Vertical Zones

Rockies In a mountainous area, habitat zones are influenced by altitude. Similar to arctic climates, after a certain altitude, trees no longer appear. The "tree line" is determined by both temperature and snow cover. Alpine habitats can be like islands, separated by the intervening lowlands rather than by a body of water.

Lower areas on the mountain can be forests or grasslands, depending on

The North American Rocky Mountains were formed as a result of collisions between tectonic plates on the western edge of the North American continent. These "collisions" happen over millions of years. However, earthquakes are a side-effect of these processes which happen on a human time scale.
Mountain Goat

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