second highest
mountain at 1,309 meters also lies in the Cairngorm
region of the Grampians.
The area is minimally populated other than in a few areas such as Aviemore,
a winter holiday and snow-sporting center.
The mountains are composed of granite, gneiss, marble, schists and quartzite.
Numerous rivers rise in the Grampians such as the Spey, the Don, the
Dee, the Esk and the Tay.
The name Grampians is believed have first been applied to the mountain
range in 1520 by the historian Hector Boece, a transliteration of the
Roman Mons Graupius, recorded by Tacitus as the site of the
defeat of the native Picts by general Gnaeus Julius Agricola (his father-in-law) circa 83 AD. Prior to
this the area was known as the Mounths, a name still held by a number of
geographical features.
The Grampians are considered to be the separation between the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland.
Other major mountain ranges in Scotland are the Northwest Highlands and
the Cheviot Hills.
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