How do the Rocky Mountains differ from the Appalachian Mountains?

A. The Appalachian Mountains are about 300 million years older than the Rocky Mountains and rise to much higher elevations.

B. The Rocky Mountains run north to south, and the Appalachians run east to west.

C. The Rocky Mountains are about 80 million years old and rise to much higher elevations than the Appalachians.

D. The Rocky Mountains are about 300 million years older than the Appalachians and have been much more worn down by the elements over time.

The Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains are two of the most significant mountain ranges in North America. The Appalachian Mountains are much older than the Rocky Mountains. The Appalachian Mountains formed approximately 480 million years ago and the Rocky Mountains are approximately 80 million years old. The Appalachians used to reach the heights of the Rocky Mountains or the Alps in Europe but they have been eroded through time. Technically the Appalachian Mountain Range extends up into Newfoundland in Canada and the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon. The Rockies extend from northern British Columbia to New Mexico.

riwa5534 riwa5534 · Answer 2 · 2025-02-07T09:41:01-05:00

Final answer:

The Rocky Mountains are about 80 million years old, much younger than the Appalachians, and have higher elevations due to their more recent formation and less erosive history.

Explanation:

The question asks how the Rocky Mountains differ from the Appalachian Mountains. The correct answer is that the Rocky Mountains are about 80 million years old and rise to much higher elevations than the Appalachians. The Rockies were formed during the Laramide Orogeny in the Late Mesozoic and Early Cenozoic. This mountain building event was due to low-angle subduction beneath the North American Plate. On the other hand, the Appalachian Mountains were formed over 300 million years ago during the Paleozoic. They have undergone significant erosion over time, leading to their current lower elevations and rolling hills. Unlike the Rockies, which extend from New Mexico to Northern Canada, the Appalachians run from New England to northern Alabama and are characterized by a series of ridges and valleys.