The Rocky Mountains are in the western part of North America. They run through many states. The mountain range is over 3000 miles long. The rocky Mountains were formed 80 million to 50 million years ago. They were formed by several plates that started to slide underneath the North American plate. Because of the angle of the subduction is was resulted in mountains forming along the western North America. Tectonic activity and erosion by glaciers, began to sculpt mountains and valleys which is the rocky mountains. European, Sir Alexander Mackenzie, and Americans, Lewis and Clark Expedition, started to explore the rockies. There are many public parks and forest land that protect the mountain range. The mountain range is populated by tourists throughout
