Did you know that the Rocky Mountains stretch for over 3,000 miles through North America? As one of the few major mountain ranges of the US, the Rocky Mountains (also referred to as the Rockies) span from the northernmost parts of British Columbia in Canada to the southwestern New Mexico in the United States. The range’s highest peak, Mount Elbert, reaches a startling 14,440 feet above sea level.The Rockies were formed by the Laramide Orogeny; a period of mountain building during the late Cretaceous era 70 to 80 million years ago. During the monstrous event, a series of pulses redesigned the landscape as the Kula and Farallon plates slid under the North American Plate. The mountains we know and love today were then shaped by erosion, water, and glaciers from the last ice age.Currently, the mountains are most widely used for their tourist appeal. Back when Lewis and Clark first started to explore the range back in the day however, the rich valleys and peaks were exploited for their minerals and furs.As far as climate goes, the mountain fosters temperatures ranging from 7 degrees to 82 degrees Fahrenheit in the valleys. The wide range of temperatures means a wide variety of seasonal activities and attractions, but is not optimal for permanent living. In fact, the Rockies are extremely low in population density, averaging 4 people per square kilometer (10 per square mile). In the summer, Pikes Peak, Royal Gorge, Rocky Mountain National Park, Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Teton National Park, and Glacier National Park are the most popular tourist attractions.