The Rocky Mountains is known as the Mountain States or The Rockies. The Rocky Mountains begin in Canada and end in Mexico. The regions name comes from the Rocky Mountains which run through all of its states.  The Rocky Mountain region is about 2,000 miles. The Rocky Mountains is made up of at least 100 different mountain ranges. The highest mountain point is Mount Elbert in Colorado. Mount Elbert is 14,433 feet high. the Rocky Mountains are a good place for many different plants and animals.                                                                    People of the Rocky Mountains to get minerals and metals. Something called Smelting was used in the 1800’s but it is still there today. Smelting is when you put  the minerals and metals in something  with extreme temperatures. After a little bit, it turns in to liquid. Some of it change into gas and some burn away.  The liquid then turns into heavy copper sinks. One of the biggest open-pit mine is near Salt Lake City, Utah is the largest mine in the world.  The mine in Salt Lake City, Utah is nearly 2 and 1/2 miles wide and 1 mile deep.  That is the size of 120 football  fields.