Rocky Mountains: Characteristics, Formation and more

All the Rocky Mountains, are a System of Cordilleras, which cover a Western area of ​​North America. From Cota Máxima, 4.401 meters above sea level, on Elbert Peak in the State of Colorado. Declared its Parks by UNESCO, in 1984, a World Heritage Site. Find out all about them here.

Rocky Mountains

Rocky Mountains

All the Rocky Mountains, also identified with the names of "Rocky Mountain Range" or simply "Rocky Mountains". They are a system of elevations, which are coupled, spliced ​​or linked together, that is, they are a mountain range. Which are located in the western part of North America, also identified as North America or North America.

Which also describes a march parallel to the West Coast. From the Province of British Columbia, which is also identified as British Columbia or simply BC located in the Northwest. Touring or crossing the limit of the Province of Alberta and British Columbia, even reaching the Southwest of the United States of America, in its State of New Mexico.

In other words, this system of coupled elevations describes a parallel march from the West Coast of North America, exactly from Alaska. Located in the Northwest, crossing Canada and culminating in the Southwest of the United States of America. Its highest peak or maximum level is located on Mount Elbert, Colorado, at an altitude of 4.401 meters above sea level (masl).

In the year 1915, what is known as the Rocky Mountain National Park was established in the United States of America. Where 69 years later, specifically in 1984, the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks are declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

It is important to mention that thanks to its spectacular landscapes, as well as its incomparable, exuberant and wild Flora and fauna. Its spaces have been the best environments or recording scenarios, to give life to various western movies. Also constituting in all its orientation Northwest - Southeast, the best of the tourist attractions, both for vacation visitors and for sports lovers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6WgNxBVXFQ

Origin of the Rocky Mountains

The origin of the Rocky Mountains is expressed or manifested from the beginning of the influence or effect of the movement of the tectonic plates. Referring itself to the Pacific Ocean plate as opposed to the North American subcontinent.

Where it has to be, the Rocky Mountain system began its creation gradually, while the continental crust of the globe was diminishing. Due to the impact, product or consequence of the pressure, which was carried out with an amount of 2,5 centimeters annually.

Therefore, it is also necessary that their ascent continues, because geologically they continue to do so, considering that for the purpose of registration and study they are established as young.

Where does your name come from?

The Rocky Mountains name comes from a word or expression of the voice of the American Indians. Then in 1752, Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre, of European origin, established him to call him "Montagnes de Roche".

Both the Rocky Mountains, like everything that is in its vicinity, were consolidated as the lodging site of various indigenous populations. That reaching what is the very remote past, they were the development area where animals such as bison and even mammoths were hunted, which have long been extinct.

American Indians in the Rocky Mountains

At all times you are Rocky Mountains they were seen as a sacred site, an example of the belief that was consolidated by populations such as the powerful warrior tribes of the Apaches or the Sioux.

Start your Exploration

It should be noted that throughout the beginning of the colonization carried out by the Spanish, the Rocky Mountains remained almost entirely unknown. However, for what constitutes the 1793th century, its presence begins to be taken into account and the desire for exploration is born. Having that the person who begins to enter and examine it, is Sir Alexander Mackenzie, of Scottish origin, in the year XNUMX.

Several years pass and an exploration arises from the hand of Lewis and Clark, executed between what makes up the years 1804 - 1806, with which they also collect samples for various studies.

History and culture

The original wandering groups, which came to settle in the Rocky MountainsThey made use of their rivers to execute their commercialization, as well as to move from one side to another. By the end of the 1800s, when European explorers were in full swing, as well as the discoveries of many precious metals, the settlement of settlers increased drastically.

In addition, the establishment of new tracks begins, as it was for the transcontinental railroad. That as is known, was part of the development during the century that has already passed. Where apart from having a greater connection and contact, little by little it constituted the modern advance of today.

Rocky Mountain Formation

The process of formation of the Rocky Mountains is carried out through the "Cenozoic orogenesis". Bearing that they are composed of a "core of crystalline rocks". In which, this core is enveloped by sedimentary rock. Finally establishing that its formation is the product of:

  • Atmospheric erosion.
  • volcanic accidents.
  • Traces of the Quaternary Glaciation.

On the other hand, the late Carboniferous, which corresponds to the fifth place in the Paleozoic Era, was a period of intense tectonic activity. Where the Laurentia and Gondwana plates came to impact, producing the process of evolution of the Appalachian orogeny, which means "creation of mountains".

Then, throughout the Paleocene and early Eocene, the sliding of the edge of the Earth's crustal plate occurs at shallow depths. Below that existing today in Western North America. Starting the elevation of the crust, that is, the Rocky Mountains.

In which throughout more than 60 million years, during their evolution and formation, they have suffered attacks from the climate, geology, among others, without stopping their development.

Rocky Mountain Features

All the Rocky Mountains They stand out for presenting the following characteristics, which are:

  • They are located in western North America.
  • Its length oscillates around 4.800 kilometers, while its width varies between the range of 110 to 480 kilometers.
  • The highest peak is Mount Elbert at 4.401 meters above sea level.
  • Part of climate characteristics of the Rocky Mountains, makes it home to several headwaters of the most prominent rivers in North America. Examples of these are the Columbia River and the Bravo.
  • Its limits are located from Northern Alberta and British Columbia, in Canada. Including the South of New Mexico, State of the United States of America. Across the Great Plains in the East and various basins, as well as plateaus in the West.
  • It integrates the Continental Divide of America, which is responsible for dividing the basins that discharge their waters into the Pacific Ocean.
  • They are divided into sections, which are: Canadian Rocky Mountains in Canada; Southern Rocky Mountains; Northern Rocky Mountains and Central Rocky Mountains. These last three belong to united states mountains.
  • Its vegetation is predominantly scarce, changing completely towards the North where it has a dense coniferous forest.
  • In its northern part is where various valleys are presented and displayed that stand out for their narrowness and depth.
  • It is completely common that recurring telluric movements are experienced in the mountain area as a result of the advance that the Plates of both the Pacific Ocean and the North American Subcontinent practice in opposition.
  • Its mountain range forms a climatic barrier that immobilizes or stops the humidity of the winds from the West.

Rocky Mountain Resources

The Rocky Mountains stand out for benefiting from the following resources, which are:

  • Mineral Reserves: The mineral reserves with which it mainly favors are gold, silver, molybdenum, copper, zinc, sodium carbonate and lead, among others. Bearing in mind that, apart from other areas or secondary territories, coal and even oil have been found.
  • Crops in the Valley: It should be noted that the high mountain meadow is the one that covers the entire area, however, in the valleys is where the various agricultural crops of potatoes and cereals are located mainly. While in the northern part there is sheep farming.
  • Tourism: Tourism constitutes a powerful attraction of these mountains. In which the various sports that can be practiced are part of the novelties of the place, especially in the winter season. Another great attraction is the offer that is available for the stay of vacationers. Without leaving aside the great enjoyment provided by the railway, which practically crosses the mountains from side to side allowing you to appreciate its beautiful landscapes.

Rocky Mountain Geography

Geographically, the Rocky Mountains they are a system of mountain ranges, taking into account that telluric movements, as well as volcanic events, are completely common and recurrent in the area. Towards the coastal chain, it is notably folded, because it is where the friction between the Plates of the Pacific Ocean and that of the North American Subcontinent occurs. Where, this is due to the advance effect that are generated.

The adjudication that horst and graven have, make it possible to find internal basins that are relatively remote or remote. The Rocky Mountains on its eastern side show the great central plains. Regarding the West, it is the area where they go down until they are located in the basins that it has inside. Where the erosive effect experienced by the rocks is completely appreciable.

Apart towards the South side, they also go down until they take on a greater expansion, encompassing in turn a greater area in the State of Wyoming. Already for the State of Colorado, it experiences a notable narrowness, so much so that they are positioned in several small mountain ranges of smaller size.

It should be noted that the Rocky Mountains make up a relevant division of its river waters that pour into the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It also has that in many areas, dryness represents one of its notorious peculiarities, of which many associate this fact to its distance from the sea.

With which, in turn, the mountain ranges exert a certain climatic barrier causing the humidity of the winds coming from the West to stop, paralyze or immobilize. Its vegetation is characterized by being predominantly scarce, being only on the north side of the mountain, where it is covered with an extensive and very concentrated and thick coniferous forest.

Flora and Fauna of the Rocky Mountains

One of the powerful attractions of the Rocky Mountains is that it is absolutely abundant when it comes to wildlife. Thus constituting various biomes, which are the characteristic ecological units that cover an extensive surface with the same climatic condition.

As well as various ecosystems, which is the structure made up of the living beings found in the area, together with the environment that is typical, their own or particular. Bearing in mind that the whole complex has been a response to the countless erosions, as well as glaciations that have occurred during the last 60 million years.

In this sense, one has then, the wide or extensive Characteristics of biodiversity reigning, which is totally appreciable. Being common the landscapes of:

  • Tundra
  • Plain
  • Forest
  • Meadow
  • Wetlands, among others.

Forest Vegetation in the Rocky Mountains

Flora

Regarding the flora, in its variety it allows to visualize a wide range of plants provided with flowers, herbs, conifers, grasses, mosses, among others. Having a prominent vegetation of:

  • Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa)
  • Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
  • Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii)
  • Oak (Genus Quercus)
  • Alpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa)
  • Poplars (Populus sect. Aigeiros), among others.

Where, for the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, specifically in the northern area, its vegetation is given by the existence of a humid terrain with tall grasses. While in the southern area, its vegetation is the same, through a humid terrain, but the difference is that it manifests itself with herbs of small size or development.

Then everything changes above the tree line, because the only thing that will be noticeable is very few herbs and a few cushion plants, so the lack of variety is evident, which is what makes it possible to have such diverse landscapes, like those named above, which are opposite each other, on the same mountain.

Rocky Mountain Black Bear

Fauna

The fauna that is part of the Rocky Mountains it is varied throughout its extension, showing representative birds and mammals. Among those that stand out, the black bear (Ursus americanus), the white goat (Oreamnos americanus), the bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). The wolverine (Gulo gulo), Canadian lynx (Lynx canadensis), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), trumpeter swan (Cygnus buccinator). As well as the Canadian deer (Cervus canadensis), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), coyote (Canis latrans), brown bear (Ursus arctos), white-tailed grouse (Lagopus leucura), among others.

Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are located within the four National Parks:

  • Banff
  • Jasper
  • Kootenay
  • Yoho

As well as, within the three Provinces:

  • Mount Assiniboine
  • hamber
  • Mount robson

This Canadian Rocky Mountain Range is divided between the Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Of the four parks, the most attractive and the ones that par excellence receive the most tourists are Banff and Jasper.

Regarding the beauty and particularity that these show, they are classified as a true "sanctuary of nature". In which a diversity of flora will be fully appreciated, with the presence of forest, lakes, peaks, glaciers, rivers, among others. For which the variety of fauna is prominent in all its breadth.

It is characterized by having been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1984.

Banff National Park is the most remote in Canada, where it has been considered as such since 1885. In its total area of ​​6.642 square kilometers, there is a wide opportunity for unforgettable landscapes and experiences. In which the visits that cannot be avoided are those of:

  • Bow Lake and Peyto Lake.
  • Lake Louise, Lake Agnes and Moraine Lake.
  • Bow Valley Parkway and Johnston Canyon.

On the other hand, taking into account the second most visited, Jasper National Park, which is located on the North side of the Canadian Rockies. It has been cataloged with this mention since 1930 and has a total area that widely covers 10.878 square kilometers. In this park, the recommended visits that will not be forgotten due to its great beauty, are made up of:

  • Icefield Center and the Athabasca Glacier.
  • Sunwapta Falls and Athabasca Falls.
  • Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.

Wildlife of the Canadian Rockies

The Canadian Rocky Mountains are characterized by being an exuberant earthly glory, also offering the most unique fauna, which is managed throughout the park without any restriction. In which the protection implemented by park rangers is strict and according to the scope that they deserve. Where the tourists are the ones who delight, constituting this environment the best of the attractions.

It should be noted that according to the habitat, this is the fauna that will be seen, each one leading in its space. The most representative and spectacular of all is the grizzly bear, weighing more than 500 kilograms. This is followed by the black bear, which although not as impulsive and violent as the grizzly, is still a threat to watch out for.

Apart there are others that among the varied Flora it is possible to find, as they are: cougars, deer, bighorn sheep, bald eagles. As well as moose, wapití, squirrels, white mountain goats, wolves, beavers, lynxes, among others. Where some will be easier to see, while others are common sightings, both for park rangers and visitors.


Be the first to comment

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked with *

*

*

  1. Responsible for the data: Actualidad Blog
  2. Purpose of the data: Control SPAM, comment management.
  3. Legitimation: Your consent
  4. Communication of the data: The data will not be communicated to third parties except by legal obligation.
  5. Data storage: Database hosted by Occentus Networks (EU)
  6. Rights: At any time you can limit, recover and delete your information.