Appearance of the Cordillera. What continent are the Cordillera Mountains on?

Despite the fact that few people live in large areas, the vulnerable nature of the region has been damaged, which is difficult to restore.

13 national parks have been created in Alaska, where typical natural complexes are protected, as well as native species animals - mountain sheep, caribou deer, black bear (baribal) and grizzly.

Cordillera of Canada and Northwestern United States

This part of the Cordillera system is characterized by a relatively low mountain height and relative narrowness. It includes the Canadian Coast Range, the inland Fraser Plateau, the Columbian Plateau, and the Rocky Mountains up to about 48°N. sh. The westernmost orotectonic zone passes into the islands here. It is only in the south that the region expands, as this zone "returns" to the mainland. Its southern border runs along the northern outskirts of the Great Basin and the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Young folded ridges of the coastal zone are fragmented and lowered. The intermountain valleys are flooded with the sea and are straits and narrow long bays, deeply protruding into the land. The coast ridge continues the Nevadian zone, but its height is less than that of Alaska (2000-3000 meters, in the south - up to 4000 meters). It is dissected and processed by glaciers. The coast here is fjord-like.

Some general lowering of the mountains of the region compared to other parts of the Cordillera is presumably explained by large area glaciation, both ancient and modern. It is possible that the earth's crust here, as it were, sags under the weight of ice. The inner plateaus are composed of lava covers reaching a thickness of up to 1200 meters. They are high (800-1500 meters), but narrow, expanding only to the south (Columbia Plateau - up to several hundred kilometers). Rivers, cutting through the plateau, form canyons. The Rocky Mountains consist of a series of longitudinal ridges up to 4000 meters high, separated by valleys and abruptly dropping to the east. A graben filled with glacial deposits stretches along the western slopes - the "Moat of the Rocky Mountains". It is believed that this is a continuation of the mid-ocean rift.

The amount of precipitation decreases from west to east (a common pattern for the Cordillera). The ocean coast receives 2000-3000 mm per year. Maximum - winter, snow cover in the mountains reaches an average thickness of up to 6-9 m. Summer is cool, cloudy. The climate is the same as on the coast of Alaska, only a little warmer.

Here, as well as on the coast of Alaska, "rain" coniferous forests of Sitka spruce, Douglas, western hemlock, etc. grow with dense undergrowth, epiphytic mosses, and ferns.

On the inner plateaus, features of continentality appear: there is little precipitation (300-400 mm), temperature amplitudes increase. In the north there are areas of taiga on podzolic soils, which are replaced by forest-steppe and steppe to the south. Wormwoods appear in the extreme south. The slopes of the Rocky Mountains are covered with pine forests and shrubs, while the valleys are treeless.

In the Cordillera of Canada a large number of mountain glaciers of various types.

The region is rich in minerals, both ore (copper, iron, lead, zinc, silver, gold) and non-metallic, for example coal. Forest resources and the hydro potential of rivers are used. Tourism is developed, especially in the mountains of British Columbia. A number of national parks have been created for nature protection - Jasper, Banff, Glacier, etc.

Cordillera of the Southwestern United States

The physiographic country is located approximately between 48 ° and 32 ° N. sh. in the widest and most diverse part of the Cordillera mountain system. The region experienced a general uplift in the Paleogene-Neogene, which was accompanied by faults, denudation, and large erosional dissection.

Here, the manifestations of faults are most clearly visible at the junction of the continental (North American) and oceanic (Pacific) crust. Quite clearly visible zones of deep immersion oceanic crust under the mainland in the California area, where there is a huge gap in the coastal areas. The San Andreas Fault extends in a northwesterly direction for almost 900 km. It has existed since the pre-Mello time, and is still very active today.

Three structural and morphological zones are clearly traced: axial, the most ancient - Nevadian, in the east - Laramian, in the west - young Cenozoic Coast Ranges, the development of which continues to the present.

Modern climatic conditions are characterized by high contrast, which is associated with the position in two climatic zones (temperate and subtropical), significant altitude amplitudes, and the presence of mountain barriers in the path of sea air masses.

Areas with annual precipitation up to 100 mm and maximum temperatures up to + 57 ° С (Death Valley) are adjacent to the mountains, where annual precipitation amounts up to 2000 mm and negative temperatures prevail even in summer (upper sections of the Sierra Nevada). In the west it has a Mediterranean type climate. In other parts of the region, features of continentality appear in climatic conditions.

Different parts of the region differ significantly in all components of nature.

The eastern (Laramian) structures of the Rocky Mountains are often referred to as the continental divide, with elevations of 1,800 m and above.

The ridges are anticlinal folds that have Precambrian cores. Some of them are elongated in the general direction of the entire mountain system from northwest to southeast (the Front Range, Sangre de Cristo, etc.), but there are ranges of a different orientation, sometimes even sublatitudinal. Between them formed vast plateau-like areas connecting the Great Plains with the Great Basin - the so-called "parks". They are composed of sedimentary strata of Paleozoic-Mesozoic age. The summit areas were covered by the Wisconsin glaciation, preserved troughs and kars. Spruce-fir and pine forests are widespread on the slopes of the mountains, the bottoms of the "parks" are usually treeless. In the south and along the slopes of the mountains, steppes and semi-deserts rise.

In the northeast is the Yellowstone Plateau (“yellowstone” in English means “yellow stone”) with a Paleogene cover and young lava covers, having a thickness of more than 1000 meters.

It is known as one of the largest areas of the Earth with geysers and thermal springs. Under powerful lava covers (300-600 meters) forests of ancient sequoias are buried. Their petrified trunks are often found (there is a section with 12 layers of petrified forest covered with volcanic ash). In 1872, the Yellowstone National Park was founded here (an area of ​​about 900 thousand hectares, located at an altitude of 2100 m to 3400 m). There are 200 water thermal and mud springs, about 300 geysers on the territory of the park. The greatest geyser Exilor with a griffon diameter of 8-10 meters "works" here, which throws water up to 100 meters up. Mineral sediment forms geyserite of various shades - blue, purple, pink, etc. Rich animal world park - bison (their number has increased 20 times since the beginning of the century and amounts to several hundred heads), a variety of brown bear - grizzly, coyote, fox, skunk, badger, large predator puma and 150 species of permanent birds. Access to the park is regulated. The park is divided into zones, each of which decides certain tasks: there is a zone of strict protection where no human influence is allowed, a zone of "managed" protection (to preserve natural landscapes), a zone organized tourism and a tourist-administrative zone (camping sites, parking lots, cafes, office buildings).

In the interior of the physiographic country, west of the Rocky Mountains, there is the largest inland highland - the Great Basin and the Colorado Plateau.

The Great Basin has undergone a complex history of formation: Paleozoic and Mesozoic folding, Mesozoic sedimentation, and intense deformation of structures.

The modern relief was formed in the Cenozoic under the influence of submeridional faults along the rift between the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Clastic material filled intermountain depressions. Active volcanism appeared in the northwest. At present, the rejuvenated relief with numerous internal drainless depressions has a wide variation in absolute heights - from 1500-2000 meters to -85 meters (Death Valley). This is the result of powerful vertical movements.

Due to the barrier role of the Cascade Mountains and the Sierra Nevada, which prevent the transfer of Pacific air masses, a climate with well-defined features of continentality has developed.

The annual amount of precipitation here does not exceed 90-100 mm. The result of the dry climate is the weak development of the river network, which has no flow into the ocean. There is no removal of destruction products outside the basin, so the clastic material buries and levels the mountainous terrain.

Within the highlands, a hundred relict lakes - Big Salt (the rest of Lake Bonneville, most of which the river was lowered. Snake).

The soil and vegetation cover and fauna are typical for deserts and semi-deserts of the temperate and subtropical zones. The Americas have a different appearance than the deserts of Eurasia.

Along with saline and rocky deserts, there are areas with a pronounced seasonality, when ephemera bloom brightly in spring. In the southern part of the basin, a “woodland” of cacti (up to 10 meters high) and yucca has formed. Pine and juniper with steppe grasses grow on the slopes of the ridges. Picturesque Sonoran Desert in Arizona. The rolling plain is stacked sedimentary rocks and has insular volcanic mountains. The desert is inhabited by many species of cactus, including the giant tree squaw. Volcanic mountains overgrown with this plant seem from afar to be covered with a sparse forest, devoid of small branches and leaves. The age of cacti is tens and hundreds of years, height 10-12 meters, trunk thickness up to 70 cm, coyotes and many poisonous snakes live under them. In addition to cacti, other xerophytic plants grow in Sonora, which can tolerate not only drought, but also extremely high air and soil temperatures. The fauna of the desert is diverse and interesting.

The Colorado Plateau is an area of ​​horizontal occurrence of Phanerozoic rocks of different lithological composition. A highly elevated structural plain (more than 3,500 meters in places) is framed by cuestas.

The deeply incised river network has created steep-sided canyons that expose all of the rocks that make up the plateau. different color. On the outskirts of the plateau, volcanic rocks are widely represented in the form of intrusions and laccoliths. The main watercourse - r. Colorado, which cut through the plateau, creating the Grand Canyon. The main canyon has a winding shape, its depth is 1800 m, the maximum width is up to 25 km, and the length is more than 300 km.

To the west of the internal plateaus are Nevadian structures - the Sierra Nevada mountains. This is a large block structure (horst boulder with comb-like peaks), the blocks are inclined to the west, there are batholiths at the base. The Cascade Mountains are a prime example of a volcanic range with a active volcanoes. The folded structures within them are covered by Cenozoic lavas, and high (some higher than 4000 m) volcanic cones are planted on them. Among them there are also very active: in the 80s. 20th century Mount St. Helens erupted two years in a row, there were many deaths. There are also extinct, but showing post-volcanic activity.

The vegetation of the mountains is typically American.

Here in the valley Merset (Yosemite Valley) preserved forest (park) of the giant sequoiadendron. For their large size (the height of many trees reaches 80-100 meters) and for bending, like mammoth tusks, their branches were called mammoth trees. In the lower tier of the mountains - chaparral (American variety of maquis).

Coastal ridges - low (up to 2400 meters) Pacific structures are separated from the Nevadian structures by the Willamette and California valleys. This is the result of subduction from latest education shifts and faults, such as, for example, San Andreas.

This fault is especially active. Blocks earth's crust with high speed move horizontally relative to each other. The process is accompanied strong earthquakes. So, for example, in 1992, an earthquake occurred 150 km from Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert, during which more than 5,000 shocks of various strengths were recorded in 10 days. Large cities suffer from tremors - San Francisco was badly destroyed in 1906, in Los Angeles there were tremors of 7-8 points in 1971.

The climate here is subtropical with humid warm winters (up to 10°C) and dry summers. On the coast, summers are cool (average July temperatures are about 15°C): the effect of air masses with a northern component and cold currents is felt. When moving inland, summer becomes much warmer (20-22°C). The annual amount of precipitation is 500-600 mm with a winter maximum. The lower tier of mountains is occupied by an analogue of the Mediterranean maquis - chaparral (thickets of shrubby oak, deciduous and evergreen, 1.5-2 meters high, less often - 3 meters, on brown, above 600 meters - stony soils). In the south - thickets of acacia, cacti, yucca. The upper tiers are dominated by coniferous forests of Sitka spruce, Douglasia, pines, sequoias.

On the northern parts of the western slopes are National parks, where forests of evergreen sequoia (mahogany) are taken under protection. Redwood National Park is located north of San Francisco, in the valley of the river. Redwood Creek. Sequoias are the tallest and oldest trees, along with mammoth trees from the same family. Sequoia grows up to 2000 years. The phytomass of the thousand-year-old sequoia is more than 4,000 thousand c/ha (1% is needles, the rest is the trunk and branches), the yield of commercial wood is 10 thousand m 3 /ha. Trees are not afraid of fires.

From all regions North America The Cordilleras of the southwestern United States are distinguished by a variety of natural attractions that attract tourists from all over the world.

In addition to recreational, this region has good agro-climatic and land resources. In the Great California Valley, the natural vegetation of dry wormwood steppes and semi-deserts has been completely replaced by cultivated vegetation. On lands irrigated by the waters of rivers flowing down from the mountains, a variety of subtropical crops are grown. On the coast Pacific Ocean giant urban agglomerations were formed, connected by high-speed highways. From Richmond, Oakland, San Francisco to Los Angeles, including the famous Hollywood, continuous urban development stretches.

The most acute problem is pollution: all harmful emissions remain near the surface of the earth, since the anticyclonic regime and downward air currents prevail for a significant part of the year. Frequent fogs.

Cordillera, the greatest in length mountain system of the globe, stretching along the western outskirts of North and South America, from 66 ° N.S. (Alaska) to 56°S sh. (Tierra del Fuego).

The length is more than 18 thousand km, the width is up to 1600 km in North America and up to 900 km in South America. Located in [Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Almost along its entire length, it is a watershed between the basins of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a pronounced climatic boundary. In height they are second only to the Himalayas and mountain systems Central Asia. The highest peaks of the Cordillera: in North America - Mount McKinley (6193 m), in South America- Mount Aconcagua (6960 m).

The entire Cordillera system is divided into 2 parts - Cordillera of North America, and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes.

The main mountain-building processes that resulted in the emergence of the Cordillera began in North America in the Jurassic, in South America at the end of the Cretaceous and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents (Alpine folding). The formation of the Cordillera has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism (more than 80 active volcanoes). An important role in the formation of the relief of the Cordillera was also played by the Quaternary glaciation, especially north of 44° N. latitude. and south of 40°S.

Cordillera lie in all geographical zones(except for the subantarctic and antarctic) and are distinguished by a large variety of landscapes and a pronounced altitudinal zonality. The snow limit in Alaska is at an altitude of 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego - 500-700 m in Bolivia and South Peru rises to 6000-6500 m. In the northwestern part of the Cordilleras of North America and in the southeast of the Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level in the hot zone they cover only the highest peaks. The total area of ​​glaciation is about 90 thousand km 2 (in the Cordillera of North America - 67 thousand km 2, in the Andes - about 20 tons km 2).

Literature

• Geographical encyclopedic Dictionary, M., 1986.

Cordillera is the largest mountain system in the world. It is located on the west coast of North and South America. That is, it is divided into two approximately equal parts. For this reason, sometimes its southern part, the Andes, is called the longest mountain system (9000 km).

This is partly true, since the Andes, as a separate object, indeed have a large extent.

The length of the Cordillera is about 18 thousand km. Approximately 9 thousand km for each of its parts - they are almost equal. But if we talk about the size in general, then the northern part is larger - it is wider (up to 1600 km). But the southern one is higher - 6962 meters at the highest point (Mount Aconcagua). In the northern part of the Cordillera, the height reaches 6190 meters (Mount Denali), which is also quite a lot. In general, in terms of height, this mountain system is among the leaders, although it is far from in the first place.

Since the Cordilleras stretch for vast distances, they lie in almost all geographical zones. And this means that the conditions here are very diverse. However, something similar is observed throughout the length of the mountains - glaciation. Even in the hottest climatic zones, there are snow caps on the mountains (due to the relatively high altitude of the mountains). The total area of ​​glaciation is 90 thousand km2.

Peaks of the Cordillera

Although the highest points of the mountain system are located at six thousand meters, the average height of the mountains is 3-4 km. Although, the relief of this geological object is very diverse, so the designation of the height is rather arbitrary.

The highest peaks of the mountain system are:

• - Mount Aconcagua (extinct volcano) - 6962 meters.
• - Mount Denali (McKinley) - 6190 meters.
• - Ojos del Salado (the largest volcano in the world) - 6891 meters.
• - Monte Pissis - 6792 meters.
• - Lullaillaco (active volcano) - 6739 meters
• - Tupungato (active volcano) - 6565 meters.
• - Volcano Orizaba - 5700 meters.

• - The system consists of a large number of mountain arcs, which already gives a certain uniqueness to the Cordillera.

  You can also note the presence of mountain ranges and basins that form elevations and depressions of the relief - this is very interesting.

• - In the Cordillera there is a fairly high volcanic activity. True, we are not talking about erupting volcanoes.
• - In the mountains there are large reserves of non-ferrous and ferrous metals, as well as oil and brown coal.
• - Due to the large number climatic zones, the flora of the Cordilleras is very diverse.

The mountains of America are primarily the Cordillera system - the longest mountain system in the world, which stretches along the western coast of both Americas (North and South America). Any resident of North and South America knows where the Cordilleras are. The slopes of the ridges in the sowing. parts of the Cordillera are covered in main. coniferous forests.

The Cordillera lie in all geographical zones of America (except for the subantarctic and antarctic) and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and a pronounced altitudinal zonality.

In the northwestern part of the Cordillera of North America and in the southeast of the Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone, they cover only the highest peaks. The formation of the Cordillera has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism (more than 80 active volcanoes).

The Cordilleras are unusual in that they are located on two continents at once. In addition to the Rocky Mountains themselves, it includes the Brooks Range in Alaska, the Richardson Range and the Mackenzie Mountains in Canada, and the Eastern Sierra Madre mountain range in Mexico. The highest point of the belt is Mount Elbert, which is located within the state of Colorado.

It includes the Fraser Plateau, the Columbia Mountains, the Great Basin Highlands, the Colorado Plateau, and the Mexican Highlands. In Central America and the islands caribbean The Cordilleras fall into three main mountain arcs, which are separated by depressions.

The Cordillera of North America is made up of various geological structures. different ages. Due to the very long extent in the meridional direction, the climate in the Cordillera varies greatly. These mountains stretch along the western side of the aforementioned continents: from Alaska (the northwestern part of North America) to the island of Tierra del Fuego, which is located not far from Antarctica.

The Cordilleras are one of highest mountains in the world.

Only the Himalayas, as well as several other mountain systems of the central part of Asia, surpass them in height. On the territory where the Cordilleras are located, entire civilizations of the Indians were born, unique in their development and cultural heritage.

The Cordillera of North America is divided into a number of ranges. Further southeast within Canada and the United States, the Cordillera are called the "Rocky Mountains". Cordillera in the west of the mainland Sev. America. Int. some form a plateau, highlands and plateaus - Yukon, Fraser, Colombian, Colorado, Mexican. Glaciers cover approx. 80 thousand km²; most of them are in the mountains of Alaska. To the east evergreen tropical forests grow on the periphery of the Mexican Highlands, in the Cordillera Center. Americas - deciduous tropical forests, thorny bushes, thickets of cacti and secondary savannahs.

Where are the Cordillera located?

In the Cordillera Center. America and the West Indies, three mountain arcs are distinguished: the northern arc follows through the Cayman Islands to Cuba (the Sierra Maestra mountains), Haiti (the Central. Southern parts of the internal plateaus are occupied by dry steppes and deserts. Cordillera - This term has others meanings, see Cordillera (disambiguation) Part of the western belt are large mountains - the Cascades, the Sierra Nevada range and the Transverse volcanic sierra.

The relief of North America is diverse and contrasting. In the west, the plains adjoin the mountain structures of the Cordilleras. Within the mountainous West of the mainland are the Cordilleras. By age, the Cordillera is the youngest part of the mainland, although they began to form in the Mesozoic.

Within this mountain system, three belts of ridges are clearly visible. One of them - the Cordillera proper - in the west. The second belt, eastern, covers the Rocky Mountains. On the far north these ridges converge, in the central part, on the contrary, they diverge.

Cordilleras prevent the penetration of oceanic air masses deep into the continent. With distance from the Pacific Ocean, more and more clearly visible significant differences between north and southern parts Cordillera. By natural features, this large mountain system can be divided into such natural countries: the Cordillera of Alaska and Canada, the Cordillera of the United States, the Mexican Highlands, the mountains and islands of Central America.

mountain ranges of this natural country in the east and in the west they border the Yukon plateau. The development of the mountains has not yet ended, as evidenced by the large number of active volcanoes. Between them and the Sierra Nevada mountains is a deep depression of the California Valley. This is a mountain system of the Appalachian Highlands, stretching along the east coast of North America. The Cordillera of North America is a system of mountain ranges and plateaus, which is part of the Cordillera system and occupies the west. part of Sev. America.

Physical-geographical zoning of the Cordillera

600 - 800 m, and the Brooks Mountains, 1200 - 1800 m.

Within Canada, C. S. A. has a southeast. The main uplifts of the Canadian part of the C. S. A. - the Rocky Mountains in the East and the Coast Range in the West have an alpine relief, due to the mean. The Canadian Coast Range passes into the Cascade Mountains from the volcanic.

Cordillera - one of the highest mountains in the world

To the south of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the mountain belt bifurcates: one branch deviates to the E and continues on the Center Islands. America, the other stretches to the Isthmus of Panama. Between the Isthmus of Tehuantepec and South. America, the Cordillera have the character of more or less isolated, predominantly. low ridges and massifs.

The snow limit in Alaska is at an altitude of 600 meters, in Tierra del Fuego - 500-700 meters, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 meters. The western belt is represented by folded and volcanic ridges that run parallel to the Pacific coast. The inner belt includes a number of plateaus and plateaus located between two other belts. Thus, the arc, which is a structural continuation of the Rocky Mountains and the Eastern Sierra Madre, forms the mountains of the islands of Cuba, northern Haiti and Puerto Rico.

See what the Cordillera of North America is in other dictionaries:

The mountains began to form in the Jurassic, a little earlier than the Andes, whose formation began only at the end of the Cretaceous. To the north of the 50th latitude, the snow supply of watercourses predominates, and to the south - rain. Especially many hydroelectric power plants have been built in the Columbia River basin.

In the Cordillera are the origins of such major rivers like Yukon, Mackenzie, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande and many more. The Cordilleras of North America are found mainly in countries such as Canada, the United States and Mexico.

Cordillera(Spanish Cordilleras, literally - mountain ranges), the largest and unparalleled mountain system on the globe. The Cordillera mountain system is also one of the highest mountain systems second only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia.

Geography of the Cordillera mountain system

The Cordillera stretch from the Arctic coast of Alaska (66°N) in northwestern North America along the western coasts of North and South America to the southernmost shores of Tierra del Fuego (56°S) in southern South America. On its way, the Cordilleras pass through many countries of both continents: Canada, the USA, Mexico, the states of Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile. The length of the Cordillera mountain system is more than 18,000 kilometers. The highest point is located in South America at the top of Mount Aconcagua at 6960 meters above sea level, and in North America the highest peak of the Cordillera corresponds to the peak on Mount McKinley (in Alaska) reaching a height of 6193 meters. The Cordilleras form a giant barrier between the Pacific Ocean and the eastern parts of both continents. The Cordilleras are a large watershed between two oceans, the Atlantic and the Pacific, and are also the climatic boundary between countries located on both sides of the mountain system. It is customary to divide the entire mountain system of the Cordillera into two parts, corresponding to the territories of both continents, these are the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes. The entire mountain system consists of numerous parallel ridges, bordering a discontinuous belt of internal plateaus and plateaus (in North America - the Yukon, Fraser, Colombian, B. Basin, Colorado, Mexican; in South - Peruvian and Central Andean). In North America, three distinct parallel systems mountain ranges, one of them (Rocky Mountains) extends to the east of the plateau zone, another system of mountain ranges extends directly to the west of this zone (the Alaska Range, the Canadian Coast Range, the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, etc.) and the third system of mountain ranges ridges runs along the Pacific coast, partly on offshore islands. Arriving in Central America, the Cordillera gradually descends and bifurcates into two branches. One branch runs east along the Antilles, the other crosses the Isthmus of Panama and enters the mainland of South America. The Andes (Cordilleras of South America) in the northern and central parts consist of four, and in the rest of the length of two systems of parallel ridges, separated by deep longitudinal depressions or intermountain plateaus.

The highest mountain peaks of the Cordillera are the ridges of the middle Andes, where the height of individual mountain peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m; Ojos del Salado, 6880 m; Sajama, 6780 m; Lullaillaco, 6723 m). The width of the mountain range varies quite a lot, so in North America the width of the Cordillera mountain belt reaches 1600 km, and in southern mainland reaches only 900 km, which is almost two times less.

The main mountain building processes, due to which the Cordillera arose, began in North America as early as the Jurassic period, in South America (where the structures of the Paleozoic Hercynian folding take a large part) - at the end of the Cretaceous period and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents ( cm.

Alpine folding). Mountain-building processes actively continued in the Cenozoic. These processes largely determine the main orographic elements.

The folded structures of the Cordillera are closely connected with the mountain systems of northeast Asia and Antarctica. According to the latest observations, the formation of the Cordillera is far from over, in confirmation of these observations, quite frequent and sometimes very destructive earthquakes and intense volcanism often lead to severe destruction and casualties both among people and among the animal world.

In the active regions of the Cordillera, there are more than 80 active volcanoes, of which the most active are Katmai, Lassen Peak, Colima, Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, volcanoes of Chile, etc. Quaternary glaciation also played an important role in shaping the relief of the Cordillera, especially to the north of 44° N sh. and south of 40°S. sh. The Cordilleras are rich in minerals. Here I mine significant deposits of copper (especially rich deposits in Chile), zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, etc.

The climate of the Cordillera mountain system

Due to its great length from north to south, the strong dissection of the relief and the high altitude of the mountains, the result is an exceptionally wide variety of natural conditions in the Cordillera mountain system. Cordilleras lie in almost all geographic zones of the globe (except for the Antarctic and subantarctic belts).

The climate of the Cordillera is very diverse and varies greatly depending on the latitude, altitude and exposure of the slopes. The marginal ridges of the Cordillera are strongly moistened in the temperate and subarctic zones (western slopes) and in the equatorial and subequatorial zones (mainly eastern slopes). The internal plateaus have a sharply continental climate; in the subtropical and tropical zones they are distinguished by exceptional aridity. Significant parts of the plateaus, internal depressions and slopes of the ridges, mainly in the tropical zones, are occupied by steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The heavily moistened outlying mountain chains are covered with dense forests. Coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south) are widely developed in temperate zones, and mixed (deciduous-evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests are closer to the equator. On the wet slopes of the ridges of the equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical belts, there are complex spectra of high belts, from hyla to eternal snow. The snow limit lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego 500-700 m, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 m. In Alaska and Southern Chile, glaciers descend to ocean level, in the hot zone they cover only the highest tops.

More interesting articles:

cordillera

CORDILERA (Spanish: Cordilleras) is the largest mountain system in the world (more than 18 thousand km long), bordering the western outskirts of the continents of the North. and Yuzh. America from 66°C. sh. (Alaska) to 56°S. sh. (Tierra del Fuego). Subdivided into Cordillera North. America and the Cordillera South. America, or the Andes. The highest peaks: in the North. America - McKinley (6193 m), in the South. - Aconcagua (6960 m). Many active volcanoes (Katmai, Saint Miguel, Lyayma, etc.). High tectonic activity. The Cordilleras are the climatic boundary, as well as the watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific ca.

Cordillera

(Spanish Cordilleras, literally ≈ mountain ranges), the largest mountain system in the world, stretching along the western outskirts of North and South America, from the Arctic coast of Alaska (66╟ N) to the southern shores of Tierra del Fuego (56╟ S). sh.). The length is more than 18 thousand km. Located on the territory of Canada, USA, Mexico, Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile. Forms a high barrier between the plains of the eastern parts of the continents and the Pacific coast. For almost its entire length, Canada forms a watershed between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and is also a sharply defined climatic boundary between the countries that lie on both sides of the mountain range. Kabul is second only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia in height. The highest peaks of China are: in North America ≈ Mt. McKinley (in Alaska), 6193 m, in South America ≈ Mt. Aconcagua, 6960 m. The entire system of K. is divided into 2 parts - the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America , or Andes, and consists of numerous parallel ridges bordering a discontinuous belt of internal plateaus and plateaus (in North America - Yukon, Fraser, Colombian, B. Basin, Colorado, Mexican; in South - Peruvian and Central Andean). Three parallel systems of mountain ranges are expressed in North America, one of which runs eastward from the zone of plateaus (Rocky Mountains), the other directly westward from this zone (the Alaska Range, the Coastal Range of Canada, the Cascade Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, etc.). .) and the third ≈ along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, partially ≈ on coastal islands. In Central America, K. go down and bifurcate. One of their branches goes through the Antilles, the other through the Isthmus of Panama passes into the territory of South America. The Andes in the northern and central parts consist of four, and in the rest of the length of two systems of parallel ridges, separated by deep longitudinal depressions or intermountain plateaus.

The highest are the ridges of the middle part of the Andes, where the height of individual peaks reaches more than 6700 m (Aconcagua, 6960 m; Ojos del Salado, 6880 m; Sajama, 6780 m; Lullaillaco, 6723 m). The width of the mountain belt in North America reaches 1600 km, in South ≈ 900 km. The main mountain-building processes that resulted in rock formations began in North America in the Jurassic, and in South America (where the structures of the Paleozoic Hercynian folding play a large part) at the end of the Cretaceous, and took place in close connection with the formation of mountain systems on other continents. Alpine folding). Mountain-building movements actively continued in the Cenozoic. These movements largely determine the main orographic elements. The folded structures of Kazakhstan are closely connected with the mountain systems of the north-east. Asia and Antarctica. K.'s formation has not yet ended, as evidenced by frequent earthquakes and intense volcanism. There are more than 80 active volcanoes here, of which the most active are Katmai, Lassen Peak, Colima, Antisana, Sangay, San Pedro, and the volcanoes of Chile. ╟ s. sh. and to the south from 40╟ s. sh.

Within China there are significant deposits of copper, zinc, lead, molybdenum, tungsten, gold, silver, platinum, tin, oil, and others. K. This mountain system lies in all geographical zones (except for the Antarctic and Subantarctic). The climate of K. varies greatly depending on the latitude of the area, the height, and the exposure of the slopes. The marginal ranges are abundantly moistened in the temperate and subarctic zones (western slopes) and in the equatorial and subequatorial zones (mainly eastern slopes). The internal plateaus have a sharply continental climate; in the subtropical and tropical zones they are distinguished by exceptional aridity. Significant parts of the plateaus, internal depressions and slopes of the ridges, mainly in the tropical zones, are occupied by steppes, semi-deserts and deserts. The heavily moistened outlying mountain chains are covered with dense forests. Coniferous forests (in the north) and mixed forests of evergreen beeches and conifers (in the south) are widely developed in the temperate zones; closer to the equator, mixed (deciduous-evergreen) subtropical and tropical forests are developed. On the wet slopes of the ridges of the equatorial, subequatorial and subtropical belts there are complex spectra of high belts, from hylae to eternal snows. The snow limit lies in Alaska at an altitude of 600 m, in Tierra del Fuego 500–700 m, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000–6500 m. tops.

G. M. Ignatiev.

Wikipedia

Cordillera

Cordillera, the largest mountain system in the world, stretching along the western outskirts of North and South America, from 66 ° N. sh. (Alaska) to 56°S sh. (Tierra del Fuego).

The entire Cordillera system is divided into 2 parts - the Cordillera of North America and the Cordillera of South America, or the Andes.

Length - more than 18 thousand km, width - up to 1600 km in North America and up to 900 km in South America. It is located in Canada, the USA, Mexico, the states of Central America, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile.

Almost along its entire length it is a watershed between the basins of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as a pronounced climatic boundary. In height they are second only to the Himalayas and the mountain systems of Central Asia. The highest peaks of the Cordillera: in North America - Mount Denali (McKinley, 6190 m), in South America - Mount Aconcagua (6962 m).

The Cordillera lie in all the geographical zones of America and are distinguished by a wide variety of landscapes and a pronounced altitudinal zonality. The snow limit in Alaska is at an altitude of 600 meters, in Tierra del Fuego - 500-700 meters, in Bolivia and Southern Peru it rises to 6000-6500 meters. In the northwestern part of the Cordillera of North America and in the southeast of the Andes, glaciers descend to ocean level; in the hot zone, they cover only the highest peaks. The total area of ​​glaciation is about 90 thousand km² (in the Cordillera of North America - 67 thousand km², in the Andes - about 20 thousand km²

Cordillera (disambiguation)

Cordillera:

• Cordillera - mountain range in North and South America
• The Central Cordillera is the largest mountain range in the Philippine archipelago.

Cordillera (Moon)

""" Cordillera """ - concentric lunar mountains surrounding the Eastern Sea on the far side of the Moon. From the Earth, only the eastern part of the mountains, located in the southwestern part of the visible side of the Moon, can be observed. The mountains are about 956 km in diameter and are the third, outermost, concentric structure around the Eastern Sea. The inner two concentric structures around the sea form the Ruk Mountains. The height of the mountains above the surrounding area is about 1250 m. Lake of Autumn, the craters Schlüter and Hartwig adjoin the northeastern section of the mountains. The eastern section of the mountains is crossed by the Eichstedt crater. Krasnov, Wright, Shaler craters and the Bouvard valley adjoin the southwestern section.
The Cordillera Mountains owe their origin to an impact event that gave rise to the Eastern Sea. According to one point of view, the mountains represent the outer rim of the sea crater, according to another, the Cordilleras are formed by material ejected during the impact, and the outer rim of the sea forms the Ruk Mountains. The period of formation of the mountains of the Cordillera is not exactly known, presumably refers to the late Imbrian period.

In accordance with the tradition of naming the lunar mountains by the names of the terrestrial mountains, the name of the terrestrial mountains of the Cordillera is used - the mountain system along the western outskirts of North and South America.

Examples of the use of the word cordillera in the literature.

Just on the surface of Venezuela, a huge river loomed in a graceful semi-steep, which, both in the first bend, where it receives the waters of the Apure tributary, and in the second bend, where the Guaviare and Atabapo carry waters into it from Cordillera, could only be called throughout its entire length by the magnificent name Orinoco.

The sculptor conscientiously fashioned miniature Cordillera, Appalachians, Viana Highlands.

Let me remind you that in just a few generations they have carved a road between the ice of Laurasia and Cordillera and penetrated the plain, where the taiga, after the retreat of the glaciers, turned into fertile meadows.

There they boarded a sports plane and rushed to the foothills at the utmost speed. Cordillera where a helicopter was waiting for them on a tiny camouflaged airstrip.

On the first day, its participants met in the Chilean capital of Santiago in a specially built for this purpose Congress Center, located in the aristocratic quarter of the Providencia district, almost at the very foot of the Andean mountains. Cordillera.

Fabienne begins to guess: an unprecedented storm raging over the Andean Cordillera, changed front and moved to the sea.

Soon they frightened off hundreds of roe deer and guanacos, like those that so violently fell upon them in the heights. Cordillera.

Find out, please, whether Interpol has undertaken any searches in Cordillera?

This piece of land, washed by the raging Caribbean Sea and sent out to meet him with his terrible tropical jungle, over which rises an arrogant ridge Cordillera and is now full of mystery and romance.

Having passed the capital of Araucania, we pass through the Antuco mountain pass through Cordillera, the volcano will remain aloof, in the south.

It was necessary, before setting out on the road, to decide which pass through Cordillera choose, without deviating from the intended course.

Nevertheless, the detachment moved quickly forward, and by six o'clock in the evening, remaining forty miles behind Cordillera only dimly blackened on the horizon, lost in the evening fog.

He described, without missing a single episode, the whole journey from one ocean to another: about crossing Cordillera, about the earthquake, the disappearance of Robert, his abduction by a condor, the shot of Talcava, the attack of the red wolves, the boy's self-sacrifice, the acquaintance with Sergeant Manuel, the flood, the shelter on the ombu, the lightning, the fire, the caimans, the tornado, the night on the Atlantic Ocean.

Enrico began to question the planter about the road to Cordillera and mentioned oil.

A week later, they left San Antonio on the same day for Cordillera three different expeditions.

Over and over I reread my favorite book, The Children of Captain Grant. I love her characters, I experience their difficulties and hardships with them. But most of all I love the part about the heroes' journey through the mountains of the Cordillera. What are these mountains and where are they located?

Where are the Cordillera Mountains located?

Mountains of the Cordillera is one of largest mountain systems on earth, It has Plength of about 18 thousand kilometers. Their feature is a huge variety of natural conditions, which makes these mountains unique. Located they're in North and South America. South American Cordilleras have a name Andes. Mountains stretch through the following countries:

Above the Cordillera, only the Himalayas. In the mountains there active volcanoes and there is a high probability of earthquakes. Cordillera of North America share for three belts. Eastern Belt also called the Rocky Mountains composed he is predominantly from high massive ridges. Inner belt consists of plateaus and uplands. There are very wide tectonic depressions, in which river floodplains are located. Although there are high ridges here. AT western belt includes: Pacific ridges; coastal belts and belts of intermountain lakes.

Mountain chain North Americaki include:

• lowlands;
• plateau;
• sea ​​bays and straits;
• coastal chains;
• mountainous coastal islands.

Animal world

Depending on the climate, altitude and other climatic conditions,The flora and fauna of the Cordillera is very different. Common here coniferous forests. The height of the trees sometimes reaches more than 80 meters. Among them: spruce,cypress,fir,white and black spruce,huge thuja (red cedar),Birch.

There are also many here mosses and ferns. Trees like sequoia located somewhat to the south. You can find various types evergreen oak.

The main predator of the mountains is the famous Grizzly bear. common foxes, wolves, lynxes, moose, deer. In the southern regions are found lizards and snakes. But today wildlife in all its glory can be found only innature reserves. For example, bison and pronghorn live only there.