The Continental Divide
(Adjacent photo: A view of the various divides in North America. The photo is
the property of National Atlas and its article about the Continental Divide can be viewed
here.)
I must admit I have always been amused by the Continental Divide,
sometimes referred to as the "Great Divide" of North America.
The idea of a high point that seperates major watersheds and river systems is
intriguing. At Monarch Pass in Colorado, for example, I could spit on the eastern
side of the divide knowing that glob would theoretically flow down to the Arkansas
River, then the Mississippi River and eventually to the Atlantic Ocean, while a spit on the west side would
lead to the Gunnison River and then the Colorado River before flowing into the Pacific Ocean.
The Continetal Divide is the "inverse" of the ocean; It is the backbone of a continent.
Now let me clarify definitions here. As noted in the photo above,
there are various continental divides in North America. The "Eastern Divide" seperates
watersheds that lead to the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico respectively.
The Northern Divide seperates the continent from north to south and the
St. Lawrence Seaway Divide in the northeast USA and eastern Canada is sometimes noted on more sophisticated maps.
For this web site, I define the "Great Divide" as the Continental Divide. ;)
Ah and let's not forget closed basins - areas in which water drains into the ground instead of
flowing down a river. The Great Divide Basin in southwest Wyoming is a more notable example.
During the settlement days, mountains were frequently viewed as pesky
obstacles to get around enroute to destinations. Hence, "passes" are often
the lowest point and/or the most passable point to get on the other side of a mountain range.
Today our scenic Rocky Mountains are viewed much differently,
but the need to get over mountain ranges to various points will always exist!
I created this web site to give me an excuse to intentionally visit as many spots
as possible along the Continental Divide. Definitely enjoy my photo collections below!
Since I live in Colorado, many photos were taken right here
in the Centennial State, but I look forward to visiting
New Mexico,
Wyoming, Montana, Canada and elsewhere!
Thank you for visiting! -Steve
(Right photo: Myself standing at Tincup Pass in central Colorado.)
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Photo Galleries - Along The Continental Divide
Canada and Mexico
I currently do not have photos of the Continental Divide outside of the United States, but I
look forward to doing some traveling and filling up this section! -Steve
Related Links
Colorado Guy - My main web site with various photos of Colorado with a crazy flair.
14ers.com - Provides the best information about Colorado's 54 "fourteener" mountains.
Lars Leber Photography - A gifted photographer with many inspiring photos of Colorado.
Manitou Springs Real Estate - Friends of mine who specialize in real estate for Manitou Springs, Colorado.
Cottonwood Pass - Photos and information for Cottownood Pass, Colorado.
St. Elmo, Colorado - A historic mining town near Tincup Pass that is considered a "ghost town" by many.
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Weather
Butte, Montana
Jackson, Wyoming
Aspen, Colorado
Pagosa Springs, Colorado
Silver City, New Mexico
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