Earth Science Help?

Question

Hi, I have a few earth science questions I need help with.

1. Why is the continental divide located in the Western United States and not halfway between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?

2. Why are the rivers in Central Nevada not part of a major river system?

3. What three different headwaters of river systems are found in Wyoming?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

The continental divide is that point where rivers flow either east or west. The highest point in the US is in the Rocky Mountains so by definition this would have to be the continental divide.

Central Nevada sits in what is called the Basin Range. Any rivers there go either north or south. However this area is all desert so there is not enough water to produce any large rivers.

for the headwaters question, this web site may have the answer.

http://www.wsgs.uwyo.edu/