Q 01/05

Roughly how far do the Rocky Mountains stretch in a straight line from northern Canada to New Mexico?

A) 1,000 miles

B) 2,000 miles

C) 3,000 miles

D) 5,000 miles

Answer · why

C) 3,000 miles

They are the easternmost part of the North American Cordillera and its largest mountain system.

Q 02/05

What is the highest peak in the Rocky Mountains?

A) Pikes Peak

B) Mount Whitney

C) Mount Elbert

D) Mount Robson

Answer · why

C) Mount Elbert

At 14,440 ft it is also the highest point in the whole Mississippi River drainage basin.

Q 03/05

How many fourteeners does Colorado have, the most of any US state?

A) 53

B) 58

C) 64

D) 72

Answer · why

A) 53

Alaska is second with 29; all 96 US fourteeners lie west of the Mississippi.

Q 04/05

The English name Rocky Mountains is a translation of a name from which Indigenous language?

A) Plains Cree

B) Navajo

C) Blackfoot

D) Shoshone

Answer · why

A) Plains Cree

The French form montagnes de Roche was first written down in 1752.

Q 05/05

The Rockies were raised during which mountain-building episode 55 to 80 million years ago?

A) Alpine orogeny

B) Nevadan orogeny

C) Antler orogeny

D) Laramide orogeny

Answer · why

D) Laramide orogeny

Just afterwards the range was a Tibet-like plateau perhaps 6,000 m high; erosion has since stripped it down.