The Rockies
The majestic backbone of North America.
The Rocky Mountains, also known as the Rockies, are a major mountain range and the largest mountain system in North America. They stretch 3,000 mi (4,800 km) from northern British Columbia to New Mexico.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1993 (expansion franchise)
- Stadium
- Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
- Ballpark type
- Open-air, no retractable roof
- Team colors
- Blue
- orange
- white
Lore & Background
The Rockies formed 55 million to 80 million years ago during the Laramide orogeny. The name is a calque of the Plains Cree word asinîwaciy, meaning 'rocky mountain'. The range has never experienced a dense population.
Reader's Guide
Most of the highest summits are in Colorado, which has an average elevation of 6,800 feet (2,100 m). Public parks and forest lands protect much of the range, popular for hiking, camping, mountaineering, fishing, hunting, mountain biking, snowmobiling, skiing, and snowboarding.
Did You Know?
- The highest peak in the Rockies is Mount Elbert in Colorado at 14,440 feet (4,401 m).
- The Rockies are the easternmost portion of the North American Cordillera.
- The Continental Divide runs through the Rockies, with Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park draining to the Atlantic, Pacific, and Hudson Bay.
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