Question map
Cordillera in North America is a :
Explanation
The Cordillera in North America, often referred to as the Western Cordillera or North American Cordillera, is a vast mountain system located along the western part of the continent [2]. Geographically, a cordillera is defined as an extensive chain or series of parallel mountain ranges [3]. This specific system encompasses several major ranges, including the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada, the Cascade Range, and the Sierra Madre [3]. It was primarily formed through continent-ocean convergence, where the subduction of oceanic plates beneath the North American plate created extensive fold mountain systems [1]. While the region includes intermontane plateaus and basins, such as the Colorado Plateau and the Great Valley, its primary classification in physical geography is that of a mountain system or belt [2]. It forms part of the larger American Cordillera that stretches from Alaska to the southern tip of South America.
Sources
- [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_Cordillera
- [1] Physical Geography by PMF IAS, Manjunath Thamminidi, PMF IAS (1st ed.) > Chapter 8: Convergent Boundary > 8.2. Continent-Ocean (C-O) Convergence or The Cordilleran Convergence > p. 115
- [3] https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/north-america-physical-geography/