Anyone in the Americas knows where the Cordillera are. The slopes of the ridges in the north. parts of the Cordillera are covered in DOS. coniferous forests. The Cordillera are the source of such large rivers as the Yukon, Mackenzie, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande and many others.
The Cordillera lie in all geographic zones of America (except for the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic) and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and a pronounced altitudinal zonation. In the northwestern part of the Cordilleras of North America and in the southeast of the Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone, they cover only the most high peaks.
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The Cordillera are unusual in that they are located on two continents at once. In addition to the Rocky Mountains themselves, it includes the Brooks Ridge in Alaska, the Richardson Ridge and Mackenzie Mountains in Canada, and the Eastern Sierra Madre mountain range in Mexico. The highest point of the belt is Mount Elbert, which is located within the state of Colorado.
The Cordillera are some of the highest mountains in the world
It includes the Aleutian, Alaska and Coast Ranges, the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada mountain range, the Western and Southern Sierra Madre, and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra. It includes the Fraser Plateau, the Columbia Mountains, the Great Basin Highlands, the Colorado Plateau and the Mexican Highlands. V Central America and on the islands Caribbean The Cordillera split into three main mountain arcs, which are separated by depressions. The Cordillera of North America are composed of various geological structures of different ages.
Cordillera height - highest point
Due to the very great length in the meridional direction, the climate in the Cordillera varies greatly. In Alaska, Canada and the northwestern United States, on the Pacific slopes, the climate is characterized as rather mild and humid. In the Cascade Mountains is national park Mount Rainier, on the territory of which the eponymous volcano is located. These mountains stretch along the western side of the aforementioned continents: from Alaska (northwestern North America) to the island of Tierra del Fuego, which is located near Antarctica.
National parks in the Cordilleras
The Cordillera are one of the highest mountains in the world. Only the Himalayas, plus a few more mountain systems the central part of Asia surpass them in height. The influence of these mountains on the formation of culture, traditions, lifestyle of the people of America can hardly be overestimated. In the territory where the Cordillera are located, whole civilizations of the Indians were born, unique in their development and cultural heritage... And on a global scale, the Cordillera mountain range is the watershed between the Pacific basin and the Atlantic Ocean.
Int. some form plateaus, highlands and plateaus - Yukon, Fraser, Columbia, Colorado, Mexican. To the Center. America to the Cordillera are the ridges in the west. coast, incl. xp. Sierra Madre with Tahumulco volcano (4217 m, the highest point of Central America). Glaciers cover approx. 80 thousand km²; most of them are located in the Alaskan mountains. East. the periphery of the Mexican Highlands grow evergreen tropical forests, in the Cordillera Center. America - deciduous rainforests, thorny shrubs, thickets of cacti and secondary savannas.
In the Cordilleras Center. America and the West Indies are distinguished by three mountain arcs: the northern arc follows through the Cayman Islands to Cuba (Sierra Maestra mountains), Haiti (Central southern parts of the interior plateaus are dry steppes and deserts. Cordillera - Cordillera, Colorado River. , the greatest in length (more than 18 thousand km) mountain system of the globe, stretching along the western outskirts of North and South America.
Orography. In KSA, three longitudinal belts are distinctly expressed — eastern, inner, and western. To the west stretch the myo- and eugeosynclinal troughs of the Mesozoids of the Sierra Nevada and the Rocky Mountains (Nevadids). To the west of the Mesozoic on the Alaska Peninsula and in the California and Oregon Coast Ranges, as well as in the south of Central America, the Cenozoic geosynclinal system stretches.
Another type is volcanic ridges with a folded base, complicated by a series of volcanoes planted on it, including active ones. On the northern slopes the Chugach and St. Elijah mountains, the snow border is at an altitude of 1800-1900 m, on the Alaska ridge - from 1350-1500 m (southern slope) to 2250-2400 m (northern slope).
Rivers and lakes. Within the KSA lie the sources of many river systems of the continent: the Yukon, Peace River - Mackenzie, Saskatchewan - Nelson, Missouri - Mississippi, Colorado, Columbia, Fraser. The largest changes in landscapes are associated with the latitudinal position of the mountain system, with its transition from the subarctic belt to temperate, subtropical and tropical. There are 4 main natural areas: the Northwest, the Canadian Cordillera, the US Cordillera, and the Mexican Cordillera.
To the south, the snow boundary rises to 1500-1800 m in the Coastal Range and up to 2250 m in the Columbian Mountains of Canada. The Cordillera, which occupies the west of North America and extends within the United States proper and Alaska, Canada, and Mexico.
Cordillera Is the largest mountain system in the world. It is located on west coast North and South America. That is, it is divided into two approximately equal parts. For this reason, sometimes its southern part, the Andes, is called the longest mountain system (9000 km).
This is partly true, since the Andes, as a separate object, really have a large extent.
The length of the Cordillera is about 18 thousand km. About 9 thousand km for each of its parts - they are almost equal. But if we talk about the size in general, then Northern part larger - it is wider (up to 1600 km). But the southern one is higher - 6962 meters at the highest point (Mount Aconcagua). In the northern part of the Cordillera, the height reaches 6190 meters (Mount Denali), which is also quite a lot. In general, in terms of height, this mountain system is among the leaders, although not in the first place.
Since the Cordillera stretch over great distances, they lie in almost all geographic zones. This means that the conditions here are very diverse. However, something similar is observed along the entire length of the mountains - glaciation. Even in the hottest climatic zones, the mountains have snow caps (due to the relatively great height mountains). The total area of glaciers is 90 thousand km 2.
Cordillera peaks
Although the highest points of the mountain system are located at six thousand meters, the average height of the mountains is 3-4 km. Although, the relief of this geological object is very diverse, so the designation of the height is rather arbitrary.
The highest peaks of the mountain system are:
- - Mount Aconcagua ( dormant volcano) - 6962 meters.
- - Mount Denali (McKinley) - 6190 meters.
- - Ojos del Salado ( largest volcano world) - 6891 meters.
- - Monte Pissis - 6792 meters.
- - Llullaillaco ( active volcano) - 6739 meters
- - Tupungato (active volcano) - 6565 meters.
- - Orizaba Volcano - 5700 meters.
- - The system consists of a large number of mountain arcs, which already gives some uniqueness to the Cordilleras.
You can also note the presence of mountain ranges and depressions that form the rise and fall of the relief - this is very interesting.
- - In the Cordilleras there is a fairly high volcanic activity... True, we are not talking about erupting volcanoes.
- - In the mountains there are large reserves of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, as well as oil and brown coal.
- - Due to the large number of climatic zones, vegetable world The Cordillera is very diverse.
The mountains of America are primarily the Cordillera system - the longest mountain system in the world, which stretches along the western coast of both Americas (North and South America). Anyone in the Americas knows where the Cordillera are. The slopes of the ridges in the north. parts of the Cordillera are covered in DOS. coniferous forests.
The Cordillera lie in all geographic zones of America (except for the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic) and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and a pronounced altitudinal zonation.
In the northwestern part of the Cordillera of North America and in the southeast of the Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone, they cover only the highest peaks. The formation of the Cordillera has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism (more than 80 active volcanoes).
The Cordillera are unusual in that they are located on two continents at once. In addition to the Rocky Mountains themselves, it includes the Brooks Ridge in Alaska, the Richardson Ridge and Mackenzie Mountains in Canada, and the Eastern Sierra Madre mountain range in Mexico. The highest point of the belt is Mount Elbert, which is located within the state of Colorado.
It includes the Fraser Plateau, the Columbia Mountains, the Great Basin Highlands, the Colorado Plateau and the Mexican Highlands. In Central America and the Caribbean islands, the Cordillera split into three main mountain arcs, which are separated by depressions.
The Cordillera of North America are composed of various geological structures of different ages. Due to the very great length in the meridional direction, the climate in the Cordillera varies greatly. These mountains stretch along the western side of the aforementioned continents: from Alaska (northwestern North America) to the island of Tierra del Fuego, which is located near Antarctica.
The Cordillera are one of the highest mountains in the world.
Only the Himalayas, as well as several other mountain systems of the central part of Asia, surpass them in height. In the territory where the Cordillera are located, whole civilizations of the Indians were born, unique in their development and cultural heritage.
The Cordillera of North America are divided into a number of ridges. Further southeast within Canada and the United States, the Cordillera are called the "Rocky Mountains." Cordillera in the west of the North mainland. America. Int. some form plateaus, highlands and plateaus - Yukon, Fraser, Columbia, Colorado, Mexican. Glaciers cover approx. 80 thousand km²; most of them are located in the Alaskan mountains. East. the periphery of the Mexican Highlands grow evergreen tropical forests, in the Cordillera Center. America - deciduous rainforests, thorny shrubs, thickets of cacti and secondary savannas.
Where are the Cordilleras located?
In the Cordilleras Center. America and the West Indies are distinguished by three mountain arcs: the northern arc follows through the Cayman Islands to Cuba (the Sierra Maestra mountains), Haiti (the central southern part of the inner plateaus is occupied by dry steppes and deserts. meanings, see Cordillera (disambiguation) Part of the western belt is the large mountains - the Cascade, the Sierra Nevada Range and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra.
The relief of North America is varied and contrasting. In the west, the plains adjoin the mountain structures of the Cordilleras. The Cordillera are located within the mountainous West of the mainland. In terms of age, the Cordillera are the youngest part of the mainland, although they began to form in the Mesozoic.
Within this mountain system, three ridge belts are well traced. One of them - the Cordillera proper - is in the west. The second belt, the eastern one, covers the Rocky Mountains. In the extreme north, these ridges converge, in the central part, on the contrary, they diverge.
The Cordillera prevent the penetration of oceanic air masses into the interior of the continent. With the distance from the Pacific Ocean, significant differences between the northern and southern parts of the Cordillera are more and more clearly noticeable. By natural features, this large mountain system can be divided into the following natural countries: the Cordillera of Alaska and Canada, the Cordillera of the United States, the Mexican Highlands, the mountains and islands of Central America.
The mountain ranges of this natural country in the east and west border the Yukon plateau. The development of the mountains has not yet ended, as evidenced by a large number of active volcanoes. Between them and the Sierra Nevada mountains is deep depression California Valley. This is the mountain system of the Appalachian Highlands, stretching along east coast North America. CORDILLIERS OF NORTH AMERICA - a system of mountain ranges and plateaus, part of the Cordillera system and occupying the west. part of the North. America.
Physico-geographical zoning of the Cordilleras
600 - 800 m, and Brooks Mountains, 1200 - 1800 m.
Within Canada, KSA have a southeast. The main uplifts of the Canadian part of KSA are the Rocky Mountains in the E and the Coastal Ridge in the W, have an alpine relief, due to the mean. The coastal range of Canada merges into the Cascade Mountains from the volcanic.
The Cordillera are some of the highest mountains in the world
To the south of the Tehuantepec Isthmus, the mountain belt bifurcates: one branch deviates to E and continues on the Center Islands. America, the other stretches to the Isthmus of Panama. Between Tehuantepec Isthmus and South. In America, the Cordillera are more or less isolated, predominantly. low ridges and massifs.
The snow border in Alaska is at an altitude of 600 meters, on Tierra del Fuego - 500-700 meters, in Bolivia and southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 meters. The western belt is represented by folded and volcanic ridges that run parallel to the Pacific coast. The inner belt includes a number of plateaus and plateaus located between two other belts. Thus, the arc, which is a structural continuation of the Rocky Mountains and the Eastern Sierra Madre, forms the mountains of the islands of Cuba, northern Haiti and Puerto Rico.
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The mountains began to form in the Jurassic period, a little earlier than the Andes, the formation of which began only at the end of the Cretaceous period. To the north of the 50th latitude, snow supply of watercourses predominates, and to the south - rain supply. Especially many hydropower plants have been built in the Columbia River Basin.
The Cordillera are the source of such large rivers as the Yukon, Mackenzie, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande and many others. The Cordillera of North America are found primarily in countries such as Canada, the United States and Mexico.
Cordillera(Spanish Cordilleras, literally - mountain ranges), the largest and unparalleled mountain system on the globe. The Cordillera mountain system is also one of the highest mountain systems, second only to the Himalayas and the mountain ranges of Central Asia.
Geography of the Cordillera mountain system
The Cordillera stretch from the shores of the Arctic in Alaska (66 ° N) in northwestern North America along the western shores of North and South America all the way to southern shores Tierra del Fuego (56 ° S) in the south of South America. The Cordillera on their way pass through many countries of both continents: Canada, USA, Mexico, Central American states, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile. The length of the Cordillera mountain system is more than 18,000 kilometers. The highest mark is located at South America at the summit of Mount Aconcagua at 6960 meters above sea level, and in North America the highest peak of the Cordillera corresponds to the summit on Mount McKinley (in Alaska) reaching an altitude of 6193 meters. The Cordillera form a giant barrier between the Pacific Ocean and eastern parts both continents. The Cordillera represent a large divide between two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and are also the climatic boundary between countries located on both sides of the mountain system. The entire Cordillera mountain system is usually divided into two parts, corresponding to the territories of both continents, these are the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes. The entire mountain system consists of numerous parallel ridges bordering the discontinuous belt of inner plateaus and plateaus (in North America - the Yukon, Fraser, Columbian, B. Basin, Colorado, Mexican; in the South - Peruvian and Central Indian). North America has three distinct mountain range systems, one of which (the Rocky Mountains) extends east of the plateau zone, the other ridge system extends directly west of this zone (Alaska Ridge, Canada Coast, Cascade Mountains, Sierra Nevada and others) and the third system of mountain ranges runs along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, partly on the coastal islands. Coming to Central America, the Cordillera gradually descend and bifurcate into two branches. One branch runs in the east through the Antilles, the other crosses the Isthmus of Panama and enters the mainland of South America. The Andes (Cordilleras of South America) in the northern and central parts consist of four, and the rest of the length of two systems of parallel ridges, separated by deep longitudinal depressions or intermontane plateaus.
The highest mountain peaks of the Cordilleras are the ridges of the middle part of the Andes, where the height of individual mountain peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m; Ojos del Salado, 6880 m; Sahama, 6780 m; Llullaillaco, 6723 m). The width of the mountain range varies quite a lot, so in North America the width of the Cordillera mountain belt reaches 1600 km, and on the southern continent it reaches only 900 km, which is almost twice less.
The main mountain-building processes, thanks to which the Cordilleras arose, began in North America in the Jurassic period, in South America (where the structures of the Paleozoic Hercynian folding take a large part) - at the end of the Cretaceous period and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents ( cm.
Alpine folding). Mountain-building processes continued actively in the Cenozoic. These processes largely determine the main orographic elements.
The folded structures of the Cordillera are closely associated with the mountain systems of northeast Asia and Antarctica. According to the latest observations, the formation of the Cordillera is far from over, in confirmation of these observations are evidenced by quite frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and intense volcanism, often leading to severe destruction and casualties both among people and among the animal world.
In the active regions of the Cordillera there are more than 80 active volcanoes, of which the most active are Katmai, Lassen Peak, Colima, Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, Chile volcanoes, etc. Quaternary glaciation also played an important role in the formation of the Cordillera relief, especially to the north of 44 ° N sh. and south of 40 ° S. sh. The Cordillera are rich in minerals. Here I mine significant deposits of copper (especially rich deposits in Chile), zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, etc.
The climate of the Cordillera mountain system
Due to its great length from north to south, the strong dissection of the relief and the high altitude of the mountains, the result is an exceptional wide variety natural conditions in the Cordillera mountain system. The Cordillera lie in almost all geographic zones of the globe (except for the Antarctic and subantarctic belts).
The climate of the Cordillera is very varied and varies greatly depending on the latitude of the area, the elevation and the exposure of the slopes. The marginal ridges of the Cordilleras are highly moistened in temperate and subarctic belts (western slopes) and in the equatorial and subequatorial belts (mainly eastern slopes). The inner plateaus have a sharply continental climate; in the subtropical and tropical zones they are distinguished by exceptional aridity. Significant parts of plateaus, internal depressions and slopes of ridges, mainly in tropical zones, are occupied by steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The highly moistened outskirts of the mountains are covered with dense forests. In the temperate zones, coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south) are widely developed, closer to the equator there are mixed (deciduous-evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests. On the humid slopes of the ridges of the equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical belts, there are complex spectra of high belts, from giles to eternal snows. The snow border lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m, on Tierra del Fuego 500-700 m, in Bolivia and South Peru it rises to 6000-6500 m.In Alaska and South Chile, glaciers go down to ocean level, in the hot zone they cover only the highest tops.
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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 large area 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 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 - numerous high plateaus under 2.5 km in height, within the boundaries of the USA and Mexico itself - high-mountain massifs and volcanic plateaus.
The western (Pacific) belt, which includes the highest ridges, consists of the belt of the Pacific ridges, the belt of intermontane depressions, and the 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 Coastal Ridges - mercury and everywhere - deposits of rock coal.
Glaciers occupy almost 70 thousand km 2, most are located in the mountains of Alaska, 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: the 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.
Northwestern (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 higher - 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 and humid. In the river valleys, steppes appear, on the plateau - thickets of mountain coniferous forests: fir, spruce, red cedar, balsamic pine. Animal world becomes more diverse, moose, wolverine, lynx, puma, mountain sheep, fur-bearing animals appear: 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 Cordillera of the USA are the widest part of these mountains, so there is a greater variety of 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 - mountainous pine forests, The coastal ridges - 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. A rich animal world has 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 there are big cities Los Angeles and San Francisco.
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, Kassiar, 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.
The most high 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.
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 on average is about 1000 km. 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 5800 km 2 in area. The glacier was named after 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 shrunk by 12 km, its mass has decreased, pressing on the earth's crust and holding 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 base glaciers (Malaspina), valley glaciers (Hubbard), tar and short hanging glaciers, for the most part 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 severe that, with all his authority, Mackenzie was unable to overcome it.
■ Groves of sequoiadendron, or mammoth trees, on a narrow strip of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, including national park"Sequoia" are the most massive trees in the world: each tree contains up to 1500 m 2 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
Cordillera Is the largest mountain system in the world.
on which continent are the mountains of the Alps, Andes, Cordilleras, Ural, Scandinavian, Himalayas, Apaches
It is located on the west coast of North and South America. That is, it is divided into two approximately equal parts. For this reason, sometimes its southern part, the Andes, is called the longest mountain system (9000 km). This is partly true, since the Andes, as a separate object, really have a large extent.
Description of the Cordillera mountains
The length of the Cordillera is about 18 thousand km. About 9 thousand km for each of its parts - they are almost equal.
But if we talk about the size in general, the northern part is larger - it is wider (up to 1600 km). But the southern one is higher - 6962 meters at the highest point (Mount Aconcagua). In the northern part of the Cordillera, the height reaches 6190 meters (Mount Denali), which is also quite a lot.
In general, in terms of height, this mountain system is among the leaders, although not in the first place.
Since the Cordillera stretch over great distances, they lie in almost all geographic zones.
This means that the conditions here are very diverse. However, something similar is observed along the entire length of the mountains - glaciation. Even in the hottest climatic zones, there are snow caps on the mountains (due to the relatively high altitude of the mountains). The total area of glaciers is 90 thousand km2.
Cordillera peaks
Although the highest points of the mountain system are located at six thousand meters, the average height of the mountains is 3-4 km. Although, the relief of this geological object is very diverse, so the designation of the height is rather arbitrary.
The highest peaks of the mountain system are:
- - Mount Aconcagua (extinct volcano) - 6962 meters.
- - Mount Denali (McKinley) - 6190 meters.
- - Ojos del Salado (the largest volcano in the world) - 6891 meters.
- - Monte Pissis - 6792 meters.
- - Llullaillaco (active volcano) - 6739 meters
- - Tupungato (active volcano) - 6565 meters.
- - Orizaba Volcano - 5700 meters.
- - The system consists of a large number of mountain arcs, which already gives some uniqueness to the Cordilleras.
You can also note the presence of mountain ranges and depressions that form the rise and fall of the relief - this is very interesting.
- - In the Cordillera there is a fairly high volcanic activity.
True, we are not talking about erupting volcanoes.
- - In the mountains there are large reserves of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, as well as oil and brown coal.
- - Due to the large number of climatic zones, the flora of the Cordillera is very diverse.
Andes or Andean Cordilleras(Cordillera de los Andes) is the longest and one of the highest mountain systems on Earth, bordering all of South America from the north and west.
The Andes mountain range rises in the west of South America and stretches for 6400 km from north to south.
The Cordillera mountains are the longest mountain system in the world
In Ecuador alone, 18 mountains rise above 4500 meters above sea level. To the west of the Andes is a narrow strip of the Pacific Ocean coast. The tributaries of the Amazon originate on the eastern slopes, main river South America.
It was here that, before the advent of the Spanish conquistadors in the 1530s, the great civilizations of the Chimu and Incas flourished, which only in the 1820s were able to free themselves from the domination of Spain.
Today there are four independent states - Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
They are inhabited by descendants of European settlers and Indians such as Aymara and Quechua. Official language of these countries - Spanish.
The area is rich natural resources and timber, but many people work for very low wages. Corn, sugarcane, bananas, coffee, potatoes and a grain called quinoa are grown here.
Where is it and how to get there
The address: South America, Andean Cordilleras
Andes in South America on the map
GPS coordinates:-20.923594, -69.658586
Cordillera(The Spanish Cordillera, literally mountainous regions), the largest and largest in the world, which is not the same in the world, is a mountain system. The Cordillera mountain system is also one of the highest mountain systems, subordinate only to the Himalayan and mountain systems of Central Asia.
Geography of the Cordillero mountain system
The Cordillera stretch from the Arctic coast to Alaska (66 ° N latitude).
) In the northwest of North America along the western coasts of North and South America, in most of the southern shores of Tierra del Fuego (56 °) south of South America. Cordillera on the road traveling through a number of countries on both continents: Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile.
The length of the Cordillero mountain range is more than 18,000 kilometers. The highest point is located in South America, on the summit of Mount Aconcagua at an altitude of 6,960 m above sea level, and the highest peak in North America reaches the summit of the Cordillera on Mount McKinley (Alaska), reaching an altitude of 6193 m.The Cordillera form a huge barrier between The Pacific Ocean and the eastern parts of the two continents. The Cordillera are an excellent watercourse between two oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and the climatic limit between countries on both sides of the mountain system.
The entire mountain system of the Cordillera is divided into two parts, corresponding to regions of two continents: the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America or the Andes. The entire mountain system consists of several parallel ridges adjacent to the covering of inner tiles and plains (in North America - Yukon, Fraser, Columbia, B.
Basin, Colorado, Mexican; in South Peru and Central America). In North America, three parallel mountain systems are pronounced, one of them (the Rocky Mountains) and extends east of the plateau area; Sierra Nevada, etc.), and the third mountain system runs along the Pacific coast, partly on the coastal islands.
They come to Central America, the Cordillera gradually fall and split into two branches. One branch is located in the east about Antilles, the other crosses the Isthmus of Panama and enters the continent of South America.
The Andes (Cordillera in South America) in the northern and central parts consist of four, and on the other hand, two systems of parallel ribs are separated by a deep longitudinal depression or intermontane plateau.
The highest peaks are the crests of the Cordillera of the central Andes, where the height of individual peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m, Hoyos del Salado, 6880 m, Sahama, 6780 m, llullaillaco, 6723 m).
The width of the ridge varies greatly, so in North America the width of the Cordillera ridge reaches 1,600 km, reaching only 900 km per southern continent, which is almost a fifth less.
The main orogenic processes caused by any of the Cordillera began in North America in the Jurassic period, in South America (where most of them assume the structure of the Paleozoic Hercynian packing) - at the end of the Cretaceous period and are closely related to the formation of mountain ranges on other continents (see.
Alpine styling). Formation processes are actively continuing in the Cenozoic. These processes largely determine the main orographic elements.
The Cordillera fold structures are closely associated with the mountains of northeast Asia and Antarctica. After recent observations of the design of the Cordillera, it is still far from complete, confirming this observation, showing quite common and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and intense volcanism, often leading to serious injuries and casualties, both between humans and animals.
The active areas of the Cordillera have more than 80 active volcanoes, the most active are Katmayu, Lassen Peak Colima Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, Chile volcanoes and others. Quaternary ice, especially north of 44 ° N, plays an important role in the formation of the Cordillera. sh. and south of 40 ° S latitude.
Where are the Cordilleras?
sh. The Cordillera are rich in minerals. Here I extract important deposits of copper (especially rich deposits in Chile), zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, etc.
The climate of the Cordillera mountain system
Due to the large extent from north to south, the strong decay of the relief and high altitude mountains, the result is an exceptional variety of natural conditions in the Cordillera mountain system.
The Cordillera lie in almost all geographic regions of the world (except for the Antarctic and subantartic belts).
The climate of the Cordillera is very varied and varies greatly depending on the width of the landscape, the elevation and the exposure of the slopes.
The boundaries of the Cordillera are heavily wetted in temperate and lower belts (western slopes) in equatorial regions and subequatorial (possibly eastern trails). The inner plains have a strong continental climate, while the subtropical and tropical zones are extremely arid. Large parts of the plateau, inner depression and reef slopes, especially in tropical strips, are occupied by stages, halves and deserts.
The highly humid border ranges of the mountains are covered with dense forests. In the temperate zones, coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south), closer to the equator, are mixed (deciduous and evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests. On the wet slopes of the reefs of equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical bands, complex spectra of high bands, from gills to permanent snow. The snow border lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m above sea level, from 500 to 700 m on Tierra del Fuego, and in Bolivia and southern Peru rises to 6000-6500 m.
In Alaska and southern Chile, glaciers descend to the ocean, while in the hot zone they cover only the highest peaks.
One of the largest mountain systems on our planet is the Cordillera Mountains.
They amaze with their enormous scale (they are perfectly visible from space, if you look at the mainland), length and extraordinary beauty with their inherent uniqueness of the local climate, flora and fauna.
Where are the Cordilleras
The Cordilleras (Cordilleras English origin of the name) are located on the west coast of America and stretch from north to south. These are huge mountains of several thousand kilometers, the length reaches 18000 km, the width is 1600 km.
Taking a look at physical map world, you can see that the mountains pass through 10 countries and capture the entire western hemisphere of the earth. The coordinates are impressive: southern latitude 32/39/12; west longitude 70/00/42.
Note: the age of this system is simply enormous - the Cordillera were formed in the Jurassic period, and scientists say that their formation has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent volcanoes (more than 80 active).
Highest point of the Cordillera
The average height of the Cordillera is 3-4 thousand meters above sea level. The highest point of the Cordillera is Mount Aconcagua, located in South America in the Andes near the border with Chile.
Mount Aconcagua
And the place where the Andes were formed is called the Patagonian Platform. The absolute height of this mountain is about seven thousand kilometers (6961 m) above sea level.
In North America, the highest point in the Cordillera is Mount Denali, located in southern Alaska. The mountain is just below Aconcagua, height 6190 m.
Characteristics of the Cordilleras of North America
The mountains originate in Alaska and pass through the entire mainland, through three countries (Canada, USA, Mexico) to a point in the south in the valley of the Mexican Balasas River on the border with Central America.
The tectonic structure is complex, there are: areas of ancient, middle and new folding, many active volcanoes.
Throughout its length, the Cordillera have three main belts:
- inner - consists of plateaus and plateaus in the middle of the western and eastern, there are many tectonic depressions with rivers;
- eastern - the belt of the Rocky Mountains, large ridges separate the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of Mexico with the Arctic Ocean;
- western - volcanic mountains parallel to the Pacific coast.
The three main arcs of the Cordillera
In Central America, the mountains diverge into arcs:
- One arc forms mountains in Cuba and northern Puerto Rico and Haiti. The arc was formed from the eastern and western belts, from the north.
- The other begins from the borders of Mexico in the south, further along Central America, to the western part of Panama. This arc merges into.
- The last arc from the south of the western belt takes the direction to the mountains of the south side of Puerto Rico and Haiti, and the mountains of Jamaica.
Geological structure and minerals
The lowlands between the mountain ranges have accumulated sedimentary rocks for a long time.
And now large deposits of minerals have formed in the mountains of North America, while the mountains themselves are valuable for metal ore:
- there are oil fields in Alaska;
- Rocky mountains are rich in copper, gold, tungsten;
- the coastal part of the ridges is of interest for the extraction of mercury and coal.
Natural areas
Since the Cordillera pass through all of America, then natural areas mountains capture everything: forest-tundra, mixed forests, forest-steppe, forests, semi-deserts and deserts, tropical shrouds and forests. Only the arctic and subarctic zones are absent.
Rivers and lakes of the Cordillera
In the north of Alaska there are glaciers (large - Bering). Many rivers begin their journey in the Cordillera mountains, for example: Missouri, Yukon. Very full-flowing rivers of the Pacific Basin.
The southern rivers are filled with rainwater, the northern rivers are fed by glaciers and snow.
Spring floods are typical for the northern regions of the mountains. The strong northern rivers are used for irrigation and electricity production. Notable reservoirs: Columbia, Colorado. There are also fresh and salty lakes.
Climate and climatic zones
The climate on the Cordillera is diverse due to the vast territory in which they are located:
- Air humidity in the southern part of the mountains is no more than 60%, and in the northern part up to 80%.
- Average t of air in summer in July is positive, in the south up to 30 degrees, and in the north up to 15. Winter average t in January in the north is -30, in southern regions -17.
- Annual precipitation is highest in southern Alaska, up to 4000 mm, and the lowest in the Mojave Desert - 50 mm.
Mountains, passing through all climatic zones:
- the south is the tropics and subtropics;
- the north of the belt changes the climate from arctic to subarctic, then temperate;
- in the central, interior regions - the continental belt, and on the Pacific slopes of the mountains - soft oceanic.
Flora and fauna
The natural landscape of the mountains is very diverse (due to the altitudinal zonation).
Allocate natural areas:
- Northwestern consists mainly of glaciated mountain peaks and plateaus. The climate is harsh, permafrost, to south coast- a little warmer. The landscape is tundra, woodland. Deer, lemings, and many birds live in the tundra. Bears, wolves, lynxes, pumas can be seen in the forests.
- Canadian Cordillera- in the southeast of Alaska. Moderate climate, cedar and fir forests in the landscape. Thuja grow on the slopes of the Pacific Coast. Inhabitants of forests - deer, mountain sheep, elk, bears, wolverines, cougars, foxes.
- Cordillera USA- the country where a large part of them is located. The nature is also very rich, there are pine forests on the slopes of the mountains. Arid plateaus are present. The low coastal mountains are covered with evergreen bushes and relict trees. The fauna has been significantly exterminated. Lizards, snakes, and rodents live in semi-deserts.
- Mexican Cordillera- the climate is dry, there are many seismic zones. Shrubs, forests, and cacti grow in savannas. Hares, wolves, cougars, rodents are inhabitants of the local desert. The forests are inhabited by wolves, lynxes, bears, and in the tropics, monkeys, tapirs, predators.
National parks in the Cordilleras
In order to see the many attractions, you must definitely visit the reserves located in the Cordillera.
Grand Canyon
To get acquainted with the peculiarities of flora and fauna, appreciate the beauty of the landscape, see volcanoes, you can go to one of the national parks:
- In the USA - Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Sequoia, Yosemite, Glacier.
- In Canada - Yoho, Banff, Jasper, Garibaldi, Nahanni.
Conclusion
The area and grandeur of the Cordillera is striking, the geographical position and the large number of mountain ranges with amazing secrets beckons and makes you want to go on a journey.
