Slide Mountain Ocean

The Slide Mountain Ocean was an ancient ocean that existed between the Intermontane Islands and North America. It began around 245 million years ago during the Triassic period. The ocean got its name from the Slide Mountain terrane, a group of rocks that came from the ocean floor long ago.

At the bottom of the Slide Mountain Ocean, there was a special area called a subduction zone. This was part of the Intermontane Trench, where the Intermontane Plate was slowly moving under the edge of North America. Over time, the ocean’s floor was pushed up onto what is now the edge of the ancient North American landmass. This process helped shape the land we see today.