Continental Divide of the Americas

The Continental Divide of the Americas (also known as the Great Divide, the Western Divide or simply the Continental Divide; Spanish: Divisoria continental de América, Gran Divisoria) is the main line that separates water in the Americas. This important line runs from the Bering Strait all the way to the Strait of Magellan. It determines which rivers flow into the Pacific Ocean and which ones flow into the Atlantic and Arctic Ocean, including places like the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and Hudson Bay.

This divide is special because it usually follows the tall mountains of the Rocky Mountains and Andes. These mountains are much higher than other lines that separate water in the Americas, making the Continental Divide the most noticeable one.

Many other smaller lines exist that separate water, but none are as well-known or as important as the Continental Divide. It plays a big role in shaping the rivers and water systems across North and South America.

Geography

The Continental Divide of the Americas is a long mountain line that runs from the Bering Strait to the Strait of Magellan. It separates rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean from those that flow into the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea, and Hudson Bay.

Starting at Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska, the Divide runs through Arctic Alaska, Yukon, and British Columbia. It then follows the Rocky Mountains through the United States, crossing into Montana and continuing through Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. In Mexico and Central America, it passes through many countries before reaching South America, where it follows the Andes Mountains through western South America.

The Divide has some interesting points, like Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park, where water can flow to three different oceans. There is also a long hiking trail called the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail that follows the Divide through the United States.

Exceptions

Many places in North and South America make it tricky to say which ocean water flows to. Some areas, called endorheic basins, don’t drain to any ocean. Examples include the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming and the Guzmán Basin in New Mexico and Mexico.

Special maps sometimes show two lines for the divide in these areas. But detailed maps from the USGS usually just show one main line.

Rarely, a small stream or lake right on the divide sends water both ways. For example, North Two Ocean Creek and Isa Lake in Wyoming both do this. The Panama Canal also sends water to both oceans.

Some small lakes in the Rocky Mountains between Alberta and British Columbia send water to both the Arctic and Pacific Oceans. One of these is called the "Committee's Punch Bowl".

The Alpine Club of Canada’s Abbot Pass Hut sat right on the divide between Banff National Park and Yoho National Park. Rain on one side of the hut went to Hudson Bay, and rain on the other side went to the Pacific Ocean.