Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains (pronunciation: /ˈrɒki ˈmaʊntɪnz/), also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range in western North America.

Etymology

The name of the mountains is a translation of an Amerindian name that is closely related to Algonquian; the Cree name as-sin-wati is given as, "When seen from across the prairies, they looked like a rocky mass".

Description

The Rocky Mountains stretch more than 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico in the Southwestern United States. The range's highest peak is Mount Elbert located in Colorado at 14,440 feet (4,401 meters) above sea level.

Geology

The Rockies are made up of at least 100 separate ranges. These ranges are divided into four broad groupings: the Canadian Rockies and Northern Rockies of Montana and northeastern Idaho; the Middle Rockies of Wyoming, Utah, and southeastern Idaho; the Southern Rockies, mainly in Colorado and New Mexico; and the Colorado Plateau in the Four Corners region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.

Flora and Fauna

The Rocky Mountains are home to a diverse range of plants and animals. The lower elevations are home to forests of ponderosa pine, while higher elevations support subalpine forests of spruce and fir. Above the tree line, alpine meadows are found. The Rockies are also home to a variety of wildlife, including elk, deer, moose, mountain goats, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, wolves, coyotes, black bears, grizzly bears, and mountain lions.

See Also

• Mountain range
• North America
• British Columbia
• New Mexico
• Mount Elbert
• Colorado
• Canadian Rockies
• Northern Rockies
• Middle Rockies
• Southern Rockies
• Colorado Plateau
• Four Corners
• Ponderosa pine
• Spruce
• Fir
• Alpine meadow
• Elk
• Deer
• Moose
• Mountain goat
• Pronghorn
• Bighorn sheep
• Wolf
• Coyote
• Black bear
• Grizzly bear
• Mountain lion

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Rocky Mountains
• Wikipedia's article - Rocky Mountains

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