In this fantasy themed riddle, what natural feature "has roots that nobody sees, is taller than trees, goes up and up, yet never actually grows"?

Introduction / Context:
This riddle is well known from fantasy literature and poetry, especially from works like "The Hobbit". It uses vivid imagery to describe something huge and impressive in nature without naming it directly. The lines "has roots that nobody sees, is taller than trees, up, up it goes, yet it never grows" give several clues about a gigantic, stable, and ancient structure. The task is to recognise which real world phenomenon matches all these poetic descriptions at the same time.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The subject has "roots" that no one sees, suggesting something that is anchored deep below the surface.
• It is "taller than trees", so it is very high in comparison with common natural objects.
• It "goes up, up", implying great height or elevation.
• Despite its apparent height, it "never grows"; it does not increase in size in any noticeable way like a living plant.
• The options include: A mountain, A skyscraper, A cloud, and A giant tree.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea is that the riddle speaks metaphorically. "Roots that nobody sees" hint at a base hidden underground rather than literal plant roots. A mountain extends both above and below the visible surface; its foundations go deep into the earth, unseen. Mountains are taller than trees and reach high into the sky, so "up, up it goes" fits perfectly. Yet mountains are not alive in the botanical sense, so they do not "grow" like trees. Over geological time they can erode or uplift, but in the human perspective of this riddle, they are essentially stable and unchanging. This combination of invisible roots, extreme height, and lack of growth points strongly to a mountain.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Analyse the "roots nobody sees". Mountains have bases and rock structures deep below the ground that we never observe directly. Step 2: Consider relative height. Mountains can be vastly taller than even the tallest trees. Step 3: Interpret "up, up it goes" as the mountain slope rising all the way to the summit. Step 4: Check the phrase "yet it never grows". Mountains do not grow seasonally like plants; their changes are extremely slow and geologic. Step 5: Compare this with a skyscraper: it does not have "roots" in the natural sense, and it is built rather than having hidden roots. Step 6: Compare with clouds: they have no roots and constantly change shape and size, so the "never grows" clue does not fit well. Step 7: Compare with a giant tree: it has visible roots, and it very clearly grows, directly contradicting the last line. Step 8: Conclude that a mountain uniquely satisfies all elements of the description.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, visualise a mountain range. You cannot see where the rock formation truly starts beneath the earth, just as the riddle says "roots that nobody sees". Mountains tower above forests, so being "taller than trees" is accurate. When you hike or look from a distance, the peaks appear to go "up, up" toward the sky. Finally, over a human lifetime a mountain appears unchanging and does not sprout new branches or leaves. This supports the interpretation that the riddle points directly to mountains rather than to any man made structure or plant.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
A skyscraper may be very tall but its foundations are engineered, not natural roots, and people know about its construction, so the hidden roots imagery is weaker. A cloud floats high but has no roots at all and changes shape constantly, contradicting the sense of permanent structure. A giant tree obviously grows, which clashes with the "never grows" line. Only a mountain naturally has hidden roots, immense height, and apparent lack of growth, so the other options fail at least one major clue from the riddle.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to focus only on height and quickly choose a skyscraper or a tall tree, forgetting the crucial "never grows" condition. Another pitfall is to interpret "roots" too literally as plant roots instead of recognising poetic metaphor. Good riddle solving requires you to match every line, not just one or two appealing details. When you check each line carefully, the answer becomes obvious.

Final Answer:
The object described as having unseen roots, being taller than trees, rising up and never growing is A mountain.