History and Events
As the Cenozoic era began, the land became..
Dry
Indians called the Rocky Mountains
Shining Mountains
State animal
Grizzly bear
A type of megafauna
Wholly Mammoth
4.6 billion years
Once covered all of Montana
Seas
Center mountain in the Central region
Big Snowy Mountains
Most grizzly bears live in this region
Western region
Three Regions of Montana
Western, central, and eastern
Two trees from Mesozoic era
Banana and Palm trees
This event lifted whole regions of Montana higher above sea level
Geologic activity
Famous river in Montana
The warmer climate encouraged the development of which animals
Bison, elk, deer, bears, bighorn sheep, coyotes, skunks, and rabbits
This region has 15 to 23 inches of rain per year
Western region
Characteristics of Paleozoic Era
Clams, snails, and shellfish
Continents colliding, volcanoes erupting, and geologic forces
Largest freshwater lake
Flathead Lake
State tree of Montana
Ponderosa pine
This region receives an average of 11 to 14 inches of rain per year
Eastern region
In this era, the Rocky Mountains were formed
Mesozoic
Heat and pressure of the earth transferred layers of sentiment into
Fossil fuels
Longest river
Missouri River
State flower
Beargrass and bitterroot
Three Major River Systems
Columbia River system, Missouri River system, and the Saskatchewan River system
This era introduced the first humans and first mammals
Cenozoic era