"The Rocky Mountains" Colorado Things to Do Tip by traveldave

The Rocky Mountains are truly rocky, and show evidence of how glaciation and other natural forces have shaped and scoured the mountains over hundreds of thousands of years. The mountains, which form the backbone of the North American continent and stretch over 3,000 miles (4,828 kilometers) from northern Canada to Mexico, are about 2,000,000,000 years old. The Rocky Mountains were formed by volcanic activity and uplift, caused by pressure inflicted on fault lines by the movements and swelling of ancient oceans that once covered what is now the central and western part of North America.

Of course, Colorado is known primarily for its mountains, which constitute the highest part of the entire range. The Rocky Mountains take up a large portion of the state, and are actually made up of dozens of mountain ranges, each with its own special character. The Rocky Mountains make Colorado the loftiest state in the nation. It has a higher mean elevation than any other state, and there are 53 mountains higher than 14,000 feet (4,267 meters) within its borders, much more than in any other state.