Cordilleran

/ˌkɔːrdɪˈlɛrən/ adjective

Definition

Relating to or characteristic of a cordillera (mountain range), especially the major mountain systems of western North America.

Etymology

An adjective form derived from 'cordillera,' used especially in geology and geography to describe regions shaped by these mountain systems, popularized in 19th-century geological studies.

Kelly Says

The Cordilleran Ice Sheet during the last Ice Age was massive and shaped the entire landscape of western Canada and the northwestern US—it's why the Pacific Northwest has such distinctive valleys and fjords today!

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