Chaîne de montagnes vs. cordillère
The French terms 'chaîne de montagnes' and 'cordillère' both refer to groups of mountains commonly known as mountain ranges. While they are often used interchangeably, there are distinctions in their use based on geography and historical context.
Chaîne de montagnes
A general term for a series of mountains connected by high ground, which can be used to describe mountain ranges worldwide without specific geographical or geological connotations.
Les Alpes sont une vaste chaîne de montagnes en Europe.
(The Alps are a vast mountain range in Europe.)
La chaîne des Appalaches s'étend le long de la côte est des États-Unis.
(The Appalachian Mountains stretch along the East Coast of the United States.)
Cordillère
A term that often refers specifically to extensive, continuous sequences of mountain systems or ranges, with its origins in Spanish it is most commonly associated with the great mountain ranges of the Americas, but can be used more broadly.
La Cordillère des Andes est la plus longue chaîne de montagnes du monde.
(The Andean Cordillera is the longest mountain range in the world.)
Une cordillère sous-marine peut avoir autant d'influence sur l'écosystème que ses homologues terrestres.
(An underwater cordillera can have as much impact on the ecosystem as its terrestrial counterparts.)
Summary
In summary, 'chaîne de montagnes' is a broad term for any mountain range, whereas 'cordillère' has a more specific usage often associated with longer, more continuous mountain chains, such as those in the Americas. Both terms can describe chains of mountains but have nuanced differences in their implications and traditional uses.