The major mountain range that runs down the western part of North America is the North American Cordillera , also known as the Western Cordillera or Pacific Cordillera. This extensive system of mountain ranges extends from Alaska through western Canada and the western United States, and into Mexico
. Within this broad system, several prominent mountain ranges are included:
- The Rocky Mountains , which form the largest mountain system in North America and run from northern British Columbia in Canada down to New Mexico in the U.S.
- The Coast Mountains and Pacific Coast Ranges , which lie closer to the Pacific Ocean.
- The Cascade Range , extending from British Columbia through Washington, Oregon, and northern California, known for its volcanic peaks such as Mount Rainier
- The Sierra Nevada , running along the eastern edge of California's Central Valley.
- In Mexico, the Sierra Madre Occidental runs along the western side of the country as a southern extension of the Sierra Nevada
Together, these ranges form a rugged, high-elevation mountainous spine along the western edge of the continent, created by tectonic plate interactions over millions of years
. In summary, the major mountain range system running down the western part of North America is the North American Cordillera , encompassing the Rockies, Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Coast Ranges, and Sierra Madre Occidental.
