Which mountain range forms the continental backbone of western North America, extending from northern British Columbia in Canada to New Mexico in the United States?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: B. Rocky Mountains
- Step 1: The Rockies extend for more than 4,800 kilometers (3,000 miles) and form the Continental Divide of the Americas, separating Pacific and Atlantic drainage basins.
- Step 2: Its highest summit is Mount Elbert in Colorado, which rises to 4,401 meters (14,440 feet).
Answer
Rocky Mountains
Why not the others: 'Appalachian Mountains' run along the eastern margin of North America; 'Sierra Nevada' is an isolated granitic fault block in California; 'Cascade Range' is a coastal volcanic chain in the Pacific Northwest.
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