In North America, there are many mountain ranges. Five of the most prominent are the Appalachian Mountain Range, Cascade Range, Klamath Range, Rocky Mountain Range, and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. All of the mountain ranges are located in different areas of the United States. Because of their varying locations, each range is unique. The differences in vegetation pertain to the climate and elevation of the particular region. The composition of the mountain relates to the way it was geologically created-- whether it be on a fault line, from a volcano, etc. Much of the mountainous region in the United States is in the western half of the country. The land in the mid-west does not contain any ranges, but the east coast has the Appalachian Range. It is important to know the geography of the United States and the various landmarks around us. By examining the information, one realizes how diverse the climate and the vegetation is in the United States and how it is so important that the preservation of these areas is implemented.

	The Appalachian Mountain Range The Appalachian Mountains are located in Eastern North America and run north/south from Quebec to Georgia. The topography of these mountains is different, and not many of them are nearly as tall as west-coast ranges. Much cultivation and urbanization has occurred in the Appalachians, but there are still many remote areas. The Appalachian Mountains are different from other ranges because most of their trees are deciduous, meaning that they change during seasons and lose their leaves annually.
	The Cascade Mountain Range The Cascade Range is located in the Pacific Northwest. In total, the range spans 700 miles in the states of California, Oregon, Washington, and Southern British Columbia. The Cascade Range is known primarily for its snow-capped volcanoes that are prominent because the range also has many plateaus. The highest mountain in the Cascade Range is Mount Rainier.
	The Klamath Mountain Range The Klamath Mountain Range is smaller, running only from Southwest Oregon to Northwest California. They are a part of a bigger range known as the Pacific Coastal Range. Many people go to the Klamath Mountains for recreational purposes as well as tourism, fishing, and lumber industries.
	Rocky Mountain Range The Rocky Mountains extend from Southwest Colorado all the way to the border of Canada. People refer to this range as the “Rocky Mountains” because the rocks and topography are extremely complex. They were created uplift in the earth’s crust about 50 to 100 million years ago.
	Sierra Nevada Mountain Range The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range is mostly located in Eastern California. They were created along a tilted fault-block. This range receives much precipitation every year which is essential to the mountains, to the environment, and to the people who live around the mountain. Besides being really outdoorsy, the Sierra Nevada Range is known for two ritzy mountain resorts named Mammoth Mountain and Lake Tahoe.

For more information about the different mountain ranges in the United States, you can visit the site:

U.S. Geological Survey

Created by: Elisabeth Foitle

Last Modified: February 20, 2005