continental divide

noun

1. a divide separating river systems that flow to opposite sides of a continent.
2. Continental Divide. (in North America ) the line of summits of the Rocky Mountains, separating streams flowing toward the Gulf of California and the Pacific Ocean from those flowing toward the Gulf of Mexico, Hudson Bay, and the Arctic Ocean.

continental divide

noun

1. the watershed of a continent, esp ( often caps. ) the principal watershed of North America, formed by the Rocky Mountains

continental divide

1. A region of high ground, from each side of which the river systems of a continent flow into different continental-scale drainage basins.
2. ◆ In North America, the Continental Divide is a series of mountain ridges stretching from Alaska to Mexico, marking the separation of drainage basins that empty into the Pacific Ocean or Bering Sea from those that empty into the Arctic or Atlantic Oceans or the Gulf of Mexico.

continental divide

1. An imaginary geographic line defined by the fact that water poured on one side of it would ultimately flow into the ocean on one side of a continent , while water poured on the other side of the line would flow into the ocean on the other side of the continent.

Notes

In North America , the continental divide is located in the Rocky Mountains .

Word History and Origins

Origin of continental divide¹

An Americanism dating back to 1865–70

Example Sentences

The blaze, which is burning at an elevation of 9,000 feet and across both sides of the continental divide, forced Rocky Mountain National Park to close.

From Vox

In this playground is a twenty-five-mile stretch of the most rugged section of the Continental Divide.

From Project Gutenberg

Long snowshoe excursions on the Continental Divide have often brought me into the presence of mountain sheep in the snow.

From Project Gutenberg

At the west the ridge expanded into the Continental Divide and the trail divided into dimmer footways.

From Project Gutenberg

From this low continental divide the land slopes gently both to the north and south.

From Project Gutenberg

Now, four days later, I crossed the river and set off above to explore in the direction of the Continental Divide.

From Project Gutenberg