The largest peaks of the United States of America. Highest mountains in North America - descriptions, names

It can be conditionally divided into several regions. The northern and central parts of the continent are occupied by plains. But in the west and southeast there are mountains. There are many beautiful and scenic spots... High mountain ranges gather thousands of tourists every year. Mountaineering is developed here. No less popular are the slopes where you can snowboard and ski almost all year round. So what are they, the mountains of the North American continent? How are they unique and where are they located?

Cordillera

The Cordillera are the greatest rocky mountains in length. North America is famous for its snow-capped peaks. The highest of them are located in this mountain system. The Cordillera stretch along the western edge of the mainland, from Alaska to the central part. Then they move to the Andes, which cover southern mainland... This mountain range is crossed by many faults. They start from the ocean itself and end on land. The Cordillera emerged as a result of the convergence of two But, according to seismologists, the mountain building process is not yet fully completed. This is also evidenced by the presence of several active volcanoes, even more of them are "sleeping". Earthquakes are not uncommon in this zone. If we talk about the height of these mountains, then, perhaps, only the Himalayas can compete with them. The highest point in North America, Mount McKinley, is also in the Cordillera. Its height is 6193 meters. What else is remarkable about the Cordillera? They lie in all geographic zones, except perhaps the arctic. In addition, they are characterized by a wide variety of landscapes, as well as a pronounced altitudinal zonation. These mountains are not like others, they are unique. The beauty of the Cordillera annually attracts thousands of tourists to its slopes, who make multi-day, sometimes difficult climbs. In addition, numerous hotels have been built along their entire length, which will warmly welcome all holidaymakers.

Appalachian

The mountains and plains of North America create a unique landscape of the continent. Particularly beautiful is the place where two states border - the USA and Canada. Here is the hilly highlands of the Appalachian Mountains. Its length is 2600 km. In this mountain system, there are some noteworthy peaks. The highest of them is (1916 m). The Appalachians have traces of ancient glaciation. The slopes of these hills are covered with mixed and coniferous forests. There are deposits of iron ore, oil, gas and coal.

Northern appalachians

The Appalachians are mountains in North America, they are divided into two parts: north and south. Of course, these boundaries are conditional. The Northern Appalachians are much older than the main part. Currently, they are plateaus with a height of only 400-600 meters. Separate ridges and massifs rise above it in places. The most famous of them are the Adirondack, White Mountains, Green Mountains. Their tops are smoothed. The slopes are mostly gentle, only sometimes there are areas dissected by karas. Mountain ranges are separated by tectonic valleys. They are converted to trogs. Northern Appalachian Mountains local population have another name - "the mountains of New England". They are composed of metamorphic and crystalline rocks. These are areas of peneplained mountains, in which there are subtle traces of later uplifts. But at the same time, the effect of glaciation is clearly expressed.

Southern Appalachians

Mountains in North America, such as the South Appalachians, arose somewhat later than others. This happened around the era of the Variscian folding. Their relief is more varied. In the east - the Piedmont foothill plateau. It is even, slightly dissected by valleys. Its height is 40-80 meters. In the western part there is more hilly terrain. Here the height reaches 400 meters. But more interestingly, massive peaks rise sharply in this region. This is the Blue Ridge. Its slopes are steep. The tops are often domed or ridge-like. The highest point is Mount Mitchell. Its height is 2037 meters. It is composed of volcanic sedimentary rocks belonging to the Lower and Middle Paleozoic. The western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains drops steeply to the lowering of the Big Valley. Here is the Appalachian Plateau. The mountains are heavily divided by valleys dropping down to 1500 meters.

Sierra nevada

Of course, the most famous mountains in North America are the Sierra Nevada. Probably everyone has heard this beautiful name at least once in his life. True, not everyone knows that we are talking about a ridge stretching for west coast United States of America. Its length is 750 kilometers. The Sierra Nevada ridge originates from the Fredonier Pass in the north and reaches the Tehachapi Pass in the south. In the west, it is bordered by the California Valley. To the east, the Sierra Nevada borders the Great Basin. Of course, the most high mountains North America is not located in this area, but those that rise here can rightfully be called the most picturesque. The ridge runs along the slope from the western side. All rivers, the sources of which are on the peaks, flow into the Pacific Ocean. From north to south, the height of the mountains gradually increases. Between Lake Tahoe and the Fredonnier Pass, the peaks reach 2,400 meters. Nai highest point on this stretch of the ridge is Mount Rose. Its height is 2700 meters. On the territory there is Olancha peak (3695 m) and Florence (3781 m). Further, the height of the ridge goes down. The beauty of the Sierra Nevada Mountains can hardly be overestimated. They are known all over the world for their unique landscapes.

Eastern Sierra Madre

The highest mountains in North America are found in the Cordillera. But the unique ridges, located parallel to each other, can be found on the territory of modern Mexico, on this is the eastern part of the Sierra Madre. This mountain system is located on the edge of the Mexican Highlands. The length of the ridge is 1000 km. Its landscape is quite varied. In the north, there are several peaks, ranging in height from 1000 to 3000 m. In the south, the mountain ranges are scattered from each other. There are individual peaks up to 4000 m in height. In the western part, spurs extend to the highland in several places. In the east, the ridge ends at the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico. Most of the Eastern Sierra Madre is formed by sedimentary rocks dating back to the Upper Mesozoic period. The highest mark of the ridge is Mount Peña Nevada (4054 m). But it is not single peak worth mentioning. The mountains El Coahuilon and Cerro Potosi are no less famous.

Western Sierra Madre

These mountains in America are considered to be a continuation of the Cordillera. They are located in the territory of modern Mexico. The length of the western Sierra Madre is 1,300 km. The width of this ridge is from 80 to 200 km. It is located in the western part of the Mexican Highlands. The landscape of these places is not monotonous. The ridges are separated by canyons of different depths. The mountains are relatively low: from 1500 to 2000 m. But there are individual peaks reaching 3000 km. For example, the most popular mountain in this region is Chorreras. Its height is 3150 m. The Western Sierra Madre passes through several Mexican states: Sonora, Chihuahua, Zacatecas, Durango, Guanajuato, Aguascalientes. But this ridge begins southeast of Tucson, in American Arizona.

South Sierra Madre

The South Sierra Madre are ancient mountains in America. Their age is difficult to determine. But, despite this, it has been proven that they were formed much earlier than the rest of the mountain systems. Located in the south of Mexico, this ridge is 1000 km long. It runs along coastline The Pacific Ocean. South Sierra Madre begins in the state of Michoacan. Then it goes in the direction of the Tehuantepec isthmus. It crosses Mexican states such as Guerrero and Oaxaca, where it merges with the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The width of the South Sierra Madre is 300 km. These mountains are not high, only some of the peaks reach heights above 3000 m. But, despite this, this region is a major obstacle to transport links between the interior of Mexico and the Pacific coast. The highest point of the South Sierra Madre is Mount Teotepec (3703 m).

Coastal ridge

The coastal range is the mountains of North America, on the map they can be found in the very west of the mainland. They originate from Lake Atlin. Conventionally, they end near In fact, the Coastal Range is part of the Cordillera mountain system. But it is customary to separate it into an independent massif due to its location and some isolation. The length of the ridge is 1600 km. Its width reaches 300 m. The highest mark is Mount Waddington. Its height is 4016 meters. The rest of the peaks do not exceed 3000 meters. This mountain range is made of granite. It is strongly dissected by fjords and transverse valleys that have arisen along tectonic cracks. Garibaldi Provincial Park is located on the territory of the Coastal Range. It is one of the most visited tourist destinations in British Columbia.

Wrangel Mountains

The high mountains of North America, located in the southeast of Alaska, can rightfully be called unique. The Wrangel volcanic massif has a length of 150 kilometers. In the east, it adjoins the ridge of St. Elijah. The Wrangel Mountains were formed relatively recently, in the Neogene. Once active volcanoes are concentrated here. Almost all of them are asleep. But there are also active ones, for example, the Wrangel volcano. It has a height of 4317 meters. Among the mountains with a crater summit, the most famous are Sanford (4949 m) and the highest point of the Wrangel Ridge - Blackburn Peak (4996 m). Glaciers are concentrated in the central part of the mountain range. The slopes are covered with tundra forests. There is a national park on the Wrangel and St. Elijah ridges. Many places here are absolutely untouched by humans. This makes this region truly unique and unrepeatable.

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Mountain peaks

• Black Mesa
  Table Mountain on a volcanic plateau in the far northwest of Oklahoma, in the Panhandle State, near the administrative boundaries with the states of New Mexico and Colorado. Panhandle is a waterless, almost treeless region of the Great Plains, 269 km long and 55 km wide. It is the highest peak in the state - 1516 m.
• Britton Hill
  Hill, the highest point in Florida. Height above sea level - 105 m. This is the lowest of the highest points of all states, below Ebright Azimuth (Delaware) by almost 30 m and even the highest point of the Federal District of Columbia (125 m). This is more than half the height of the hotel. Four seasons in Miami, Florida's tallest building.
• Hamilton
  Mountain in the state of California, USA. Mount Hamilton is located in central California, near its Pacific coast, and is part of the Diablo Range. Its height reaches 1329 meters. Mount Hamilton is the highest point in California Santa Clara County and the entire San Francisco Bay Area. Mount Hamilton is home to one of the largest in the United States, the Lick Astronomical Observatory.
• Gunnet Peak
  Mountain peak in Wyoming (USA). The height of the summit above sea level is 4209 m, relative - 2157 m. This is the highest point in the state. Geologically, Gunnet Peak is part of the Wind River Ridge. The mountain is located in Eastern Wyoming on the border of Sublett and Fremont counties. The Gunnet Glacier (3.63 km²) on the mountain is the largest glacier in the American Rocky Mountains.
• Granite Peak
  Mountain in Montana. Height above sea level - 3904 m, relative - 1451 m, this is the highest peak in the state. Geologically, the mountain is part of the Beartut ridge. Granite Peak is located in Park County, close to the borders with Carbon and Stillwater Counties and 16 kilometers north of Wyoming.
• Jerimoth Hill
  The upland on which the highest point of Rhode Island is located. Height above sea level - 247 m. Jerimoth Hill is located in the small town of Foster in Providence County in the west of the state, near the border with Connecticut. The top of the hill is exposed rock.
• Pikes Peak
  Mountain in the central region of the United States, in the state of Colorado, in the chain of the Rocky Mountains. Located 16 kilometers west of Colorado Springs. The most south peak spur Front Range, rises in South Park at an altitude of 4291 m above sea level. Pikes Peak is a National Historic Landmark.
• Rushmore
  A mountain in the Black Hills, southwest of Keystone in South Dakota, USA. The mountain is famous for the fact that in its granite rock is carved a giant bas-relief 18.6 meters high, containing sculptural portraits of four US presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.
• Harney Peak
  The mountain, the highest point in South Dakota, is located in the Black Hills massif, is 2,207 m high, is also the highest point in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains and the highest point in the Black Hills massif.
• Elbert
  Mountain in Colorado in Lake County. Height - 4399 m above sea level, this is the highest peak of the state and the Rocky Mountains, and in the 48 Continental states is second only to Mount Whitney. The relative height is 2765 m.

Mountain ranges

• Cascade mountains
  A large mountain range in western North America, stretching from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to northern California. The Cascade Mountains are part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, which includes volcanoes and associated mountains along the entire Pacific coast. Most of the known eruptions in the United States are associated precisely with the volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains.
• Absaroka
  It is a mountain range in the United States Rocky Mountains. It stretches from southern Montana through Yellowstone National Park to northwest Wyoming, crossing Gallatin, Shoshone and Caster (national forest). The length of the ridge is 312 km, the highest point is Franks Peak (4009 m).
• Alaska ridge
  Relatively narrow mountain range 650 km long in Alaska, USA. The highest peak in North America - Mount McKinley is located on the Alaska Ridge. Part of the ridge is located in the Yukon Territory.
• Coastal ridges
  The westernmost chain of mountain ranges stretching along the coast of North America from Alaska to central. The coastal ranges are part of the Cordillera mountain range. The ridges stretch along the Pacific coast for 7240 km in the United States, 1600 km in Canada and 1300 km in Mexico.
• Brooks ridge
  Polar mountain range located in the northwest of North America. It runs from west to east of the Alaska Peninsula (it covers the American state of the same name and the northwestern tip of the Canadian territory of Yukon). The total length is about 970 km, the average height is 2000-2500 m.
• Blue Mountains
  It is a mountain range in northeastern Oregon, southeastern Washington, and east of the Cascade Mountains. The area of ​​the chain is 49,770 km². The highest peak is Rock Greek Butte (2776 m). Most of the mountain range is occupied by national forests.
• Wrangel Mountains
  High-mountain volcanic massif in the southeast of Alaska, in the east adjoins the St. Elijah Ridge. The length (from northwest to southeast) is about 150 km. Formed in the Neogene. Volcanoes: extinct - Blackburn (height - 4996 m; the highest point of the Wrangel Mountains), Sanford (4949 m), active - Wrangel Volcano (4317 m).
• Caribou
  A mountain range in British Columbia, part of the Columbia Ridge, located both in the United States (up to the city of Spokane, Washington) and includes, in addition to the Caribou, the Selkirks, Monashi and Purcell ranges. The Caribou Mountains are completely within and have an area of ​​7700 km² and a length (from southeast to northwest) of 245 km (width of about 90 km).
• Cordillera of North America
  Part of the Cordillera mountain range, stretched along the western edge of North America (including Central America). The length is more than 9000 km, the width is 800-1600 km. The area of ​​glaciation is 67 thousand km². Many large rivers originate in the Cordilleras of North America - the Yukon, Mackenzie, Peace, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande. Tourism and mining are developed in the mountains.
• Olympic
  A mountain range in the North America Coast Range system, in the state of Washington (USA). Located on the Olympic Peninsula. The ridge is composed of quartzites, shales and intrusive rocks. The highest peak is Mount Olympus (2724 m).
• Front ridge
  A mountain range in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains in the United States, adjacent to the west of the Great Plains. The ridge stretches from south to north for 274 km. The highest point is Mount Grace Peak (4349 m).
• Presidential ridge
  A mountain range located in the White Mountains, primarily in Coos County, New Hampshire, USA. The most notable peaks are named after prominent Americans: either famous figures of the 18th or 19th centuries, or presidents of the United States.
• Saint Elijah Mountains
  A mountain range in the Cordillera system, and Alaska. In the northwest it converges with the Wrangel mountains, in the west - with the Chugach mountains. Length 550 km. Height up to 5956 m - Mount Logan. The highest peaks of Canada are part of the ridge.
• Rocky Mountains
  The main mountain range in the Cordillera system of North America, in the western United States and Canada, between 60 and 32 ° N. The Rocky Mountains stretch 4,830 kilometers from north to south from the northernmost point in British Columbia (Canada) to New Mexico in the southwestern United States. The width of the mountains reaches 700 kilometers.
• Titon
  A mountain range in Wyoming, part of the Rocky Mountain system. The highest point is Mount Grand Teton (4197 m). Other peaks are Mount Owen (3940 m) and Mount Moran (3842 m). Geologically, the ridge is composed of granite and gneisses. The mountains were formed 6-9 million years ago.
• White Mountains
  A mountain range located in the United States and occupying a quarter of New Hampshire and a small area in western Maine. It is part of the Appalachian mountain range, which is considered the most rugged in New England.
• Wind River
  A mountain range in the west of Wyoming (USA), in the Rocky Mountain system. The ridge is about 200 km long. The highest point is Gunnet Peak (4207 m). Along the axis of the ridge there are outcrops of ancient granites, on the slopes - limestones and sandstones. There are traces of ancient glaciation. The slopes are covered with coniferous forests, on the peaks there are alpine meadows.
• Wasatch
  Ridge in the western United States; is part of the Rocky Mountains. Extends approximately 260 km from the Utah-Idaho border to the south, to central Utah. It represents the western border of the Rocky Mountains and the eastern border of the region known as the Great Basin.
• Ouoshito
  A mountain range in the central United States, in the states of Arkansas and Oklahoma. The ridge is 496 km long. The maximum height is 839 m.

Passes

• Marias
  Pass in the Rocky Mountains, located near Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana, USA. The pass is crossed by a rail line used by several companies and Highway 2. The altitude is 5,213 feet (1,588 m).
• White
  Mountain pass over the Boundari Ridge on the border between the United States and Canada. The pass was discovered by surveyors from the team of William Ogilvy, and in the late 1890s it became the second route after Chilkut for prospectors to the places of the Klondike gold rush. After the construction of the railway through the pass, it became the main road in the region. With time railroad replaced the car.
• Chilkut
  Mountain pass over the Boundari Ridge on the border between the United States and Canada. The pass was used by the Indians, and in the late 1890s, the main route of prospectors to the places of the Klondike gold rush passed through it.
• Echo Summit
  Mountain pass in the west of El Dorado County, California. Elevation 2250 m. This is the highest point of Highway 50, which crosses it at 66.48 miles from Twin Bridges to Meyers south of Lake Tahoe.

The mountains

• Appalachian
  Mountain range in eastern North America, the United States and Canada. Length 2600 km. The Northern Appalachians (north of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers) are hilly plateaus with separate massifs up to 1916 m high (Mount Washington), which have traces of ancient glaciation. The southern Appalachians in the axial zone consist of parallel ridges and massifs, separated by wide valleys; the Piedmont Plateau adjoins the axial zone from the east, and the Appalachian Plateau from the west. Height up to 2037 m (Mount Mitchell). Deposits of coal, oil and gas, iron ores, titanium. Broad-leaved, coniferous and mixed forests. Formed in the Permian period as a result of the collision of two continents (the emergence of Pangea).
• Cordillera
  The greatest in length mountain system in the world, stretching along the western outskirts of North and South America, from 66 ° N. NS. (Alaska) to 56 ° S NS. (Tierra del Fuego). Cordillera formed at the junction of two lithospheric plates, in a zone of compression of the earth's crust. This strip is crossed here by many faults that start from the ocean floor and end on land. The mountain-building process is not yet completed here, as evidenced by strong earthquakes and volcanic eruptions (for example, Orizaba and Popocatepetl in the Mexican Highlands).
• Northern Mesa
  Highlands and USA, in the northern Mexican Highlands, between the East and West Sierra Madre. The plateau includes vast flat basins (bolsons) and individual mountain ranges. The bottoms of the basins lie at an altitude of 600 m in the north and 2000 m in the south. The relative height of the ridges is 600–1000 m.
• Bora Peak
  A mountain in Idaho, located in Custer County. Height above sea level - 3859 m, this is the highest point of the state. Geologically belongs to the Lost River Ridge of the Rocky Mountains. The mountain is named in honor of William Bohr, the permanent senator from 1907–1940.
• Colombia
  Mountain range in Canada and the USA. 75% of the mountains are located in the southeastern part of British Columbia, 17% in Washington state, 5% in Idaho, 3% in Montana The mountains consist of four main ranges - the Monashi, Selkirk, Purcell and Caribou mountains, which stretch from north to south by 741 km and from east to west - by 493 km.
• Selkirk
  A mountain range in northern Idaho, eastern Washington, and southeastern British Columbia. Begins near Coeur d'Alene in Kootenay County, Idaho (south) and extends more than 320 km north of the border. Together with the nearby Monashi and Purcell ranges, as well as the Caribou range, Selkirk is part of the large Columbia mountain range.
• Aleutian ridge
  A mountain range on the Alaska Peninsula (USA), which is the eastern continuation of the Aleutian Islands ridge. The ridge is about 1000 km long. The ridge is formed by a chain of young Neogene-Quaternary volcanic cones up to 2500–3000 m high.
• Bohm Canal - Radierd Bay
  A group of volcanoes in the Alexander Archipelago, Alaska. In the United States. Boehm Canal - Radierd Bay consists of cinder cones and lava flows, the highest points of which are about 500 meters. They consist mainly of basalts, to a lesser extent of trachyandesites, olivines and basalts. Solidified lavas are found in the east and south of the island, as well as in the river sediments of the island and the coastal part of the island.
• Coastal ridge
  The westernmost chain of mountain ranges stretching along the coast of North America from Lake Atlin to the Fraser River. The Coastal Range is part of the Pacific Coast Ranges of the Cordillera mountain range.
• Blackburn
  An extinct thyroid volcano in the Wrangel Mountains, Alaska, USA. It is the fifth highest peak in the United States and the twelfth highest in North America, the second highest volcano in the United States and the fifth highest in North America. It got its name during the 1885 expedition in honor of Joseph Blackburn, US Senator from Kentucky.
• Veniaminov volcano
  An active stratovolcano in the central part of the Alaska Peninsula. The summit of the volcano is the highest point of the peninsula and one of the highest in the Aleutian ridge. The volcano's caldera is almost completely covered by a glacier.
• Wrangel volcano
  An active volcano in the mountains of the same name in Alaska, USA. The age of the volcano is about 610 thousand years. Subsequently, glaciers and eruptions, the kind of volcano destroyed. Over the past 210 years, 15 large eruptions and many small ones have been recorded, the last of which was in 2005. To the east is Sanford Volcano.
• Vsevidov volcano
  Stratovolcano in Alaska, USA, one of the 6 most active volcanoes Aleutian Islands. Its peak is the highest point on Umnak, one of the eastern islands Aleutov. Its symmetrical cone rises sharply above its surroundings.
• Iliamna
  An active volcano in North America, on the Alaska Peninsula, is located in the northern part of the Aleutian Range. Located approximately 215 km (134 mi) southwest of Anchorage. Height above sea level - 3053 m. The slopes of the volcano drop off abruptly to the western shore of the Cook Bay.
• Kanaga
  An active stratovolcano at the northern tip of Kanaga Island in the Aleutian Islands system. Located 25 km west of the port on the island of Adah. The volcano erupted for most of 1994.
• Katmai
  An active stratovolcano, or in another way a layered volcano, in the south of the Alaska Peninsula, located in the Katmai National Park. The volcano, reaching 10 km in diameter, has a central caldera filled with a lake measuring 4.5 × 3 km, which was formed during the eruption of Novarupta volcano in 1912. The maximum height of Katmay, on which the caldera lies, is 2047 meters above sea level.
• Kenai
  Mountain range in the United States in the state of Alaska. The ridge is about 192 kilometers long. The mountains are covered with glaciers, from the melting of which the Kenai and Russian rivers take their waters.
• McKinley
  Two-headed mountain in Alaska, the highest mountain in North America. Located in the center of Denali National Park. Named after the 25th President of the United States of America, William McKinley. Height 6168 m.
• Martin
  Active stratovolcano in Alaska, USA. The volcano was formed at the beginning of the Kainoizoi and has been active since then. In 1577, there was a major eruption that destroyed the western flank of the volcano. As a result of this eruption, 130 people died.
• Novarupta
  Volcano in Alaska. The volcano is located at the base of the Alaska Peninsula, geologically belongs to the Aleutian ridge. On the territory in 1980, Katmai National Park was formed.
• Volcano Pavlova
  An active stratovolcano located near the southern tip of the Alaska Peninsula. The diameter of the volcano is about 7 km, active outcrops are located on the northern and eastern slopes near the summit. The top of the volcano (2519 m). The volcano has a second peak adjacent to Pavlov, therefore this complex of volcanoes is often called the Pavlov Sisters. The height of the second peak is about 2100 meters.
• Redout
  An active stratovolcano, located in Alaska, is part of the Aleutian ridge. The volcano is located west of Cook Bay, the closest locality Anchorage is located 180 km northeast. Redout Volcano rises 2,700 meters above the valleys surrounding it from the north, south and southeast, it is the highest mountain within the ridge.
• Mount Saint Elijah
  A mountain in Canada and the United States, located on the border of Alaska and the Yukon Territory. Height above sea level - 5489 m, relative - 3429 m, this is the second highest peak of both Canada (after Mount Logan) and the United States (after McKinley). Geologically, the mountain is part of the ridge of the same name.
• Tanaga
  Stratovolcano at the northern tip of Tanaga Island in the Aleutian Islands system. There is another one to the east of the main peak.
• Forepeak
  An active stratovolcano, located in Alaska, is part of the Aleutian volcanic arc. Height above sea level - 2105 m.
• Chiginagak
  Stratovolcano in Lake and Peninsula Borough, Alaska, USA. Located on the territory of the Alaska Peninsula National Reserve, it was named in 1888. Height - 2135 meters above sea level, according to other sources - 2221 meters or even 2434 meters.
• Chugach mountains
  Mountain range in Alaska. Geologically, the ridge belongs to the Pacific Cordillera, located in the south of Alaska, east of the Kenai Peninsula to the western part of the St. Elijah Mountains. Chugach is limited by the valleys of the Matanuska and Copper rivers. On the peaks there are glaciers with an area of ​​21.6 thousand km². The highest point is Mount Markus Baker (4016 m).
• Edgecomb
  An extinct volcano on Cruz Island in Alaska, USA. Its crater-caldera is well expressed in relief, and the cone itself is practically not shown. Three eruptions are known: 2,220 years ago, 900 years ago and in the 19th century.
• Amber
  Andesitic stratovolcano in Lake and Peninsula borough, Alaska, USA. Located on the territory of the Alaska Peninsula National Reserve, the height is 1345 meters above sea level, according to other sources - 1336 meters. It got its name in honor of the nearby Yantarny Bay, which in turn was named by Russian explorers of Alaska in the 19th century due to the abundance of amber here.
• Uinta
  A mountain range in northeastern Utah and southern Wyoming, USA. It is part of the Rocky Mountains, as well as the highest ridge in the continental states, running from east to west. Located approximately 160 km east of Salt Lake City. The highest point of the ridge is Mount Kings Peak, which is 4123 m high.
• Monks
  A mountain range located mainly in the southeast of the Canadian province of British Columbia and also in the northeast of Washington state, USA. It is part of the Columbia mountain range. It stretches about 530 km from north to south and 150 km from west to east. The eastern border of the ridge is the Columbia River and Arrow Lakes, behind which the Selkirk ridge is already located.
• Olympus
  A mountain in western Washington State (Jefferson County), the highest point of the Olympic Peninsula. The mountain is 2429 m above sea level, located in the center of the Olympic National Park, and temperate rain forests grow on the slopes of the mountains.
• Rainier
  Stratovolcano in Washington state. The mountain is located 88 km southeast of Seattle in Pierce County. Altitude - 4392 m (as of 1988 - 14,411 feet), this is the highest point of the Cascade Mountains. The relative height is 4030 m, which is higher than that of Chogori, the second peak in the world (4020 m) in absolute height (8611 m). In clear weather, the summit is visible from Portland (Oregon) and Victoria (Vancouver Island).
• Saint Helens
  An active stratovolcano located in Skamania County, Washington, USA, 154 kilometers south of Seattle and 85 kilometers from Portland, Oregon.
• Green mountains
  Mountain range in Vermont (USA). It is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The length is up to 400 km.
• Killington
  The second highest mountain in the Green Mountains and Vermont. The mountain is located in Rutland County, the height above sea level is 1291 m, the relative height is 1010 m, the highest in Vermont.
• Mansfield
  The highest point in the state of Vermont. The mountain has several peaks located almost on the same line.
• Taconic
  The Appalachian mountain range is located in eastern New York State, northwestern Connecticut, western Massachusetts, and southwestern Vermont. To the east of Takonik are the Berkshires, to the northeast are the Green Mountains, which are part of the same mountain system.
• Allegans
  Mountains in the Appalachian system, eastern part of the Allegheny Plateau. Located in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. The height of the mountains is mainly 600-1300 m above sea level, the highest point is Sprus-Nob (1481 m).
• Springer
  Mountain in the Blue Ridge Ridge (Appalachian Mountains). Height above sea level - 1153 m. Springer is located in the Chattahuchi-Okoni National Forest.
• Stone Mountain
  One of the Appalachian mountains, a monolith. One of the largest monoliths in North America. Located in the USA, Georgia. The summit is 512 meters above sea level, or about 250 meters above the surrounding plain.
• Wetterhorn Peak
  Mountain in Colorado, USA. It is located in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Conservation Area in the northern San Juan Mountains, Hinsdale County, 14 kilometers east of Ourey.
• Democrat
  The mountain peak, part of the Mosquito Ridge, is located in Lake and Park Counties, Colorado, USA. The height of the summit is 4314.5 meters above sea level with a relative height of 228 meters.
• Matterhorn Peak
  Mountain in Colorado, USA. It is located in the Uncompahgre Wilderness Conservation Area, in the northern San Juan Mountains, Hinsdale County, 15 kilometers east of Ourey.
• Garden of the Gods
  Public park in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.
• Cheyenne
  A mountain in the state of Colorado (USA), in the vicinity of the city of Colorado Springs, the location of the underground complex NORAD (Joint Command Center for Aerospace Defense of North America.
• Berkshires
  The Appalachian Ridge is located in northwestern Connecticut and western Massachusetts east of the Taconic Ridge. In the north, on the border with Vermont, the Berkshires pass into the Green Mountains.
• Metacomet Ridge
  A mountain range in southern New England. Geologically, the Metacomet Ridge is a fault that runs along the Connecticut River Valley for 160 km south from Long Island Sound north to Franklin County in Massachusetts. Unlike the Appalachians, Metacomet was formed during the Triassic-Jurassic periods. The ridge is composed of volcanic basalt and sedimentary rocks.
• Frissell
  A mountain located on the border of Lichfield, Connecticut and Berkshire, Massachusetts, and less than a kilometer from the border with New York State. The height of the mountain top is 747 m above sea level, which is the highest point of the state of Connecticut.
• Greylock
  A mountain in the Berkshire Ridge in Berkshire County in western Massachusetts. The mountain is 1,064 meters above sea level - this is the highest point in the state and the Berkshire Range.
• Apikuni
  A mountain peak with a height of 2764 m (according to other sources - 2740 m), located on the Lewis Ridge in the northeastern part of Glacier National Park in the American state of Montana.
• Lewis
  Mountain range 260 km long, located in the Rocky Mountains in the northern part of the US state of Montana and the southern part of the Canadian province of Alberta. It arose as a result of the Lewis Thrust, which began about 170 million years ago. Massive Precambrian sediments 5 km thick, 80 km wide and 260 km long lie on top of Cretaceous sediments.
• Triple Divide Peak
  Mountain in Glacier National Park, Montana, USA. It is an important hydrological peak: at this point, the main watershed (continental watershed of North America) and the watershed of the Laurentian Upland meet.
• Cadillac
  A mountain on Mount Desert Island, the highest point of Hancock County, as well as of all the islands and 40 km of New England coastline. The height of the mountain is 470 m above sea level.
• Katadin
  A mountain in the Appalachians, the highest peak in Maine and the sixth highest in New England. The mountain is located in Piskatakis County near the border with Penobscot County. The mountain is also known to be the northern point of the Appalachian Trail, which is about 3,500 km long, the most famous trekking route.
• Washington
  The tallest mountain in the northeastern region of the United States with a height of 1,917 meters. The mountain is known for dangerously changeable weather and long time held the record for the maximum wind speed measured on the earth's surface - 103.3 m / s.
• Gailhead
  A mountain in New Hampshire, located in Grafton County. Height above sea level - 1227 m. Gailhead is located in the Twin Range of the White Mountains. On the slopes of the mountain are the headwaters of the North Branch Gale.
• Monadnock
  Mountain in New England State of New Hampshire. Known for her presence in the works of American writers Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Emerson. It is the highest point in Cheshire County and has the fame of the mountain that is most often climbed in the world.
• Old Man Mountain
  A junction of 5 granite ridges on Mount Cannon in New Hampshire, USA, associated with a wrinkled face at certain angles. The rocky formation was at an altitude of 370 meters above the level of Lake Profail with dimensions of 12 meters in height and 7.6 meters in width.
• Adirondack
  A mountain range in northeastern New York State. Sometimes it is included in the Appalachian mountain system, although it has a different geological origin. The highest point is Mount Marcy (1629 m).
• Catskill
  The Spurs of the Appalachians are located in the state of New York, USA, northwest of New York and southwest of Albany. Formed as a result of the destruction of the plateau. They are a favorite vacation spot for residents of New York and other cities.
• Belknap
  Volcano. Located in Oregon, USA. Belknap is a shield volcano, 2095 meters high. Located north of Three Sisters Volcano, near Mackenzie Pass in the Cascade Mountains of the Cordillera system. The top of the volcano is covered with snow in winter.
• Blue Lake
  Dormant volcano. Located in Oregon, USA. Blue Lake is a maar located at an altitude of 1230 meters. Consists of at least 3 overlapping craters.
• Jefferson
  Extinct stratovolcano in the United States (Oregon), in the central part of the Cascade Mountains. Altitude - 3199 m. It is the second highest peak in Oregon. Located 169 km east of the city of Corvallis. The volcano with the surrounding area is highlighted in National park... One of the state's most spectacular looking peaks.
• Mount Hood
  Stratovolcano. Located in North America, Oregon in the USA. Located in the north of the state, 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Portland. It is the highest mountain peak in Oregon and the fourth highest in the Cascade Mountains.
• Klingmans Dome
  A mountain in the United States, located on the border of the states of North Carolina (Swain County) and Tennessee (Sevi County). Height - 2025 m above sea level, relative altitude - 1373 m.
• Mitchell
  Mountain in North Carolina, USA. The highest mountain in the Appalachians. Height above sea level - 2037 m, elevation - 1 856 m. This is the highest point in the United States east of the Mississippi.
• Guadalupe
  A mountain located in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas (USA). The height of the mountain is 2667 m (according to other sources - 2664 m). Its summit is the highest point in Texas.
• El Capitan
  A mountain located in the Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas (USA). The height of the mountain is 2464 m.
• Emory
  A mountain located in the Big Bend National Park in Texas (USA). The height of the mountain is 2385 m.
• Delano Peak
  Mountain peak in North America. Located in Utah, USA. Located in National Reserve Fishlake. The height of the mountain is 3711 m above sea level. Named after Columbus Delano, Minister of the Interior in President Grant's administration.
• Kings Peak
  Mountain in the USA. Highest point in Utah. The mountain is located in the northeast of the state, 72 km north of the city of Duchesne. The height of the mountain is 4123 m above sea level. The peak was named for the first director of the United States Geological Survey.
• Diablo
  Mountain peak in North America. Located in California, USA. Located south of the city of Clayton. The height of the mountain is 1178 m above sea level. Is an isolated array in California.
• Klamath
  A mountain range in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, USA. The highest points of the ridge: Mount Eddy (2751 m), Thompson Peak (2741 m) and Mount Ashland (2296 m). In geological terms, it is characterized by great diversity.
• Lassen Peak
  An active volcano in North America, located in the southern part of the Cascade Mountains. It is 3,187 m above sea level and rises 2,000 feet (610 m) above the surrounding terrain, making it one of the largest lava domes on Earth.
• Langley
  A mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada massif in the western Cordillera in North America. Located in California, USA. The height of the mountain is 4275 m above sea level.
• Matterhorn Peak
  Mountain in the Sierra Nevada, in western California, USA, on northern border Yosemite National Park. Its height is 3,743 meters above sea level. It is the highest peak in the alpine-type Southuf Ridge mountain range and north peak above 3,700 m in the Sierra Nevada.
• Middle Palisade
  Mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada system, 4,271 m high. It is located in the state of California. It is the twelfth highest peak in the state.
• Muir
  A mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada massif in the western Cordillera in North America. Located in California, USA. The height of the mountain is 4273 m above sea level.
• North Palisade
  The third highest mountain in the Sierra Nevada massif in California (4 341 m), the fourth highest in California, the thirty-first in the United States. There is a small glacier on the side of the mountain (Palisades Glacier). The northern slope of the mountain is one of the popular climbing walls.
• Russell
  Mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada system in California, USA.
• San Bernardino
  Mountain range in southern California, USA. Extends approximately 97 km from the San Gabriel Ridge in the northwest to the San Jacinto Ridge in the southeast. The Cajon Pass separates the ridge from the San Gabriel Mountains, and the San Gorgonio Pass from the San Jacinto Mountains. The highest point of the ridge is Mount San Gorgonio (3505 m), the second highest mountain is Jepson (3415 m).
• San gabriel
  Along a range of mountains in southwestern California. The latitudinal, rather than near-meridian, orientation of the San Gabriel Mountains is associated with the bend in the San Andreas Fault. Areas of continental crust on the Pacific Plate west of the San Andreas Fault in this section are compressed and uplifted. The mountains are tectonically limited: in the north - by the San Andreas fault, in the south and southwest - by the upthrust, in the east - by the San Jacinto fault.
• San Jacinto
  A mountain range east of Los Angeles, southern California, United States. It stretches for 48 km from the San Bernardino ridge in the north to the Santa Rosa ridge in the south. The northernmost ridge in the Peninsular Ridge Group, which stretches from here up to the southern point of the California Peninsula for almost 1,500 km.
• Santa ana
  Mountain range in southern California, USA. Located approximately 56 kilometers southeast of the Los Angeles Valley, along the Orange / Riverside County border. Santa Ana continues with the Chino mountain range in the north and the hilly Puente range in the southeast.
• Santa rose
  A short mountain range in the Peninsular Ranges group, which in turn is a part of the Coastal Ridges group. Located east of the Los Angeles Valley and northeast of San Diego, southern California, USA.
• Saint Helina
  Summit in the Mayakmas Mountains with slopes in Napa, Sonoma and Lake Counties in California, USA. Consists of 2.4 million years old volcanic rock ejected from the Clear Lake volcanic field. It is one of the few mountains in the San Francisco Bay area where snow falls in winter.
• Sentinel Dome
  A mountain located in the Yosemite National Park in California (USA). The upper part of the mountain is a granite dome. The height of the mountain is 2476 m.
• Sill
  Mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada system in California, USA. The Payut Indians called the mountain Nen-i-mish, literally "Guardian of the Valley."
• Siskiyu
  A mountain range in northwestern California and southwestern Oregon, USA. Located in the northern part of the Klamath mountains. It stretches in the form of an arc for about 160 km from southwest to northeast.
• Split
  A mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada massif in the western Cordillera in North America. Located in California, USA. The height of the mountain is 4287 m above sea level.
• Sierra nevada
  Mountain system, a ridge in the western belt of the Cordillera in North America, passing through almost the entire eastern part state of California. The name of the ridge is of Spanish origin, literally meaning "snowy mountains" - as Father Pedro Font called them during the second trip of Juan Bautista de Anse in 1776.
• Tyndall
  A mountain peak in the Sierra Nevada massif in the western Cordillera in North America. Located in California, USA. The height of the mountain is 4275 m above sea level. Located approximately 2.4 kilometers west of Mount Williamson.
• White Mountain Peak
  Mountain peak in the White Mountains system. Located in California, USA. The height of the mountain is 4342 m above sea level.
• Williamson
  Mountain peak in the Cordillera mountain system. Its height is 4390 m. It is the second highest in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and the second highest in the state of California. The sixth highest peak in the continental United States (excluding Alaska). Located about 9 kilometers north of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the Sierra Nevada massif.
• Whitney
  The highest point of the Sierra Nevada ridge is located in the state of California, USA. The western slope of the mountain is located in the Sequoia National Park. The mountain was named after the 19th century American geologist Josie Whitney.
• Half Dome
  Granite rock (monolith), very popular with tourists and one of the symbols of Yosemite National Park. Located in the central part of the Sierra Nevada Range (California, USA). It is one of the largest monoliths in North America. The summit is located at an altitude of 2,694 m above sea level and rises 1,450 m above the Yosemite Valley. Consists of granite.
• Shasta
  Stratovolcano in the Cascade Mountains system in California, USA. The adjacent town of Mount Shasta is named after the mountain.
• Eddie
  Mountain peak in North America. Located in California, USA. Located in the Klamath Mountains west of the Shasta volcano. The height of the mountain is 2751 m above sea level. Mount Eddie is the tallest peak in Trinity County, California's ninth highest peak. There is a lot of snow on Mount Eddie in winter.
• El Capitan
  One of the largest mountain peaks - monoliths in North America. Located in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. The summit is at an altitude of 2307 meters above sea level, or about 910 meters above the Yosemite Valley. Consists of granite, on the eastern slope of the mountain there is a "fiery" waterfall "Horse's Tail".

The Cordillera of North America is the northern part of the Cordillera mountain system, stretching along the Pacific coast of the mainland for nine thousand kilometers, and in width diverging by more than one and a half thousand kilometers. They begin at, their southern border is the valley of the Mexican Balsas River, separating North and Central America, to the south - the South Sierra Madre mountains, belonging to the Cordillera of Central America, which pass into the Andes, forming the longest mountain system of the Earth with a length of more than 18 thousand km ...
These mountains cross the territory of three countries in North America: the United States (from Alaska to California), Canada and Mexico.
The history of the formation of the Cordillera of North America is incredibly complex, primarily due to the large area of ​​this object and the considerable duration of its formation: for example, the age of the rocks of the vast Colorado plateau and the eastern ridges of the Rocky Mountains is about 2.4 billion years. The process of the formation of the Cordillera of North America is still in an active phase, earthquakes are not uncommon here, and volcanic eruptions also occur.
In the configuration of this part of the Cordillera, three longitudinal mountain belts are clearly visible.
Eastern, also known as the belt with the Elbert peak, is a chain of high massive ridges. In the east, it is bounded by a sharp ledge, which is the border of the foothill plateaus (Arctic plateau, Great Plains), and in the west it is bounded by deep tectonic depressions called the "Moat of the Rocky Mountains", or the valleys of large rivers like the Rio Grande. The southernmost section of the eastern belt forms the Eastern Sierra Madre with a height of about 4 km.
The inner belt is enclosed between the eastern belt and the western belt of the Pacific ridges. In Alaska, these are vast tectonic depressions occupied by river valleys and alternating with relatively low mountain ranges; in Canada, there are numerous high plateaus under 2.5 km in height; within the USA and Mexico itself, there are high mountain ranges and volcanic plateaus.
The western (Pacific) belt, which includes the highest ridges, consists of a belt of Pacific ridges, a belt of intermontane depressions, and a belt of coastal chains. The Pacific Ridge Belt includes the Alaska Ridge with the highest point of the entire continent - Denali Peak. Part of the western belt are large mountains - the Cascade, the Sierra Nevada ridge and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra. Most of the peaks of the local mountains are cones of active and extinct volcanoes 4 km and higher, the most famous are Rainier, Orizaba, Popocatepetl and Nevada de Colima.
In the depressions between the mountain ranges, sedimentary rocks accumulated for a long time, as a result, huge deposits of various minerals were formed throughout the Cordillera of North America, and metal ores in the thickness of the mountains. There are oil deposits in the Canadian Cordilleran foredeep and in depressions in Alaska and California, in the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada and Sierra Madre - ores of gold, tungsten, copper, molybdenum, polymetals, in the Coast Ridges - mercury and everywhere - deposits of rock coal.
Glaciers occupy almost 70 thousand km 2, most are located in the Alaska mountains, among them Bering is the largest mountain glacier in North America (some glaciologists believe that the whole world).
In the Cordillera lie the sources and headwaters of many large rivers in North America: Yukon, Saskatchewan, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande. There are lakes, many of them are salty, the most famous is Bolshoe Salt.
The Cordillera of North America is the northern part of the Cordillera mountain range, stretching along the western edge of North America and in Central America.
The length of the Cordillera North America is great, this explains the noticeable difference in landscapes - depending on the latitudinal position of the mountain system.
The natural landscapes of the Cordilleras of North America along their entire length, due to their considerable height, have a pronounced altitudinal zonation, which is in many respects typical of such large mountainous regions.
The division of the Cordillera zone of North America into four main natural regions is accepted: the Northwest, the Canadian Cordillera, the US Cordillera, and the Mexican Cordillera.
Northwest (Alaska Cordillera) occupies most of the American and Canadian Yukon Plateau. Here is the kingdom of high mountain ranges with powerful glaciation, the climate is from arctic to temperate. Vegetation is poor, because everywhere is permafrost. On the slopes of the mountains - mountain tundra, and above - glaciers, in the valleys of freezing rivers - forest tundra, on the western coast - warmer - subarctic meadows and coastal coniferous forest appear. Reindeer, arctic fox, polar hare, lemming live in the tundra. The forest is the habitat of grizzly bears, wolves, foxes. There are a lot of birds.
People have settled only on the coast, where all the cities and towns are located.
The population is engaged in fishing, hunting for fur-bearing animals and the extraction of the most valuable minerals (gold, oil), since the export of others is too expensive.
The Canadian Cordilleras, partly overlapping with the United States, are the narrowest part of the mountain belt. There are many mountain ranges and glaciers, but the climate is milder - temperate, humid. In the river valleys, steppes appear, on the plateau - thickets of mountain coniferous forests: fir, spruce, red cedar, balsamic pine. The fauna is becoming more diverse, there is a moose, wolverine, lynx, puma, mountain sheep, fur-bearing animals: marten, ermine, mink, nutria, muskrat.
The local population is residents of large port cities like Vancouver, as well as farmers: the steppes are plowed up, the forest-steppe plateaus are used as pastures.
The US Cordillera are the widest part of these mountains, so there is more variety. natural conditions... High, forested ridges with glaciers are located close to the vast desert plateau. The climate is subtropical, and on the coast it is Mediterranean, in the interior regions, where moisture from the ocean no longer gets, it is arid. On the slopes of the Front Range and the Sierra Nevada - mountain pine forests, the coastal ranges - which is lower - are covered with groves of relict sequoia and stiff-leaved shrubs - chaparral. On the other hand, the forests in the west have been largely cut down or burned down in forest fires - also through human fault.
Where people have settled, large animals are either destroyed, or are on the verge of destruction: for example, the bison is almost completely destroyed. Rich animal world survived only in very large reserves, such as Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks.
The bulk of the population is concentrated along the Pacific coast, where the major cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco are located.
The Mexican Cordillera are the Mexican Highlands and the California Peninsula. The climate is tropical, very dry, vegetation is poor, with the exception of tropical forests on the mountain slopes. Pronghorn antelope, coyote, monkeys, jaguar live here. Most of the population lives in and around Mexico City or in port cities.

general information

Location: west of North America.

Mountain Ranges: Eastern Belt (Brooks, Richardson, Mackenzie, Savatch, San Juan, Frontline, Uinta, Eastern Sierra Madre), Inner Belt (Kilbak, Kuskokwim, Rey, Cassiar, Omineka, Colombian, Yukon Plateau, Stikin, Fraser, Snake, Great Basin, Colorado and Mexican Highlands), western (Alaskan, Aleutian, Coastal, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Volcanic Sierra, Sierra Viskaino, St. Elijah massif, Cascade and Chugach mountains).

Plateaus, highlands and plateaus: Yukon, Fraser, Columbia, Colorado, Mexican.

Administrative affiliation: USA, Canada, Mexico.
Large cities: Mexico City - 8 851 080 people. (2010), Los Angeles - 3,928,864 people. (2014), San Francisco - 852 469 people. (2014), Vancouver (Canada) - 2,313,328 people. (2011).
Languages: English, French, Indian dialects.

Ethnic composition: White, African American, Indigenous.
Religions: Christianity (many branches and directions), Judaism, Islam.

Monetary units: Canadian dollar, US dollar, Mexican peso.

Large rivers (sources and upper reaches): Yukon, Peace, Athabasca, Mackenzie, Saskatchewan, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, Fraser.

Large lakes: Big Salt, Tahoe.

Numbers

Length: over 9000 km.

Maximum width: in Alaska - 1100-1200 km, in Canada - up to 800 km, on the territory of the USA itself - about 1600 km, in Mexico - up to 1000 km.

Highest point: Mount Denali (Pacific Belt, 6144 m).

Other peaks: Mount (5951 m), Orizaba volcano (5700 m), Popocatepetl volcano (5452 m), Mount Whitney (4418 m), Mount Elbert (4399 m), Mount Rainier (4392 m), Nevado de Colima volcano (4265 m), Mount Marquez Baker (4016 m), Mount Waddington (4042 m), Yliamna Volcano (3075 m).

Glaciers: area - about 67 thousand km 2.

Climate and weather

In the north - arctic and subarctic, to the south - temperate, in the south - from subtropical to tropical. On the eastern (Pacific) slopes - soft, oceanic to Mediterranean, in the interior - continental.

Average January temperature: in the north -30 ° С, in the south -17 ° С.
Average temperature in July: in the north + 15 ° С, in the south up to + 30 ° С.

Average annual rainfall: on the southern ridges of Alaska - 3000-4000 mm, on the coast of British Columbia - up to 2500 mm, on the inner plateau of the USA - up to 400-200 mm, in the Mojave Desert - 50 mm per year.

Relative humidity: from 70-80% in the north to 50-60% in the south.

Economy

Minerals: oil, natural gas, coal and brown coal, manganese, gold, silver, tungsten, copper, molybdenum, mercury, uranium, vanadium, limestone, granite, marble.
Industry: mining, metallurgy, heavy and transport engineering, chemical, food.

Agriculture: in the north - reindeer husbandry, in the temperate zone - grain and cattle, in the south - citrus fruits.

Service sector: travel, transport, trade.

sights

■ Natural: National Parks Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Sequoia, Rocky Mountain, Grand Canyon (all - USA), Jasper, Banff, Yoho, Nahanni, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes, Garibaldi Provincial Park (all - Canada).

Curious facts

■ Overall, the Cordillera are the longest mountain range in the world, along the western coast of North and South America. The total length is about 18 thousand km, the width is about 1000 km on average. The Cordillera are located on the territory of 9 states, starting with the United States and Canada in the north and ending with Chile in the far south.
■ The world's largest mountain glacier, the Bering Glacier, is located in the Nugach Mountains in Alaska and is 203 km long and about 5,800 km 2 in area. The glacier was named after the Russian traveler Vitus Bering (1681-1741). The glacier is only 10 km from the coast of the Gulf of Alaska. As a result of the global increase in air temperature over the past 100 years, the glacier has decreased by 12 km, its mass has decreased, which pressed on the earth's crust and held back seismic activity. As a result, the number of earthquakes in Alaska has increased dramatically.
■ The western (Pacific) Cordillera belt of North America has a characteristic feature: intermontane longitudinal depressions are not only lowlands like the Great California Valley, but also large sea bays and straits, like Cook Bay and Shelikhov Strait, flooded by sea water when the level of the World Ocean rises ...
■ The Cordilleras of North America have all major types of glaciers: large ice fields and caps, laden glaciers (Deponte Glacier in the Coast Range), foothill or foot glaciers (Malaspina), valley glaciers (Hubbard), tar and short hanging glaciers, mostly disappearing (Sierra Nevada), and star-shaped glaciers are formed on volcanic peaks, so named because numerous glacial streams depart from them (there are several dozen of them only on Mount Rainier).
■ The Mackenzie Mountains in Canada were named in memory of Alexander Mackenzie (1822-1892), the second Canadian prime minister. He carried out a number of important reforms, but his government fell in 1878, when an economic crisis began in Canada, and so strong that, with all his authority, Mackenzie was unable to overcome it.
■ The groves of the sequoiadendron, or mammoth trees, on a narrow strip of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, including the Sequoia National Park, are the most massive trees in the world, each with up to 1,500 m2 of timber.
■ In 1799-1867. Mount McKinley ( modern name Denali) was the highest point of the Russian Empire, but in 1867 it was sold to the United States along with all of Alaska.
■ Most of the most famous volcanic eruptions in the United States are associated with the volcanoes of the Cascade Mountains, including the Lassen Peak eruption in 1914-1915. and the eruption of Mount St.Helens in 1980

Content

Mount Everest, which is also called Chomolungma, is located on the border of Nepal and China. This mountain is the highest peak in the world, topping the list of the tallest mountains in the world, at 8,848 meters above sea level. Climbing it is a real dream for many climbers, but at the same time it is considered very dangerous, because in attempts to climb this mountain, a large number of people died.

What is the highest peak of the earth

The highest peak in the world is the peak that is higher in relation to other mountains, and the height is measured from sea level. The last value means the position of the free surface of the World Ocean, which is measured along a plumb line with respect to some conventional reference point. This position depends on a number of factors, for example, temperature, the law of gravitation, the moment of rotation of the Earth, etc. It turns out that the largest mountain in the world is Everest.

What are the highest mountains in the world

Today there is a list of seven mountains, which includes the highest peaks of the six parts of the world, and Europe and Asia are considered separately from each other:

• in Asia, it is Chomolungma;
• in South America - Aconcagua;
• in North America - Denali (formerly McKinley);
• in Africa - Kilimanjaro;
• in Europe - Elbrus;
• in Antarctica - Vinson Peak;
• in Australia and Oceania - Jaya, with the last peak located in the Indonesian part of New Guinea, although Mount Kosciushko is the highest in Australia.

It should be added that the highest mountains in the world (TOP-100) are located in Asia, in the mountain ranges of the Himalayas, Karakorum and other areas adjacent to them. Today there is even an informal association "The Seven Summits Club", consisting of climbers who have conquered the highest peaks of seven continents. The ranking of the ten highest mountains (eight-thousanders) on the planet is as follows:

1. Chomolungma - 8848 m.
2. Chogori - 8611 m.
3. Kanchenjunga - 8586 m.
4. Lhotse - 8516 m.
5. Makalu - 8485 m.
6. Cho-Oyu - 8188 m.
7. Dhaulagiri - 8167 m.
8. Manaslu - 8163 m.
9. Nangaparbat - 8126 m.
10. Annapurna I - 8091 m.

Highest point in Europe

The highest point of the continent is Mount Elbrus, which is located in the Greater Caucasus between two constituent entities of the Russian Federation: Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia. It is a two-peaked saddle-shaped cone of the volcano: the western peak reaches 5642 m and the eastern one - 5621 m. The last eruption took place around the 50s of our era. This mountain peak is covered with glaciers with an area of ​​134.5 km2. The first documented ascent of this greatest peak Europe dates back to 1829 - it was carried out by the expedition of General G.A. Emmanuel.

There are several options for conquering this peak, for example, it can be an ascent along the eastern route (ridge), starting from Elbrus (village) and passing through the Irikchat gorge, through a pass, a glacier, and so on to the beginning of the ridge. Northern route allows you to see truly incredible beauty - the hills are replaced by stones and rocks of bizarre shapes. The most popular is the ascent from the south, and the extreme one is from the west, because along the way there are powerful rocky walls, heavy climbs and glaciers.

Highest peak in Africa

The most famous and famous mountain on the African continent is the volcano Kilimanjaro - 5895 m. It is located in the northeast of Tanzania. It is noteworthy that the stratovolcano has an ice cap that is actively melting - over the last century, the glacier has decreased by 80%. It consists of three main peaks. Hans Meyer first managed to conquer this volcano in 1889. The climb to Kilimanjaro cannot be called technically difficult, but at the same time it is considered spectacular.

Highest point in North America

The highest peak in the North American continent is Denali - a two-headed mountain, which until 2015 was called McKinley, and at the beginning of the nineteenth century Big mountain... Mount McKinley is located in the south of central Alaska. The first to reach the summit were American climbers under the command of Hudson Glass in 1913. The name Denali belongs to the natives of Alaska - the Athabasca Indians. The mountain rises at an altitude of 6190 m above sea level.

Highest mountain in South America

In the list of seven peaks, Aconcagua is in second place in height - 6962 m. mountain peak mainland South America. Aconcagua is located in the Andes Mountains in Argentina. For the first time it was possible to conquer it in 1897 - the first documented ascent was made by an expedition led by Edward Fitzgerald.

The ascent to Aconcagua is considered technically easy if you make it along north slope... This large hill is covered with snow and many glaciers. According to some sources, its name is translated from the Araucano language as "comes from the other side." According to another version, it could come from the Quechua language and means "white guard" or "stone guard".

The highest peak of Antarctica

Vinson Peak reaches a height of 4892 m, is located in the Ellsworth mountain range, 1200 km from the South Pole. The summit was discovered by US pilots in 1957. There were several attempts to climb, but for the first time it was possible to climb only in 1966 - Nicholas Clinch. Over the past few years, Vinson Massif has received quite a bit of attention from well-funded climbers. The climb itself involves not so many technical difficulties, but your stay in Antarctica is an unsafe undertaking.

Australia's highest peak

Punchak-Jaya or the Pyramid of Carstens is the most high mountain in Australia and Oceania. It rises 4884 m above sea level. Punchak Jaya is located on the Maoke massif in the western part of the island New Guinea... The name is translated from Indonesian as "victory". The first ascent to the summit was made only in 1962, it was carried out by a group of Australian climbers, led by Heinrich Harrer.

Highest peak on earth

Most people know that the highest point on earth is located in South Asia, or more precisely, in the central Himalayas on the border of China and Nepal. During the conquest of Everest, many climbers died. The fact that Chomolungma is the highest mountain on the planet was determined back in 1852 by the Indian topographer and mathematician Radhanat Sikdar. In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay managed to conquer Chomolungma through the South Col. Before that, about 50 expeditions to the Karakorum and the Himalayas were carried out.

The ascent to this peak is extremely difficult and often ends in the death of the climbers. This is due to the poor climatic conditions of the uppermost zone of the mountain: high rarefaction of the atmosphere, low temperatures down to -50-60 degrees, periodic hurricane winds, etc. In addition, other dangers await climbers, including:

• the possibility of falling into the crevices of the relief;
• cliff from steep slopes;
• avalanches.

Mount Everest

The highest peak in the world reaches a height of 8848 m. It has the shape of a triangular pyramid, with the southern slope being steeper. Glaciers flow down from the massif in all directions, the boundary of which ends at an altitude of about 5 km. Today Everest belongs to national park Sagarmatha, located in Nepalese territory. The last 300 m are considered to be the most difficult area for climbing this summit. To successfully pass them, climbers need to overcome a very steep and smooth slope of Everest.

Where is

The southern summit of Everest (8760 m) is located on the border between Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region (China), and the northern (8848 m), which is the main one, is located entirely on Chinese territory. Climbing the mountain, taking into account acclimatization and setting up the camp, often takes about two months. Climbers can lose about 10-15 kg in one ascent. For the opportunity to climb from climbers take a lot of money, while the sequence of ascent is established.

Climate and the reason for the formation of Everest

This peak is characterized by very strong winds, the speed of which can reach 200 km / h. As for the air temperature, the average monthly indicator in July is about 0 ° C, and in January -36 ° C, although on some nights it can even reach -60 ° C. The history of the formation of Chomolungma dough is associated with the formation of the Himalayas. About 50-55 million years ago, the Indian and Eurasian plates began to collide with each other, as a result of which the latter was strongly deformed. This is how the mountain belt appeared, the highest part which the Himalayas have become.

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North America can be conditionally, in our head, divided into two parts: the northern and central parts of the continent are covered with plains. But in the west and southeast of North America there are mountains. It so happened that it is in this part that a very large number of beautiful and picturesque places are located. Every year, this terrain is collected by many thousands of climbers and other tourists who love dangerous hiking... Also a very large number ski resorts located in this area. We present to your attention the 5 most beautiful mountains North America that every person should visit and, if possible, conquer.

Mountains of North America - Cordillera

The Cordillera are the largest rocky mountains in North America. There are a very large number of rocky mountains in North America, and the most famous of them are located in this mountain system. The Cordillera Mountains stretch from the territory of Alaska to the central part. Further they already pass into the Andes mountains where they cover the southern continent. This mountainous area is crossed by many faults that start from the ocean itself and end on land. These mountains are the result of the convergence of two lithospheric plates. But some experts argue that the process of mountain formation has not yet been completed to the very end. Earthquakes are also very common in this zone. Only the Himalayas can compete in height with them. The highest point of the Cordillera is Mount McKinley, which is 6193 meters high. These mountains are truly unique, they fascinate, you can look at them throughout your life, and conquering them is the cherished dream of millions and millions of people on the planet. Built along the entire length of the mountains beautiful hotels, which will accept all interested tourists.

Mountains of North America - Appalachian Mountains

These beautiful mountains create a very beautiful landscape in North America. On the border of the United States and Canada, the most beautiful Appalachian mountains are stretched, the length of which is 2,600 kilometers. The mountains are not very high in comparison with others, the highest is definitely Mount Washington with a height of 1916 meters. The mountain slopes are covered with mixed and coniferous forests, there are deposits of iron ore, oil, coal and gas. It is worth looking at the Appalachians, as you immediately want to climb on them and believe me it's worth it, but be careful on the slopes. Such mountains are suitable for almost all novice climbers and amateur tourists.

Mountains of North America - Sierra Nevada

These mountains are the most famous mountains in North America and looking at the photo you will understand why they are the most famous. Probably every person on earth, at least once in his life, has heard such a beautiful name. But very few people know that we are talking about these mountains that stretch on the west coast of the United States. The length of the mountain range is 750 kilometers and starts from the Fredonier pass and reaches right up to the Tehapachi pass. Of course, they are not the highest mountains in North America, but the most beautiful and picturesque. Every river, every source that is located on the tops of the mountains, flows into the Pacific Ocean. The highest point is Mount Rose, which is 2,700 meters high. These mountains are famous all over the world for their beauty and unique scenic spots.

Mountains of North America - Eastern Sierra Madre

A very beautiful and probably unique ridge, which is located parallel to each other on the territory of Mexico. It is the eastern part of the Sierra Madre. This beautiful mountainous area is located on the edge of the Mexican Highlands and stretches for 1000 kilometers. The landscape is very beautiful and varied. In this mountainous area there are several great peaks ranging in height from 1000 to 3000 meters. There are also individual peaks whose height reaches 4000 meters. The highest peak is Mount Peña Nevada, its height is 4054 meters. The El Coahuilon and Cerro Potosi mountains are also worth a visit.

North American Mountains - Coastal Range

These mountains are located in the very west of the mainland. Their length is 1600 kilometers and they start from Lake Atlin and end near the Fraser River. In fact, the Coast Range is part of the Cordillera Highlands. But it so happened that it is correct to allocate it into a separate array, despite its location and some features. The highest point is Mount Waddington, its height is 4016 meters. The Garibaldi Provincial Park is located on its territory and is the most visited place among tourists.