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How many separate mountain ranges are included in the Rocky Mountains?
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Rocky Mountains
Physical features of western North America.
The Rocky Mountains comprise at least 100 separate mountain ranges. These ranges are generally categorized into four broad geographical and geological groupings:1
- Canadian Rockies and Northern Rockies: Stretching through parts of Alberta, British Columbia, Montana, and Idaho.1
- Middle Rockies: Located primarily in Wyoming, Utah, and southeastern Idaho.1
- Southern Rockies: Found mainly in Colorado and New Mexico.1
- Colorado Plateau: Situated in the Four Corners region of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.1
While these subdivisions differ in their specific geology and physiography, they collectively form the cordilleran backbone of the western North American continent.1