America's highest point. usa mountains

The nature of North America is extremely diverse. Its beauty is indescribable, many travelers come to the continent to spend weeks and even months exploring the expanses of North America.
High mountains occupy a special place here. Their list is unusually large, but we will consider the largest and most popular among tourists.

Top 10 highest mountains in North America

1. Denali. The largest on the entire continent.
2. Mount Saint Elias. Lower than Denali, but no less difficult to climb.
3. Foraker. Pearl of the Alaska Range.
4. Bona. A close neighbor of Saint Elijah.
5. Whitney. The highest in the entire Sierra Nevada range.
6. Williamson. Much more difficult to climb than neighbor Whitney.
7. White Mountain Peak. Mountain with a large research center.
8. North Palisade. The largest among all the peaks of the Palisade.
9. Shasta. One of the most interesting North American peaks with a rich history.
10. Sill. Peak next to Kings Canyon National Park.

Additionally, Russell and one of the easiest to conquer Split will be considered.

Denali is the highest mountain in North America and the USA

The height of Mount Denali (formerly McKinley) is 6135 meters. It is located in the state of Alaska. The original name is simply Big Mountain. That is how it was called until the transfer of Alaska to the United States of America. The absolute height of Denali is 6190 meters.

The name has Native American roots and literally means "Great". The opinion has been preserved that the Russian and Indian names are closely related. Denali is made of granite, and the high mountain is almost 60 million years old. Its top is covered with snowfields, which feed the adjacent glaciers.

Climbing Denali began at the beginning of the 20th century. There were many scandals, for example, Frederick Cook was repeatedly accused of falsification. He was constantly condemned for photographs that were considered fake. Until now, many climbers claim that Frederick Cook never made it to the top of Denali. The mountain claimed the lives of two climbers. Since that moment (1932), about 100 travelers have already died while climbing the highest mountain in the United States. Denali is still difficult to conquer, which only confirms the statistics: about half of those who dare to conquer are unable to reach the peak.

Russian climbers reached the summit of Denali in 2002. The very first expedition included two disabled people, both of whom successfully managed to conquer the mountain. The ascent record so far belongs to the Spaniard from the region of Catalonia, Kilian Burgada. He managed to climb the largest peak in North America in less than 12 hours.

Mount Saint Elias - the highest in the Yukon Territory

The mountain partially occupies the area of ​​Alaska and the United States, is considered one of the highest on the continent. Its absolute height is 5489 meters. The discoverers are considered members of the expedition of the famous navigator Vitus Bering. The first ascent was made only after 200 years.

Near the mountain and partly on its territory is one of the most beautiful parks in North America.
Kluane is a park reserve with a huge variety of animals. Among them there are quite unusual ones, for example:

• muskrat (musk rat);
• black bear;
• reindeer;
• wolverine.

Moreover, in addition to Kluane, there are several more national parks here, which are called reserves. They belong to the international system, which covers the territory of both the United States and Canada. One of the most popular is Rangel St. Elias. Its area exceeds 53 thousand square kilometers.

Foraker is a high mountain in the Alaska Range

With an absolute height of 5304 meters, Foraker occupies the top lines of the ranking of the highest peaks in North America. For the first time it was conquered only by 1934.

Foraker is located in close proximity to Denali, so neither the local Eskimos nor the Russians could distinguish them from each other, considering them to be a common array.

Bona - stratovolcano and mountain

Bona is an extinct stratovolcano with its highest point at 5029 meters. No matter how marvelous the peak may seem, it is difficult to climb, since the height of the snow cover is on average about a meter.

Whitney is California's highest mountain

Perhaps the most popular state of North America, California, has Whitney peak on its territory, the height of which is 4420 meters. On the western side, at the very foot, is the Sequoia National Park. On the slopes of Whitney there is a village of the same name (altitude 2500 meters). A path leads from it to the top. Whitney is very popular among tourists, so it is necessary to register in advance for the ascent. The queues for signing up are sometimes so long that you have to wait months for permission to get up. The problem of climbing Whitney lies in the limited space for organizing an overnight stay. But there are many campgrounds, and one of them is located next to a large waterfall.

There are bears on the Whitney who like to follow travelers by smelling food. Every hiker is advised to keep food in an airtight container. Bears are afraid of bright light, so you can deal with them with the help of a camping lantern. Of course, one should not tempt fate on purpose. Before climbing, you need to ask about the state of the summit. When the snow falls, the trail becomes almost impassable. The average time spent on conquering the Whitney is at least two days. Usually the ascent does not take more than four days.

Williamson - another high mountain California

Williamson and Whitney are almost the same age in height. The height of the first is 4380 meters. However, a tall fellow is much less hospitable than Whitney.

Therefore, the popularity of the mountain is not so big. The usual route is through Shepard's Pass. Travelers will have the opportunity to enjoy the majestic alpine lakes. This path is the easiest, while others require special preparation. But you can visit the alpine park, where cute sheep are found.

White Mountain Peak - famous American mountain

Throughout North America, White Mountain Peak enjoys a reputation as one of the most popular. The reason was scientific stations studying the influence of mountain climate on the human body.

The paths ascending to the highest station are cleared, so the tourist does not have to worry about comfort. It is unlikely that you will be able to visit the station itself - such an opportunity is available only two days a year. White Mountain Peak is one of the few mountains that cyclists love to conquer. This peak is great for anyone who wants to make a comfortable ascent, but don't count on chance, it's better to get in shape and be prepared to endure the symptoms of altitude sickness.

North Palisade - highest peak of the Palisade

The Palisade group began to be mastered by people in North America since 1903. Its highest point is North Palisade. The mountain has a height of 4343 m. The first ascent was made from the side of the southwestern trench. This is a difficult route that lies through ice ravines.

North Palisade has several peaks, each of which will be a test for an experienced traveler:

• Thunderbolt;
• Starlight;
• Polemonium.

The most popular is Starlight, which tourists have nicknamed the "Milk Bottle". North Palisade is quite popular due to its "walkable" character. Travelers love to conquer its slopes, but they require a fairly high level of training.

Shasta - dormant volcano

There are few volcanoes in North America, and Shasta is one of the very large ones. It is the largest stratovolcano in the Cascade Mountains. The territory of the peak and all its outskirts are controlled by environmental services. Shasta has become famous for its snow-capped peaks. Even for more than two hundred kilometers, it is clearly visible on condition of clear weather. From a bird's eye view, it is clearly seen that Shasta has 4 cones, which are combined into a single shape. Shasta has become the record holder due to the fact that it has the largest glacial valley among all the volcanoes on the planet. Shasta is the owner of 7 glaciers, and one of them is considered the largest in all of the United States of America.

The first people mastered the mountain about 7 thousand years ago. Their descendants inhabited its slopes before the arrival of European colonizers. For a long time, Shasta was one of the most important landmarks for tourist routes.

The gold rush has become one of the significant events in the history of the mountain. The mines discovered here attracted hundreds of “lucky hunters”. Now Shasta is included in the register of natural attractions in the United States. When the Italians arrived here at the beginning of the 20th century, they began to form a large community of the Catholic faith. From that moment on, Shasta began to turn into a real magnet for representatives of different religions. Believers in Hinduism, Buddhists, Catholics - all sought to settle as close to her as possible and built their temples. Thunderstorms sometimes rage here, so you should be careful when finding out the weather in advance. Shasta is literally covered with legends, and many of them are dedicated to UFOs.

Sill - a mountain with two peaks

The peaks of Sill are practically united into a single one. Next to it is the American national park Kings Canyon. Tourists come here to visit other parks. The beauty of Sill lies in the possibility of conquering from all sides. However, not every side is easy to climb. Its height is 4316 m. The name comes from the name of the famous writer Edward Rowland Sill.

Russell - a peak next to two national parks

For visitors to the Inyo and Sequoia parks, there is the opportunity to climb one of the highest mountains in North America - Russell. Russell is next door to the more popular Whitney. There are restrictions on climbing the slopes in the south and east - only 10 tourists can climb during the period from May to October. This is due to the appearance of pandemonium on the Whitney.

If you are interested in a high mountain that will be easy to conquer, it is better to choose Split. At an altitude of 4287 m, it is considered one of the easiest to conquer of all the mountains in North America, exceeding 4000 m. For beginners, the northern slope is suitable, which will allow you to enjoy the walk and will not create difficulties. Split - two-peak, and the literal translation of the name means "split".

Almost all of the highest mountains in North America are concentrated in the Sierra Nevada (USA). They have become sources for many rivers and are part of large national parks. The parks do have a lot to offer. For example, you can look at the huge sequoias, the largest American rivers, the picturesque Hetch-Hetchy valley.

Geography of North America
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North America, the third largest continent in the world, includes 6 countries (some sources include the countries of Central America and the Caribbean in North America, but in our guide they were placed in a separate section for clarity). In addition, North America includes the world's largest island - Greenland.

Located in the northern and eastern hemispheres, the region is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean.

Mountains, foothills, and plains of North America

alaska range

These mountains of south-central Alaska extend from the Alaska Peninsula to the border with the Yukon Territory (Canada). Here is the highest point in all of North America - Mount McKinley (height - 6,194 m.).

coast range

Mountains located along the coast of the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, Washington. They also extend along the western border of British Columbia in Canada, and the southern tip of Alaska, all the way to the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island.

great plains

The Great Plains of North America slope eastward from the Rocky Mountains, and extend to the border of the Canadian Shield, and the western limits of the Appalachians. The land is generally flat, with large treeless areas and valleys with shallow rivers. Small hills and mountains are found in the Ozark (Missouri) plateau, as well as in the Boston and Washita mountains northwest of Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Sand hills and remnants cover the territories of north-central Nebraska.

Appalachian mountains

The Appalachians, which are approximately 2,600 km long, stretch from central Alabama (USA) all the way through the states of New England and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Quebec.

Significant Appalachian mountain chains include: Cumberland (Tennessee), Blue Ridge (Virginia), Allegheny (Pennsylvania), Catskill (New York), Green Mountains (Vermont), White Mountains (New Hampshire) .

The highest point is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina (height - 2,037 m.).

Canadian shield

A plateau region found in eastern and northern Canada and the Great Lakes region of North America, consisting mainly of uneven and rocky terrain, and large areas of coniferous (evergreen) forests. In addition, the northern regions, located along the Arctic Circle, are represented by rocky frozen tundra. The highest elevation, presumably, is 500 meters.

cascade mountains

A mountain range stretching from northeastern California through Oregon and Washington. Major peaks include Mount Hood, Rainer, and St. Helens.

continental divide

In North America, the Western Continental Divide is an imaginary line running through a series of mountain peaks across North America that divides the continent into two major drainage areas.

Atlantic lowlands

This large area in the southern and southeastern United States extends to the continental shelf, and is generally characterized by plains with forests of various types. Coastal regions contain estuaries and rivers, swamps, swamps, etc.

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains are approximately 3,000 km long, stretching from the US state of New Mexico, across the western United States, and on to the northernmost borders of British Columbia in Canada.

The major mountain ranges in this chain include: Absaroka, Bear River, Beaverhead, Big Belt, Big Horn, Biterroots, Canadian, Clearwater, Columbia, Frant, Guadalupe, Laremy, Lemley, Lewis, Lost River, Medicine Bow, Monashi, Auhi, Purcell , Sacramento, Samon River, San Andres, Sangre de Cristo, Southwatch, Shawshawn, Stins, Stillwater, Swan, Tetons, Unita, Wallowa, Wasatch, Wind River, Wyoming, Zuni.

The highest point in the Rocky Mountains is Mount Elbert, located 15 kilometers from Leadville, Colorado. Its height is 4399 meters.

Sierra Madre

The Sierra Madre includes two large mountain ranges and one smaller one. The Western Sierra Madre runs parallel to the Mexican ocean coast, with some of its peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. The Eastern Sierra Madre runs parallel to the Gulf Coast, with some peaks also exceeding 3,000 meters. The southern Sierra Madre is located in the southern Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca.

Brooks Ridge

Mountains in northern Alaska. The highest point is Mount Isto (height - 2,760 m.).

Rivers of North America

Hundreds of rivers and their tributaries flow through North America. Some of the largest and most significant of them will be listed and described below.

Brazos

This Texas river rises upstate in Stonewall County and flows south into Brazoria County and on to the Gulf of Mexico. Its length is 1,351 km.

Colorado

Originating in the Rocky Mountains in northern Colorado, this river flows southwest to the Gulf of California. Its length is 2,333 km. Over the centuries, the river has carved many canyons along its meandering path. The most famous of them is the Grand Canyon, in northern Arizona. Along the entire path of the river there are 30 power plants, as well as dozens of dams and reservoirs.

Colombia

This broad, fast-flowing river originates in the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia, Canada, then flows south through Washington state, then forms a natural border between Washington and Oregon. It ends in the Pacific Ocean, its length is 1,857 km. The development of hydroelectric power in the river basin has brought inexpensive electricity to the people of the Pacific Northwest, but has greatly affected salmon spawning and the migration of native fish.

Mackenzie

It is Canada's longest river and separates the Northwest Territories. It flows mainly to the northwest into Mackenzie Bay and the Beaufort Sea. This river of historical significance was discovered by Alexander Mackenzie, and dense green forests grow along its path, and there are dozens of lakes. Its length is 1,800 km. When connected to its tributaries, the Slave, Peace, and Finlay, its total length is 4,240 km, making it the second longest river in North America, behind the Mississippi/Missouri river system (whose length is 6,236 km.) .

Mississippi

It is the main river of North America and the United States, with a length of 3,765 km. It flows from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, near the city of New Orleans. It is an important transportation artery, and if connected to its main tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio rivers), it will become the third largest river system in the world, with a length of 6,236 km.

Missouri

This river originates in southern Montana in the Rocky Mountains and flows first north, then southeast through the heart of the United States, ending in the Mississippi River, north of St. Louis, Missouri. It is the longest river in the United States (4,203 km).

Ohio

Formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahila Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Ohio River flows generally to the southwest. It forms a natural border between Ohio and West Virginia, between Ohio and Kentucky, and part of the border with Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. It ends in the Mississippi River in Illinois and is 1,569 km long.

Saint Lawrence River

This river flows northeast from Lake Ontario, and flows into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is 1,225 km long and can be used by deep sea vessels between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. It includes several artificial canals, castles and dams and is considered one of the most important trade routes on the planet.

Rio Grande

This is one of the longest rivers in North America (3,034 km long), it starts in the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado, then flows south through New Mexico. It forms a natural boundary between the state of Texas and Mexico as it flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. In Mexico, the river is known as the Rio Bravo del Norte. The waters of this river, used by both countries as drinking water, are becoming increasingly polluted as the settlements surrounding the path of the river's waters grow in size, and dump more and more sewage and pesticides into the water.

fraser

This river in British Columbia, Canada, starts in the Canadian Rockies, then flows in different directions (mainly south), then finally turns west, and ends in the Strait of Georgia, south of Vancouver. Its length is 1,368 km.

Churchill

This river, flowing in central Canada, originates in northwestern Saskatchewan, then flows east into Manitoba, and on to Hudson Bay. It flows through a series of lakes and is known for its fast currents. Its length is 1,609 km.

Yukon

This river originates in the southwestern part of the Yukon Territory of Canada, and then flows northwest across the border into Alaska. This massive river then continues southwest through central Alaska, ending in the Bering Sea. Despite its length (2,035 km.), and the fact that, for the most part, this river is navigable, it freezes from October to mid-June.

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 diverging more than one and a half thousand kilometers wide. They begin on, their southern border is the valley of the Mexican Balsas River, which separates North and Central America, to the south - the mountains of the Southern Sierra Madre, 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 of North America: the USA (from Alaska to California), Canada and Mexico.
The history of the formation of the Cordilleras of North America is incredibly complex, primarily due to the large area of ​​​​this object and the significant 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 Cordilleras of North America is still in its 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.
East, he is a belt with the top of Elbert, - a chain of high massive ridges. In the east, it is bounded by a sharp ledge, which is the boundary 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 by the valleys of large rivers like the Rio Grande. The southernmost section of the eastern belt forms the Eastern Sierra Madre, about 4 km high.
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 high, within the US and Mexico proper - 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 intermountain depressions, and a belt of coastal chains. The belt of the Pacific ridges includes the Alaska Range with the highest point of the entire mainland - the top of Denali. Part of the western belt are large mountains - the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada Range and the Transverse Volcanic Sierra. Most of the peaks of the local mountains are cones of active and extinct volcanoes 4 km high and above, the most famous are Rainier, Orizaba, Popocatepetl and Nevada de Colima.
Sedimentary rocks accumulated in the depressions between the mountain ranges for a long time, as a result, huge deposits of various minerals were formed throughout the Cordillera of North America, and metal ores were formed in the thickness of the mountains. There are oil deposits in the Canadian Cis-Cordillera 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 Ranges - mercury and everywhere - deposits of stone coal.
Glaciers occupy almost 70 thousand km 2, most of them are located in the mountains of Alaska, among them Bering stands out - the largest mountain glacier in North America (some glaciologists believe that the whole world).
In the Cordillera lie the sources and headwaters of many major rivers in North America: Yukon, Saskatchewan, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande. There are lakes, many are salty, the most famous is Bolshoe Salt.
The Cordillera of North America is the northern part of the Cordillera mountain system, stretching along the western edge of North America and into Central America.
The length of the Cordillera of 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 throughout their length, due to their considerable height, have a pronounced altitudinal zonality, which is largely 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.
The northwestern (Alaskan Cordillera) occupies most of the American and Canadian Yukon plateaus. Here is the kingdom of high mountain ranges with powerful glaciation, the climate is from arctic to temperate. Vegetation is poor, as permafrost is everywhere. 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 forests appear. Reindeer, arctic fox, polar hare, lemming live in the tundra. The forest is the habitat of the grizzly bear, wolf, fox. A lot of birds.
People 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 Cordillera, partly entering the territory of the United States, is the narrowest part of the mountain belt. There are many mountain ranges and glaciers, but the climate is milder - temperate, humid. Steppes appear in the river valleys, and thickets of mountain coniferous forests appear on the plateau: fir, spruce, red cedar, balsam pine. The animal world becomes more diverse, the moose, wolverine, lynx, cougar, mountain sheep, fur-bearing animal appear: marten, ermine, mink, nutria, muskrat.
The local population is the inhabitants 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 is the widest part of these mountains, so there is a greater variety of natural conditions. High, forested ridges with glaciers are close to vast desert plateaus. The climate is subtropical, and on the coast - Mediterranean, in the interior, where moisture from the ocean no longer gets, it is arid. On the slopes of the Front Range and the Sierra Nevada there are mountain pine forests, the Coast Ranges - which are lower - are covered with groves of relic sequoia and hard-leaved shrubs - chaparral. But the forests in the west are largely cut down or burned down in forest fires - also through the fault of man.
Where people have settled, large animals are either destroyed or are on the verge of destruction: for example, the bison is almost completely destroyed. The rich fauna is preserved 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 is the Mexican Highlands and the California Peninsula. The climate is tropical, very dry, the vegetation is poor, with the exception of tropical forests on the slopes of the mountains. Pronghorn antelope, coyote, monkeys, jaguar live here. Most of the population lives in and around Mexico City or in port cities.

general information

Location: Western North America.

Mountain ranges: eastern belt (Brooks, Richardson, Mackenzie, Sawatch, San Juan, Forward, Uinta, Eastern Sierra Madre), inner belt (Kilbuck, Kuskokwim, Rey, Cassiar, Omineka, Columbian, Yukon Plateau, Stikine, Fraser, Snake, Great Basin, Colorado and Mexican Highlands), western (Alaska, Aleutian, Coastal, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Volcanic Sierra, Sierra Vizcaino, St. Elias Massif, Cascade and Chugach Mountains).

Plateaus, uplands and plateaus: Yukon, Fraser, Colombian, 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: Whites, African Americans, Indigenous peoples.
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: Great Salt, Tahoe.

Numbers

Length: more than 9000 km.

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

highest point: Mount Denali (Pacific belt, 6144 m).

Other peaks: Mount (5951 m), Volcano Orizaba (5700 m), Volcano Popocatepetl (5452 m), Mount Whitney (4418 m), Mount Elbert (4399 m), Volcano Rainier (4392 m), Volcano Nevado de Colima (4265 m), Mount Marques-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.

January average temperature: in the north -30°С, in the south -17°С.
July average temperature: 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 internal 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, hard and brown coal, manganese, gold, silver, tungsten, copper, molybdenum, mercury, uranium, vanadium, limestone, granite, marble.
Industry: mining, metallurgical, heavy and transport engineering, chemical, food.

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

Service sector: tourism, transport, trade.

Attractions

■ 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

■ In general, the Cordillera is the longest mountain system in the world, located along the western coast of South and North America. The total length is about 18 thousand km, the average width is about 1000 km. The Cordilleras are located on the territory of 9 states, starting with the USA and Canada in the north and ending with Chile in the extreme south.
■ The world's largest mountain glacier, Bering, is located in the Nugach Mountains in Alaska, its length is 203 km and its area is about 5800 km 2 . The glacier was named after the Russian traveler Vitus Bering (1681-1741). The glacier is only 10 km away 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, which put pressure on the earth's crust and restrained seismic activity. As a result, the number of earthquakes in Alaska has increased dramatically.
■ The western (Pacific) belt of the Cordilleras of North America has a characteristic feature: intermountain 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 with sea water when the level of the World Ocean rises .
■ The Cordillera of North America has all the major types of glaciers: large ice fields and caps, flanked glaciers (Depont Glacier in the Coast Range), piedmont or foot glaciers (Malaspina), valley glaciers (Hubbard), cirque and short hanging glaciers, mostly disappearing (Sierra Nevada), and star-shaped glaciers form on volcanic peaks, so named because numerous glacial flows depart from them (there are several dozen of them only on Mount Rainier).
■ The Mackenzie Mountains in Canada were named after Alexander Mackenzie (1822-1892), Canada's second 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 in the Sequoia National Park, are the most massive trees in the world: each up to 1500 m 2 of wood.
■ In 1799-1867. Mount McKinley (the modern name of 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 volcanoes in the Cascades, including the eruption of Lassen Peak in 1914-1915. and the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980 May 6, 2014

The relief surface of North America can be 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 picturesque places in North America. High mountain ranges attract thousands of tourists every year. Mountaineering is developed here. Equally 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? Why are they unique and where are they located?

Cordillera

The Cordilleras are the largest rocky mountains in terms of length. North America is famous for its snow-capped peaks. The highest of them are located in this mountain system. The Cordilleras stretch along the western edge of the mainland, from Alaska to the central part. Then they pass into the Andes, which cover the southern mainland. This mountain range is crossed by many faults. They start from the ocean itself and end on land. The Cordillera arose as a result of the convergence of two lithospheric plates. But, according to seismologists, the process of mountain building is not yet fully completed. This is also evidenced by the presence of several active volcanoes, an even greater number of them are "sleeping". Earthquakes are also frequent in this area. If we talk about the height of these mountains, then only the Himalayas can compete with them. The highest point in North America, Mount McKinley, is also located in the Cordillera. Its height is 6193 meters. What else can be said about the Cordillera? They lie in all geographical zones, except perhaps the Arctic. In addition, they are characterized by a wide variety of landscapes, as well as a pronounced altitudinal zonality. 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 ascents. In addition, numerous hotels have been built along their entire length, which will welcome all vacationers.

Appalachians

The mountains and plains of North America create a unique inimitable landscape of the mainland. The place where two states border - the USA and Canada has a special beauty. Here lies the rolling plateau of the Appalachians. Its length is 2600 km. In this mountain system there are some noteworthy peaks. The highest of them is Mount Washington (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: northern and southern. Of course, these boundaries are arbitrary. The northern Appalachians are much older than the main part of the mountain range. Currently, they are a plateau with a height of only 400-600 meters. Separate ridges and massifs rise above it in places. The most famous of them are the Adirondacks, the White Mountains, the Green Mountains. Their tops are smoothed. The slopes are mostly gentle, only occasionally there are sections dissected by caravans. Mountain ranges separate tectonic valleys. They transform into trogs. The northern Appalachians have a different name for the local population - the "mountains of New England". They are composed of metamorphic and crystalline rocks. These are areas of peneplanated mountains, in which there are faint traces of later uplifts. But at the same time, the impact of glaciation is clearly expressed.

Southern Appalachians

Such mountains in North America as the Southern Appalachians arose somewhat later than others. This happened around the time of the Variscian folding. Their relief is more varied. In the east - Piedmont foothill plateau. It is flat, slightly dissected by valleys. Its height is 40-80 meters. The western part is more hilly. Here the height reaches 400 meters. But more interestingly, massive peaks rise sharply in this region. This is Blue Ridge. Its slopes are steep. The tops are often domed or comb-shaped. The highest point is Mount Mitchell. Its height is 2037 meters. It is composed of sedimentary-volcanic rocks belonging to the Lower and Middle Paleozoic. The western slope of the Blue Ridge drops steeply to a depression - the Big Valley. Here lies the Appalachian Plateau. The mountains are strongly separated by valleys that go 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 their life. True, not everyone knows that we are talking about a mountain range stretching along the western coast of the United States of America. Its length is 750 kilometers. The Sierra Nevada range originates from the Fredonier Pass in the north and reaches the Tehachapi Pass in the south. In the west, it is limited by the California Valley. The Sierra Nevada borders the Great Basin to the east. Of course, the highest mountains of North America are not located in this area, but those that rise here can rightly be called the most picturesque. The crest of the ridge runs along the slope on the western side. All rivers, whose sources are located on the tops, flow into the Pacific Ocean. From north to south, the height of the mountains gradually increases. Between Lake Tahoe and Fredonier Pass, the peaks reach 2400 meters. The highest point on this segment of the ridge is Mount Rose. Its height is 2700 meters. Yosemite National Park has Olancha Peak (3695 m) and Florence Peak (3781 m). Further, the height of the ridge goes down. The beauty of the Sierra Nevada mountains is hard to overestimate. They are known all over the world for their unique landscapes.

Eastern Sierra Madre

The highest mountains in North America are in the Cordillera. But the unique ridges, located parallel to each other, can be found on the territory of modern Mexico, in the north-east of the country. 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, with a height of 1000 to 3000 m. In the south, the mountain ranges are scattered from each other. There are separate peaks here up to 4000 m high. In the western part, spurs extend to the highlands in several places. In the east, the ridge ends on 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 this is not the only peak worth mentioning. No less famous are the mountains of El Coauilon and Cerro Potosi.

Western Sierra Madre

These mountains in America are considered to be a continuation of the Cordillera. They are located in what is now Mexico. The length of the western Sierra Madre is 1300 km. The width of this mountain range 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 in the southeast of Tucson, in American Arizona.

Southern Sierra Madre

The southern Sierra Madre are ancient mountains in America. It is difficult to determine their age. But, despite this, it is proved that they were formed much earlier than other mountain systems. Located in the south of Mexico, this range has a length of 1000 km. It runs along the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The Southern Sierra Madre begins in the state of Michoacán. Then it goes towards the isthmus of Tehuantepec. It crosses the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca, where it merges with the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. The width of the Southern Sierra Madre is 300 km. These mountains are not high, only some peaks reach above 3000 m. But, despite this, this region is a serious obstacle to transport links between the hinterland of Mexico and the Pacific coast. The highest point of the Southern Sierra Madre is Mount Teotepec (3703 m).

coast range

The coast 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 the Fraser River. In fact, the Coast Range is part of the Cordillera mountain system. But it is customary to single it out as an independent array 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 remaining 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 Coast 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 formed relatively recently, in the Neogene. There are once active volcanoes 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 peak, 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. On the ridges of Wrangel and St. Elijah there is a national park. Many places here are absolutely untouched by man. This makes this region truly unique and unrepeatable.

The process of formation of mountains on Earth takes millions of years. They arise from the collision of huge tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust.

Today we will get acquainted with the highest mountains on 6 continents and see how they look against the backdrop of the highest mountain peaks in the world - the "eight-thousanders", whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters.

How many continents are on Earth? It is sometimes believed that Europe and Asia are 2 different continents, although they are one mainland:

Before we start talking about the highest mountains on 6 continents, let's take a look at the general diagram of the highest peaks on Earth.

"Eight-thousanders"- this is a common name for the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world, whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters. They are all in Asia. The conquest of all 14 "eight-thousanders" of the planet - the conquest of the "Crown of the Earth" - is a great achievement in high-altitude mountaineering. As of July 2012, only 30 climbers have managed to do this. (Clickable, 2010×810 px):

North America - Mount McKinley, 6,194 m

This is the highest two-headed mountain in North America, named after the 25th President of the United States. Located in Alaska.

Indigenous peoples called this peak "Denali", which means "great", and during the period of Russian colonization of Alaska it was simply called Big Mountain.

Mount McKinley as seen from Denali National Park:

The first ascent of the main summit of McKinley took place on June 7, 1913. There are 5 large glaciers on the slopes of the mountain.

South America - Mount Aconcagua, 6,962 m

This is the highest point of the American continent, South America, as well as the western and southern hemispheres. They belong to the longest mountain range in the world - the Andes.

The mountain is located in Argentina and in the Quechua language means "Stone Guardian". Aconcagua is the largest extinct volcano on our planet.

In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered technically an easy mountain if you climb the northern slope.

The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1897.

Europe - Mount Elbrus, 5,642 m

This stratovolcano in the Caucasus is the highest peak in Russia. Considering that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, often Elbrus is also called the highest European mountain peak. (Clickable, 2500×663 px):

Elbrus is a two-headed volcano with a saddle. The western peak has a height of 5,642 m, the Eastern one - 5,621 m. The last eruption dates back to 50 AD ...

In those days, the eruptions of Elbrus probably resembled the eruptions of modern Vesuvius, but were more powerful. From the craters of the volcano at the beginning of the eruption, powerful clouds of vapors and gases, saturated with black ash, rose many kilometers up, covering the entire sky, turning day into night. The earth shook from powerful tremors.

Today, both peaks of Elbrus are covered with eternal snow and ice. On the slopes of Elbrus, 23 glaciers diverge in different directions. The average speed of glaciers is about 0.5 meters per day.

The first successful ascent to one of the peaks of Elbrus was made in 1829. The average annual number of deaths while climbing Elbrus is 15-30 people. (Clickable, 1650×630 px):

Everest (Chomolungma) is the top of our world! The first eight-thousander in height and the highest mountain on Earth.

The mountain is located in the Himalayas in the Mahalangur-Himal range, with the Southern peak (8760 m) lying on the border of Nepal, and the Northern (main) peak (8848 m) located in China.

Everest has the shape of a trihedral pyramid. At the top of the Chomolungma, there are strong winds blowing at speeds of up to 200 km / h, and the air temperature at night drops to -60 Celsius.

The first ascent to the summit of Everest took place in 1953. Since the first ascent to the summit until 2011, more than 200 people have died on the slopes of Everest. Now the climb to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps.

View from space:

Climbing Everest is not only extremely dangerous, but also expensive: the cost of climbing in specialized groups is up to 65 thousand US dollars, and the climbing permit issued by the government of Nepal alone costs 10 thousand dollars

Australia and Oceania - Mount Punchak Jaya, 4884 m

The highest peak in Australia and Oceania, which is located on the island of New Guinea. It is located on the Australian Plate and is the highest mountain in the world located on an island.

The mountain was discovered in 1623 by the Dutch explorer Jan Carstens, who saw a glacier at the top from afar. Therefore, sometimes the mountain is called the Pyramid of Carstens.

The first ascent of Puncak Jaya took place only in 1962. The name of the mountain from the Indonesian language is translated approximately as "Victory Peak".

These are the highest mountains in Antarctica. The existence of the mountain range became known only in 1957. Since the mountains were discovered by American aircraft, they were subsequently named the Vinson Massif, after the famous American politician Carl Vinson.

View of the Vinson Massif from space:

This is the highest point in Africa, a huge dormant volcano with two well-defined peaks in the northeast of Tanzania. The mountain has had no documented eruptions, but local legends speak of volcanic activity 150-200 years ago.

The higher one is the peak of Kibo, an almost regular cone with powerful glaciation.

The name comes from the Swahili language and supposedly means "mountain that sparkles".

The snow cap that has covered the mountaintop for 11,000 years since the last Ice Age is melting fast. Over the past 100 years, the volume of snow and ice has decreased by more than 80%. It is believed that this is not caused by a change in temperature, but by a reduction in the amount of snowfall.

The highest peak in Africa was first conquered by the German traveler Hans Meyer in 1889.