Here's why:

* The Continental Divide is a line of high elevation that separates water flowing to different oceans. Mountains are the most common feature that creates this line of elevation.

* Water flowing west of the divide flows to the Pacific Ocean.

* Water flowing east of the divide flows to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.

The Continental Divide is not associated with a specific mountain range, but rather runs through several mountain ranges across North America, including:

* The Rocky Mountains (the most prominent)

* The Sierra Nevada

* The Cascade Range

* The Coast Mountains