How Did the Rocky Mountains Form?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. How did the Rocky Mountains form?

The Big Idea

The Rocky Mountains began as seafloor that was squeezed and lifted up into the sky! They started rising about 80 million years ago. Today they stretch from Canada all the way down into the United States.

Earth Pushes

Step one: Earth pushes. About 80 million years ago, forces from the west pushed hard on North America. The rock was squeezed, and it began to crack and bend, like a rug pushed across a floor.

Layers Stack

Step two: layers stack. Giant slabs of rock slid up and over each other, stacking like roof shingles. Layers that began as seafloor were lifted high into the air.

Ice and Rivers

Step three: carving. Much later, glaciers and rivers carved the rock. That is why the Rockies have such sharp, jagged peaks today, with deep valleys in between.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The rock layers began as muddy seafloor. Then they were squeezed from the side. They folded and stacked up high. And ice and rivers sculpted them into peaks.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Seashell fossils can be found high in the Rockies. Mount Robson is the tallest Canadian Rocky, at about 3,954 meters. Moving plates can lift an ocean floor into the sky. The Rockies are still changing, very slowly.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Lay several towels flat on a table, each in a different color. Push the two ends toward each other and watch them fold into ridges. Look at the layers. They bend and stack, just like rock. That is how the Rockies were made! What happened to the flat layers?

Outro

Mountains are squeezed seafloor lifted high. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!