Staring down a
crossword clue
that seems deceptively simple, yet utterly refuses to yield its secret, is a sensation every puzzle solver knows intimately. Today, we’re tackling one such brain-teaser: “Mountain chain (5)“. Ah, the majestic, the formidable, the geographically vast… and now, reduced to a mere five letters. It’s a classic type of
crossword clue
that relies heavily on your general knowledge, and often, a little bit of intuition.
When you encounter a
crossword clue
like “Mountain chain (5)“, your mind immediately starts sifting through geological vocabulary. The challenge isn’t just knowing
a
mountain chain, but knowing
the
mountain chain that fits precisely into five letters. The world is crisscrossed with countless ranges, some towering, some ancient, some sprawling across continents. From the grand peaks of the Himalayas to the rugged beauty of the Rockies, and the historical significance of the Urals, there’s no shortage of options. But only one will be the correct answer to this specific
crossword clue
.
The five-letter constraint is both a blessing and a curse. It significantly narrows the field, yet for a common noun like “mountain chain,” it can still leave a multitude of possibilities swirling in your mind. Is it a well-known global range? Or perhaps a more regional, yet still prominent, formation? Many a solver has been caught out by assuming the most famous example, only to find the setter had a lesser-known, equally valid, five-letter answer in mind for their carefully crafted
crossword clue
.
The art of solving this kind of
crossword clue
often involves a process of elimination. You might think of longer names and try to shorten them, or recall shorter, more obscure ranges. Sometimes, the initial letters provided by intersecting words can be the golden key, but what if this “Mountain chain (5)” is your very first entry into the grid? That’s when the real mental workout begins. You’re drawing upon every geography lesson, every documentary watched, every atlas browsed. It’s a test of specific recall, not just vague knowledge.
This isn’t a cryptic
crossword clue
, where wordplay and anagrams might lead you down a different path. This is a straightforward definition, demanding a precise, singular answer. Yet, its simplicity is what makes it so intriguing. How many five-letter mountain chains can you rattle off the top of your head? Probably more than you initially thought, and that’s the delightful struggle of a good
crossword clue
. Each potential answer flashes through your mind, each one scrutinized against the five-letter requirement, waiting for that “aha!” moment when the right one clicks into place. This is the essence of why we love our daily puzzles, forever seeking that satisfying solution to every challenging
crossword clue
.
Available Answers:
RANGE.
Last seen on the crossword puzzle: Metro Quick Crossword Clues Thursday, 9 October 2025