the Rocky Mountains
/ðə ˌrɒki ˈmaʊntənz/
/ðə ˌrɑːki ˈmaʊntnz/
(also the Rockies
/ðə ˈrɒkiz/
/ðə ˈrɑːkiz/
)- the largest mountain range in North America. They form the Continental Divide and were a major barrier for people crossing the country to settle in the Far West. The range covers more than 3 000 miles/4 800 kilometres, from the Yukon Territory in Canada through the US Rocky Mountain States to the Mexican border. The highest mountain is Mount Elbert in Colorado, which is 14 433 feet/4 402 metres high.