The highest point of the Cordiller. Cordillera North America

The most extended length is the rogged mountains, the height is 4339 m (Mount Elbert). The highest vertex in the North American section of the Cordiller is considered to be McK-Kinley Mount - 6193 meters. The width of Cordiller reaches 1600 meters in America.

In Cordillers of North America, there are three longitudinal belts: East, internal, Western.

Eastern belt, or the belt of the Rocky Mountains, consists of a chain of high massive ridges, mostly serving watershed between the Pacific Power and Pool and the Gulf of Mexico and the Arctic Ocean. In the East, the belt is interrupted by the foothill plateau (arctic, great plains). In the West, it is limited by deep faults ("Fantasics of Rocky Mountains") or valleys large rivers (Rio Grande). Places gradually goes into mountain arrays and plateaus. On Alaska to the belly of the Rocky Mountains, the Brooks Ridge, in North-Western Canada, Richardson and Maczi Mountains, limited from the north and south of Pil and Liard's rivers, are referred to.

Cordiller's indoor beltconsisting of a plateau and Nagrai is located between the Eastern Belt and the Pacific Range belts in the West. In the inner Alaska, it includes very wide tectonic depressures engaged in the floodplains of rivers, and alternating with hill-shaped arrays up to 1500-1700 m (Kilbak Mountain, Kusokvim, Rei). This includes mountain ranges and ridges, not inferior to the Rocky Mountains (Kassiar Omineka Mountains, 2590 m). Within the United States itself - high-altitude arrays in Idaho (height up to 3857 m).

Western belt It consists of the belt of the Pacific ridges, the belt of intergurgeous lakes and the belt of the coastal chains. The belt of the Pacific ridges covering the inner region of the Cordiller consists of high-altitude formations. It includes the Alaskan ridge from the top of McKornley (6193 m), a chain of volcanic Aleutian islands, the Aleutian ridge (Eliamna volcano, 3075 m), a high-altitude node of the Massif of St. Ilya, the coastal ridge that forms the sea bay with rocky shores throughout its mass. In the USA, this belt includes cascade mountains of volcanoes (Rainier volcano, 4392 m), ridges: Sierra Nevada (Whitney Mount, 4418 m), Mountains of California Peninsula (height up to 3078 m), transverse volcanic Sierra with Orizaba volcanoes (5700 m) , Popochette (5452 m), Nevado de Colima (4265 m).

Sea Bulips and Straits (Cook Bay, Shelichov Straits, Georgia, Sebastian-Whiskinino Bay) alternate with lowlands and plateaus (lowland Susitsy, Copper River Plateau, Willamett Valley, Big California Valley). Coastal chains are made up of low and medieval formations (USA coastal ridges, Sierra Whiskaino on the California Peninsula) and Highlated Coastal Islands (Kadyak Islands, Queen Charlotte, Vancouver, Alexander Archipelago). This belt reaches the greatest height in the south of Alaska, in the mountains of Chugach (Marquez Baker, 4016 m).

Climate

Since the Cordillers of North America occupy space stretched to 7,000 km, the climate in different belts is different. For example, in the northern part, where the Arctic (Brooks Ridge) is held, and the subarctic (part of Alaska) zone, there is a glaciation on the vertices of 2250 meters. The snow border passes at an altitude of 300-450 meters.

The zones in close proximity to the Pacific Ocean are distinguished by a mild climate, to a greater extent, oceanic (on the latitude of San Francisco - Mediterranean), in the inner areas - continental. On the Skon Plateau, the average winter temperature ranges within -30 ° C, summer - up to 15 ° C. In the large pool in winter there are frosts up to -17 ° C, and in the summer, temperatures often exceed 40 ° C (absolute maximum 57 ° C). Humidity in various parts of the Cordiller depends on the remoteness from coastline. So, in the West there is an increased humidity and, accordingly, a greater amount of precipitation. In the direction of the western part to the eastern, in the central part - less precipitation. To the east, the tropical climate enhances humidity. Therefore, the average annual precipitation ranges from 3000-4000 mm in the south of Alaska, on the coast of British Columbia - up to 2500 mm, on the internal USDA, it decreases to 400-200 mm.

Rivers and lakes

In Cordillera, there are many lakes of mining and glacial and volcanic origin. These include a large salt lake, Tahoe. In Cordillers of North America, they take the beginning of the Missouri River, Yukon, Colorado, Colombia. Due to the fact that the eastern belt of the mountains is a natural watershed, the majority of precipitation falling out within this ridge flows to the West, in Pacific Ocean. The north of 45-50 ° Northern latitude on the Pacific River coast is replenished due to the melting of snow and spring flood. The southern part of lakes and rivers exists due to rainfall in the form of rain and snow. The most actively replenishment occurs due to the melting of snow with a winter maximum on the Pacific Coast and Spring-Summer - in the inner areas. The cordillers of the southern zone do not have a runoff in the ocean and are replenished due to short-term watercourses ending in faceless salty lakes (the largest of them is large Salt Lake). In the northern part of the Cordiller there are freshwater lakes of glacial and tectonic and naked origin (Atling, Kutena, Okatan, etc.).

Mountain reliefs of rivers having waterfall zones are used to generate electricity. The fastest water sources are used in agricultural purposes, in particular for the irrigation of fields. Part of the natural stems on the Columbia River are used for the construction of hydropower plants (Grand Kuli, Te-Dalts, etc.).

Natural regions

Due to the fact that Cordillera crosses subarctic, moderate, subtropical and tropical belts, they are divided into 4 main natural areas: Northwest, Canadian Cordillers, US Cordillers and Mexican Cordillera.

US Cordillers stand out a large width - 1600 km, therefore they are distinguished by a wide range of climatic conditions, landscape and fauna. High wooded ridges, covered with snowflakes and glaciers, directly adjoin here with extensive heartless desert plateau. Climate subtropical, on the Mediterranean coast, in the inner parts arid. On the slopes of the high ridges (advanced ridge, Sierra Nevada), the belts of mountain pine forests are developed (American spruce, larch), coniferous subalpine retrograms and alpine meadows. In the low coastal ridges, mountain-pine forests grow, sequare groves and evergreen tight shrubs.

In the west, the Cordiller up to the 19th century has grown many forests, but in 19 and especially in 20 centuries. The forests were strongly burned and burned, and the area under them was significantly reduced (Sitkinskaya spruce was especially injured, the Douglasia, preserved in small quantities on the Pacific Coast). The low zones of the internal plateau are occupied by wormwood and shrub semi-deserts and deserts, low ridges - pine and pine-juniped palpaths.

In places of residence of people, large animals or destroyed, or are on the verge of destruction. Bison, rarely occurring antilopa - Vilorogue is saved only thanks to national programs. A rich animal world can be observed only in reserves (Yellowstone national Park, Yosemite National Park, etc.). In semi-desert areas are predominantly rodents, snakes, lizards, scorpions. The population is concentrated near the Pacific coast, where they are located big cities (Los Angeles, San Francisco). In the valleys of rivers - arrays of irrigated lands used under subtropical fruit crops. Subtropical palpal and shrub deserts are used as pastures.

Any resident of North and South America knows where Cordillera is located. These mountains stretch along the western side of the above-mentioned continents: from Alaska (North-West part of North America) to the island Fire Earthwhich is close to Antarctica. This is the longest mountain chain in the world. Its length is 18,000 kilometers, and the width of the North American part reaches 1600 kilometers (the maximum width of the South American part is 900 km). The mountain range is made to divide into two halves: Cordillera North America and Andes.

Cordillera - one of the highest mountains in the world

Cordillera is one of the highest mountains in the world. Only Himalayas, as well as a few more mountain Systems The central part of Asia is superior to them in height. The highest point is Mount Akonkagua, the height of which is 6962 meters. Akonkagua is located in the South American part of the Cordiller, and highest top North American part - Mount Denali (Mac-Kinley Mountain), reaching 6190 m.

The mountain range passes through all America's climatic belts (with the exception of Antarctic, subanctic), thanks to which the climate, as well as the flora and the fauna of these mountains, changes greatly if they move from north to south (to a lesser extent from West to the East). For example, the snow border in Alaska Cordillera is 600 m, and in Bolivia - 6,500 m.

Minerals

Like any territory where the mountains are located, Cordillera are the richest source of minerals, primarily a variety of ores:

• copper;
• zinc;
• gold;
• iron;
• platinum;
• tin.

There are also many other metals in the depths of the mountains, and oil, gas, stone coal, and even gems (richest emerald deposits in Colombia and Brazil).

Significance

The influence of these mountains on the formation of culture, traditions, the lifestyle of residents of America is difficult to overestimate. In the territory where Cordillers are located, integer Indian civilization were born, unique in their development and cultural heritage. And on the scale of the planet, the mountain chain Cordillera is a watershed between the Pacific pool and aquatorium Atlantic Ocean.

In the North American part of the mountains there is a ridge called Rocky Mountains. This area is one of the most popular zones in the US for tourism, recreation, mountaineering, skiing, and so on. Here are the famous national parks: Yeloustone (USA), Rocky Mountain (USA), Waterton Lakes (Canada) and others.

Cordillera Mountains are the longest mountain system in the world. If you look at the map, you can see that these mountains stretched almost 18,000 km.

MacKille (Cecil Sanders) view from the aircraft on Cordillera (Vivis Carvalho) Denali National Park (Denali National Park and Preserve) Cordillera (Ross Fowler) Ross Fowler Helicopter on the background of Cordiller (The US Army) Pablo Trincado Denali National Park (MAYKOL SaAvedra) View of Cordillera (Miguel Vera León) Lovely view of Mac-Kinlie Mac-Kinley Mountain, Denali National Park (Christoph Strässler) High Point Cordiller (Denali National Park And Preserve) Park Denali (Denali National Park and Preserve) Park Denali and Bear (Denali National Park and Preserve) Carlos Felipe Pardo Cordillera, Andes (Daniel Peppes Gauer) Cordillera (Nacho) Cordillera - Blanca, Peru (Mel Patterson) Cordillera Blanca, Peru (Mel Patterson) Cordillera Blanca, Peru (Mel Patterson)

What kind of mainland are they located? Cordillera is unusual because they are at once on two continents. If you look at the map, you can see that these mountains stretched almost 18,000 kilometers from north to south, along pacific coast North and South America - from Alaska to the island of fiery ground.

Cordillers are divided into two large systems - Cordillera North America and Cordillera South America are also widely known as Andes. As part of this article, only Cordillera North America will be described, spread from Alaska to South Mexico.

Cordiller height - the highest point

The highest peak of Cordiller North America is Mount Denali, until recently known as Mac-Kinley, the height of which is 6190 m. Its coordinates: 63 ° 04'10 "Northern latitude of 151 ° 00'26" Western longitude.

Mac-Kinley Mountain, Denali National Park (Christoph Strässler)

Geographic characteristic

The length of the mining system has almost 9,000 km with a width of 800 to 1600 km. At the same time, Canadian cordillers have the smallest width, and the maximum width of the mountains is achieved in the USA. Almost all in its entirety, these mountains form 3 belts - East, Western and internal.

View of Cordillera (Miguel Vera León)

The eastern belt, also known as the Rocky Mountain belt, forms a number of high mountain ranges, which are a watershed, separating the waters of the Pacific Ocean in the West and the pools of the Atlantic and North Ocean Oceans in the East. In addition to the Rocky Mountains themselves, it includes Brooks Ridge on Alaska, Richardson Ridge and Mackenzie Mountains in Canada, East Sierra Madre mountain system in Mexico. The highest point of the belt is the Elbert mountain, which is located within the state of Colorado. Its peak has an absolute mark of 4399 meters.

Western belt is presented with folded and volcanic ridges that pass in parallel with the coast of the Pacific Ocean. It includes Aleuta, Alaskan and coastal ridges, cascading mountains, Sierra Nevada mountain system, Western and Sierra Madre, transverse volcanic Sierra. Within the limits of the Alaskan ridge, there is the highest mountain of not only this belt, but also all of North America - Mount Denali (Mak-Kinley), the height of which has 6190 m.

The inner belt includes a number of plateau and a flatbed located between two other belts. It consists of Plateau Fraser, Columbia Mountains, Highlands Big Pool, Colorado Plateau and Mexican Highlands.

Three main mountain arcs Cordillere

In Central America and Islands Caribbean Cordillera disintegrate into three main mountain arcs that are separated by depressions.

Cordillera (Ross Fowler)

So, an arc, which is a structural continuation of the Rocky Mountains and Eastern Sierra Madre, forms the Mountains of Cuba Islands, the North of Haiti and Puerto Rico.

The South Sierra Madre geologically continues to the mountains of Jamaica, the south of Haiti, and they merge on Puerto Rico with the mountains of the first arc.

The third arc passes from the southern frontiers of Mexico through all countries of Central America to the West Panama. Its continuation are Andes.

Cordillera cross all the geographical belts of the continent, from the Arctic to the north to the subequatorial in the south. At their length, the climate of the terrain, vegetable and animal world change very much.

Not less strongly natural conditions change when moving from west to east of the mountain system; Often climate and vegetation change in this direction much faster than when moving from north to south. In addition, as in all high mountains, great importance Here has a high-rise explanancy.

Geology

Cordillera North America are composed of various geological structures of different ages. The mountains began to form in the Jurassic period, few earlier than the Andes whose education began only at the end of the chalk period.

Gorical formation has not ended to this day, evidence of which are quite frequent earthquakes and availability existing volcanoes. Approximately north of Parallel 45 degrees of northern latitude, a considerable effect on the formation of the relief was provided by a quaternary glaciation.

In Cordillera, gold, mercury, tungsten, copper, molybdenum and other ores are mining. From non-metallic minerals there are fields of oil, stone coal, etc.

Hydrography

The Cordillera are the origins of such major rivers such as Yukon, Mackenzie, Missouri, Colombia, Colorado, Rio Grande and many others.

Denali National Park (Denali National Park and Preserve)

The north of the 50th latitude predominates the snow diet of watercourses, and to the south - rain. Many mountain rivers have great energy potential. Especially many hydroelectric power plants are built in the Columbia River Basin.

In the inner areas of the mining system there are large drawing areas. Unloading of a few watercourses that are mainly temporary, is carried out here in salt-free lakes, the largest of which is a large salt lake.

Pretty numerous and freshwater lakes: Atling, Okanangan, Kutena (Canadian Cordillera); Utah, Tahoe, Upper-Klamat (USA).

Climate

Because of a very high length in the meridional direction, the climate in Cordillera is greatly different. In Alaska, in Canada and North-West, the United States, on the Pacific slopes, the climate is characterized as rather mild and wet.

Denali National Park (Harvey Barrison)

The amount of precipitation on the islands off the coast of Canada and Alaska, as well as on the western slope of the coastal ridges exceeds 2000 mm, and in separate areas it can reach 6000 mm.

Maximum precipitation here falls for the winter, in connection with which, most of them falls in the form of snow. Winter is relatively warm and wet, and summer is cool and dry.

The average temperatures of July usually change from 13 to 15 degrees, and the average temperatures of January - from 0 to 4 degrees.

Away from the coast climate is very different; It is characterized as continental. On some plateau, the amount of precipitation does not exceed 400-500 mm. The winter here becomes more frosty, and the summer, on the contrary, is warm.

View of Cordillera (Maykol Saavedra)

In the southwest US climate is characterized as subtropical. The precipitation here also falls mainly in winter. Their number can reach in the Western slopes of the coast ranges up to 2000 mm, and in the West Sierra Nevada - up to 1000 mm.

In the rocky mountains, on the contrary, the eastern elephants receive more precipitation (700-800 mm) than Western (300-400 mm). This is due to the fact that air masses from the Atlantic Ocean reach the eastern slopes. Some deep inner basins get less than 200 mm of precipitation per year.

The most arid deserts of Mojave and Sonor, as well as the western part of the large pool. In some areas of these deserts, only about 50 mm of precipitation falls.

The climate of intermountain Kotlovin is characterized as sharply continental with very large daily and annual fluctuations in temperatures. In the interimathedral of the "Death Valley", the highest temperature in the world was recorded, which was 56.7 degrees, while in winter the temperature here is often lowered below the zero mark.

The total area of \u200b\u200bglaciers is more than 60,000 square kilometers. The height of the snow line changes from 300-450 meters on the coastal slopes of the mountains of the South and Southeast Alaska to 4500 meters and more - in Mexico.

In the rocky and cascade mountains in the United States, the snow line is located at an altitude of 2500-3000 meters, and in the mountains of Sierra Nevada - up to 4000 meters.

Flora and fauna

The churbed world of the Cordiller changes not only depending on the height above sea level, as in all other mountains; It also depends greatly on the latitude of a particular area and from its remoteness from the ocean.

Denali Park (Denali National Park and Preserve)

In the north of the mountain system, the slopes of the ridges are covered mainly by coniferous forests.

The inner plateaus, the plateau and the depressions of the United States and Northern Mexico are engaged in the main arid steppes and deserts, which is explained by the effect of a rain shadow, due to which the wet air masses are delayed high mountains And almost do not reach these areas.

For part of the coast of California and the North-West, Mexico is characterized by severe shrub vegetation, known as Chaparal.

On Western slopes in South Mexico and Central America are common both evergreen and deciduous tropical forests. On the eastern slopes and in intergranty basins, the vegetation is much more scarce and is represented by various shrubs, cactus and savannahs. Especially great variety of cacti and agave, which hundreds of species are found here.

The fauna of mountain forests is rather similar to the fauna of the plain North American Taiga. Here are a bears of Grizzly, foxes, wolves, beavers, wolverines, lynks, pums, etc. From characteristic only for mountains of species, mountain rams are found. The pums, coyotes, steppe wolves, hares, various rodents live in the steppes and deserts. Animal world Tropical forests are represented by various monkeys; From the predators here you can meet jaguar.

Beautiful view of McKinley (Christoph Strässler)

National Parks in Cordilleter

On the territory of Cordiller there are numerous national parks that attract millions of tourists from all over the Earth. The photos of local unusual landscapes are amazing even people, many smoking the world.

On the western part of the Sierra Nevada Mountains is one of the most famous national Parks The United States is Yosemite, which is famous for high granite rocks, waterfalls and just untouched nature.

South of it is located in the park Sequoia, the famous, how can I understand from the name, thanks to its giant sequoams. In the cascade mountains there is a Mount Reinir National Park, in whose territory the volcano is located. On the plateau of Colorado is oldest Park The United States is the Grand Canyon, which is the Canyon of the Colorado River.

One of the largest mountain systems on our planet is Cordillera Mountains.

They are striking their huge scale (they are beautifully seen from space, if you look at the mainland), length and extraordinary beauty with the uniqueness of local climate, flora and fauna.

Where are Cordillera

Cordillera (Cordilleras English origin of the title) are located on west coast America and extend from the north to the south. These are huge mountains of several thousand kilometers, length reaches 18,000 km, width - 1600 km.

Looking at physical map The world can be seen that the mountains pass through 10 countries and capture all the Western Hemispheres of the Earth. The coordinates are impressive: South latitude 32/39/12; Western longitude 70/00/42.

Note: The age of this system is simply huge - Cordillers were formed in the Jurassic period, and scientists suggest that their education has not yet completed, as evidenced by frequent volcanoes (more than 80 acting).

High Point of Cordiller

The average height of the Cordiller is 3-4 thousand meters above sea level. The highest point of Cordiller - Akonkagua Mountain, is located in South America In Andes, the border with Chile.

Mount Akonkagua

And the place on which the Andes were formed, the Patagonian platform is called. Absolute height This mountain is about seven thousand kilometers (6961 m) above sea level.

In North America the most high Point Cordiller is Mount Denali, located in the south of Alaska. Mountain just below Akonkagua, height 6190 m.

Characteristic Cordiller North America

Mountains originate on Alaska and pass through all the mainland, through three countries (Canada, USA, Mexico) to the 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, medium and new folding, many acting volcanoes.

On the entire length of Cordillera have three main belts:

• the inner - consists of a plateau and a flatbed in the middle of Western and East, there are many tectonic depressions with rivers;
• eastern - Rocky Mountains belt, large ranges divide the Pacific Ocean and Mexican Bay with an Arctic Ocean;
• western - volcanic mountains parallel to the Pacific shore.

Three main arcs Cordillere

In Central America, the mountains disagree on arcs:

1. One arc forms mountains in Cuba and North Puerto Rico and Haiti. The arc was formed from the eastern and western belt, from the north.
2. The other begins on the borders of Mexico from the south, then on Central America, to the western part of Panama. This arc smoothly goes into.
3. The last arc from the south of the Western belt takes direction to the mountains of the south side of Puerto Rico and Haiti, and Jamaica Mountains.

Geological structure and minerals

The lowlands between the mountain chains have long accumulated sedimentary rocks.

And now in the mountains of North America, large deposits of minerals were formed, the mountains themselves are valuable with metal ore:

• on Alaska there is oil deposits;
• rocky mountains are rich in copper, gold, tungsten;
• the coastal part of the ridges is interest in the extraction of mercury and coal.

Natural zones

Since Cordillers pass throughout America, then natural zones Mountains capture everything:, timber, mixed forests, forest-steppe, forests, semi-deserts and deserts, tropical savans and forests. There are no arctic and subarctic zones.

River and Lake Cordillere

In the north of Alaska there are glaciers (large - Bering). Many rivers begin their way in the mountains of Cordillera, for example: Missouri, Yukon. Very full-flowed rivers of the Pacific Basin.

The southern rivers are filled with rainwater, the northern rivers are powered by glaciers and snow.

Spring floods typically for the northern regions of the mountains. Strong northern rivers are used for irrigation and mining. Famous reservoirs: Colombia, Colorado. There are also lakes fresh and salty.

Climate and climatic belts

The climate on Cordillera is diverse due to the extensive territory on which they are located:

1. Air humidity in the southernmost mountains of no more than 60%, and in northern up to 80%.
2. The average t air in the summer in July plus, in the south to 30 degrees, and in the north to 15. Winter average t January in the north -30, in southern regions -17.
3. The amount of precipitation for the year is large in the south of Alaska to 4000 mm, and the most scarce in the Mojave desert - 50mm.

Mountains passing through all the climatic belts:

• south is the tropics and subtropics;
• the north of the belt replaces the climate with the arctic to subarctic, then moderate;
• in central, inland areas - the continental belt, and on the Pacific slopes of the mountains - the soft oceanic.

Flora and fauna

The natural landscape of the mountains is very diverse (due to the altitude explanation).

Highlight natural areas:

1. Northwestern consists mainly of glades mountain vertices and flat. Severe climate, permafrost, to southern coast - Slightly warmer. Landscape - Tundra, palpal. Deer, Leming, many birds live in the tundra. Bears, wolves, fish, pum can be seen in the forests.
2. Canadian Cordillera - in southeast Alaska. Moderate climate, in the landscape of cedar, fir forests. On the slopes of the Pacific coast grow thui. Forest inhabitants - deer, mountain rams, moose, bears, wolverines, pumas, foxes.
3. US Cordillera - A country where there is an extensive part of them. Nature is also very rich, on the slopes of the mountains - pine forests. There are arid plateau. Low coastal mountains are covered with evergreen bushes and relict trees. The animal world is significantly exterminated. Lizards, snakes, rodents dwell in semi-deserts.
4. Mexican Cordillera - Climate dry, many seismic zones. Shrubs, forests, in savannah - cacti grow. Hares, wolves, pumas, rodents - residents of the local desert. Wolves, lynx, bears are inhabited in the forests, and in the tropics of monkeys, tapir, predators.

National Parks in Cordilleter

In order to inspect numerous attractions, you must certainly visit the reserves located on the territory of Cordiller.

Grand Canyon

To familiarize yourself with the features of flora and fauna, evaluate all the beauty of the landscape, see volcanoes, you can go to one of the national parks:

1. In the USA - Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Sequoia, Yosemitsky, Gleisher.
2. In Canada - Joho, Banff, Jasper, Garibaldi, Shanny.

Conclusion

Square and greatness Cordiller amazes, geographical position And a large number of mountain ranges with amazing secrets manitis and raises a desire to go on a journey.