Rocky Mountain Wetlands: Ecosystems in Transition

The Rocky Mountains split the North American continent with ranges of high peaks. From New Mexico north nearly to the Arctic Ocean along the cordillera high ranges, valleys and intermountain parks and basins constitute the predominant landforms. Peaks and higher mountains range from 2,400 to over 4,300 meters (m) in elevation, rising above the valley floors and lowlands that occur from 1,200 to 2,400 m in elevation.