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Learn about the Rocky Mountains, the largest mountain system in North America, stretching from Canada to the United States. Find out about their geography, geology, ecology, history, economy, and attractions.
- Overview
- Physiography
The Rocky Mountains of North America, or the Rockies, stretch from northern Alberta and British Columbia in Canada southward to New Mexico in the United States, a distance of some 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometres). In places the system is 300 or more miles wide.
What types of minerals are found in the Rocky Mountains?
The Rocky Mountains are noted for their many deposits of copper, silver, gold, lead, zinc, molybdenum, beryllium, and uranium. Sapphires and other nonmetallic mineral deposits include phosphate rock, potash, trona, magnesium and lithium salts, Glauber’s salt, gypsum, limestone, and dolomite.
When were the Rocky Mountains settled?
The human presence in the Rocky Mountains has been dated to between 10,000 and 8,000 BCE. First Nations and Native American peoples still inhabiting the northern ranges of the Rocky Mountains in modern times include the Shuswap and Kutenai of British Columbia, Coeur d’Alene and Nez Percé of Idaho, and Salish of Montana. The traditional lands of the Shoshone in Idaho and Wyoming and the Ute in Utah and Colorado extended into the west-central ranges. Southwestern groups include the Hopi and other Pueblo Indians and the Navajo.
Rocky Mountains, mountain range forming the cordilleran backbone of the great upland system that dominates the western North American continent. Generally, the ranges included in the Rockies stretch from northern Alberta and British Columbia southward to New Mexico, a distance of some 3,000 miles (4,800 km). In places the system is 300 or more miles wide. Limits are mostly arbitrary, especially in the far northwest, where mountain systems such as the Brooks Range of Alaska are sometimes included. The Rockies are bordered on the east by the Great Plains and on the west by the Interior Plateau and Coast Mountains of Canada and the Columbia Plateau and Basin and Range Province of the United States.
The Canadian Rockies include the Mackenzie and Selwyn mountains of the Yukon and Northwest Territories (sometimes called the Arctic Rockies) and the ranges of western Alberta and eastern British Columbia. The Northern Rockies include the Lewis and Bitterroot ranges of western Montana and northeastern Idaho. These ranges formed along the eastern edge of a region of carbonate sedimentation some 17 miles (27 km) thick, which had accumulated from the late Precambrian to early Mesozoic time (i.e., between about 1 billion and 190 million years ago). This structural depression, known as the Rocky Mountain Geosyncline, eventually extended from Alaska to the Gulf of Mexico and became a continuous seaway during the Cretaceous Period (about 145 to 66 million years ago). The ranges of the Canadian and Northern Rockies were created when thick sheets of Paleozoic limestones were thrust eastward over Mesozoic rocks during the mountain-building episode called the Laramide Orogeny (65 to 35 million years ago). Some of these thrust sheets have moved 20 to 30 miles (32 to 48 km) to their present positions. The western margin of the Canadian Rockies and Northern Rockies is marked by the Rocky Mountain Trench, a graben (downfaulted, straight, flat-bottomed valley) up to 3,000 feet (900 metres) deep and several miles wide that has been glaciated and partially filled with deposits from glacial meltwaters.
The Columbia Icefield is situated on the continental divide in the Canadian Rockies at elevations of 10,000 to 13,000 feet (3,000 to 4,000 metres) above sea level. It includes the large Athabasca Glacier, which is nearly five miles long and about a mile wide. Glaciers in this ice field, while continuing to move, are thinning and retreating. The Canadian Rockies are about equally divided between drainage to the east (Atlantic and Arctic oceans) and west (Pacific Ocean).
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The Middle Rockies include the Bighorn and Wind River ranges in Wyoming, the Wasatch Range of southeastern Idaho and northern Utah, and the Uinta Mountains of northeastern Utah; the Absaroka Range, extending from northwestern Wyoming into Montana, serves as a link between the Northern and Middle Rockies. While the massive deposition of carbonates was occurring in the Canadian and Northern Rockies from the late Precambrian to the early Mesozoic, a considerably smaller quantity of clastic sediments was accumulating in the Middle Rockies. Mountain building there resulted from compressional folding and high-angle faulting, except for the low-angle thrust-faulting in southwestern Wyoming and southeastern Idaho. The granitic core of the anticlinal mountains often has been upfaulted, and many ranges are flanked by Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (e.g., shales, siltstones, and sandstones) that have been eroded into hogback ridges. This same mountain-building process is occurring today in the Andes Mountains of South America. Most mountain building in the Middle Rockies occurred during the Laramide Orogeny, but the mountains of the spectacular Teton Range attained their height less than 10 million years ago by moving more than 20,000 vertical feet relative to the floor of Jackson Hole along an east-dipping fault.
The Bighorn, Wind River, and Uinta ranges all form sharp ridge lines that rise above surrounding basins. The Wind River Range supports a large area of glaciers, including Dinwoody Glacier. These glaciers, however, are retreating fairly rapidly.
Jul 9, 2021 · Learn about the Rocky Mountains, a significant mountain range that dominates the western part of North America. Discover their geography, geology, highest peaks, national parks, and recreational activities.
- Diptarka Ghosh
Aug 16, 2024 · Explore the stunning scenery, wildlife, and hiking trails of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Learn about the best attractions, tips, and practical information for your visit.
Sep 27, 2024 · Rocky Mountain National Park's 415 square miles (265,807 acres) encompasses a spectacular range of mountain environments. From meadows found in the montane life zone to glistening alpine lakes and up to the towering mountain peaks, there is something for everyone to discover. Along the way explore over 300 miles of hiking trails and incredible wildlife viewing.
May 8, 2019 · Explore the towering peaks, alpine lakes, and diverse wildlife of Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the highest and most scenic in the U.S. Learn about the park's history, attractions, activities, and nearby destinations.
The Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado is a must-visit, with its stunning alpine landscapes, abundant wildlife, and over 350 miles of hiking trails. The park’s Trail Ridge Road is a highlight, offering panoramic views of the mountains. In Canada, the Banff National Park in Alberta is renowned for its turquoise lakes, including the ...
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