Continental Divide of the Americas
- noun
:
Divisoria Continental de las Américas
- Rivers to the west of the Continental Divide of the Americas flow toward the Pacific Ocean.
Examples
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Many hikers dream of trekking the entire length of the Continental Divide of the Americas from Mexico to Canada.
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The Continental Divide of the Americas offers stunning views in the Rocky Mountains.
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The Continental Divide of the Americas runs through several states.
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Many rivers originate from the Continental Divide of the Americas.
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The Continental Divide of the Americas is a crucial landmark for understanding the flow of rivers in the region.
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Hikers often use the Continental Divide of the Americas as a navigational guide while exploring the Rocky Mountains.
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Several national parks in the United States are located along the Continental Divide of the Americas, attracting nature enthusiasts.
Synonyms
16
7.6
A high line of land that makes rivers flow to different seas
2
6.8
A high mountain line that divides rivers flowing to the Pacific from those flowing to the Atlantic and Arctic oceans
1
7.4
A line of high land on a continent that separates rivers flowing to different oceans
Surface Forms
Morphology
continental + divide + of + the + Americas
The phrase transparently combines 'continental' (of a continent) with 'divide' (a ridge separating river systems) and the location 'of the Americas', so its meaning — the main hydrological ridge separating waters across the Americas — is directly derivable from the parts. This is a regular noun phrase composition found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the constituent words should be able to understand it.
Etymology
The Continental Divide of the Americas is a high mountain line that acts like the ridge of a roof. When rain or snow falls there, water on one side flows 'to the Pacific' and on the other side flows 'to the Atlantic or Arctic', so the line divides which ocean the water reaches.