Western US Dominates Mountain Terrain: Rockies, Sierra, Cascades vs. Appalachians

The western United States is far more mountainous.

Western Mountain Systems

• Rocky Mountains: 3,000+ mi (NM → BC). 100+ peaks >14,000 ft (Colorado 58). Continental Divide.
• Sierra Nevada: 400 mi (CA). Mt. Whitney (14,505 ft) — highest contiguous US. Yosemite, Sequoia, Lake Tahoe.
• Cascade Range: WA, OR, CA. Volcanic: Rainier (14,411 ft), Shasta, Hood, St. Helens. Glaciers.
• Basin & Range: NV, UT, AZ — hundreds of fault-block ranges (White Mts, Snake Range).
• Coast Ranges, Wasatch, Uintas, Bitterroots, Tetons, Wind Rivers, Uintas, San Juans, Sawtooths...

Eastern Mountains

• Appalachian Mountains: 1,500 mi (AL → NL). Highest: Mt. Mitchell (6,684 ft). Ancient, eroded, forested. No peaks >7,000 ft.
• Adirondacks (NY): Dome, not range. High Peaks (5,344 ft).
• White Mountains (NH), Greens (VT), Berkshires (MA), Catskills (NY) — Appalachian extensions.

By the Numbers

• US peaks >14,000 ft: **96** — all in West (CO 58, CA 12, WA 2, AK 22 — but AK often separate).
• Mean elevation: West (CO 6,800 ft, WY 6,700 ft) vs. East (WV 1,500 ft highest mean).
• Federal land: West 47% (BLM, FS, NPS) — mostly mountainous. East <5%.

The West is *defined* by mountains; the East has *one* ancient, worn system. The contrast shapes climate, water, settlement, recreation, and identity.