Rocky Mountains

A major mountain system of western North America extending more than 4,827 km (3,000 mi) from northwest Alaska to the Mexican border. The system includes numerous ranges and forms the Continental Divide. Its highest elevation is Mount Elbert, 4,402.1 m (14,433 ft), in central Colorado. In Canada the Rockies rise to 3,956.5 m (12,972 ft) at Mount Robson in eastern British Columbia. Sections of the mountains were explored by Coronado, Lewis and Clark, Zebulon Pike, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, and Simon Fraser.