![]() ![]() In due course, a series of explorations were carried out by the Anglo-Americans and the discovery of fur and precious minerals led to the beginning of the economic exploitation of the Rocky Mountains. In 1793, Sir Alexander Mackenzie became the first European explorer to cross the Rockies. These Paleo-Indians also hunted the ancient bison and mammoths in the valleys and foothills of the Rocky Mountains. All these tribes left their indelible marks on the Rockies with their distinctive cultures, artworks, etc. The Rocky Mountain area was inhabited by members of various indigenous tribes like the Apache, Shoshone, Cheyenne, Crow Nation, Nez Percé, Blackfoot, Shuswap, Sekani, Kutenai, and others. Brief HistoryĪrchaeological evidences have revealed that humans started to live in the Rockies between 10,000 and 8,000 BCE. Some of the avian species that have been recorded in the Rocky Mountains include bald eagle, great horned owl, Canadian geese, turkey vulture, peregrine falcon, etc. Some of the notable faunal species that are found in the Rocky Mountains include white-tailed deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, elk, moose, grizzly bears, black bears, lynxes, cougars, prairie dogs, squirrels, pika, marmots, beavers, etc. The ice ages also led to the formation of massive glacial landforms, cirques, and U-shaped valleys. Further tectonic activities, erosions, and the glaciers of the Pleistocene and the Holocene Epochs helped in carving out the mountainous landscape and creating the rugged Rocky Mountains. This unusual subduction and strong tectonic activities caused the piling of the crust sheets on top of each other and resulted in the formation of the Rocky Mountains along the western part of the North American continent. During this mountain-building period, the ancient Farallon oceanic plate moved underneath the North American Plate at a very low angle. The Rocky Mountains form the easternmost part of the North American Cordillera and were formed during the Laramide Orogeny between 80 to 55 million years ago. The mountains offer many recreational activities like hiking, mountaineering, camping, mountain biking, snowboarding, skiing, fishing, etc. The Rockies are also very popular tourist spots and attract visitors from all over the world. The mountainous landscape of the Rockies is protected by several national parks including the Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes, Yoho, Glacier National Park, Yellowstone, Grand Teton National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Sawtooth National Recreation Area, etc. The Rocky Mountain Trench forms the western boundary of the Canadian Rockies and separates the Columbia Mountains from the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies. The Northern Rockies also include the Lewis and Bitterroot ranges in the western part of the US State of Montana and the northeastern part of the US State of Idaho. The Canadian Rockies are further divided into three major groups: the Continental Ranges and the Muskwa and the Hart Ranges that are collectively known as the Northern Rockies. Located within the Mount Robson Provincial Park in the Canadian Province of British Columbia is Mount Robson, which rises to an elevation of 3,954m and is the highest point in the Canadian Rockies. The Canadian Rockies extends southeastwards for about 1,600km from the northern part of the Canadian Province of British Columbia and forms a major part of the natural boundary between the Canadian Provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The Canadian Rockies Rocky Mountains and Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |