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Big Bald Mountain (New Brunswick) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
1986 Big Bald Mtn Fire Lookout
Abandoned fire-spotting hut on Big Bald Mountain (IR Walker 1986)
Quick facts for kids
Big Bald Mountain
1986 Big Bald Mtn.jpg
Highest point
Elevation 672 m (2,205 ft)
Geography
Location Northumberland, New Brunswick
Parent range Appalachian Mountains
Topo map NTS 21O/01
Climbing
Easiest route hike

Big Bald Mountain is a well-known mountain peak in the Canadian province of New Brunswick. It stands out because of its height and its unique, treeless top. This "bald" summit is actually how the mountain got its name!

Big Bald Mountain is located in Northumberland County. It is right next to Colonels Mountain. It is also found east of the Christmas Mountains. The mountain is near where important rivers like the Northwest Miramichi River, the Sevogle River, and the South Branch Nepisiguit River begin.

A Special Job: Fire Spotting

For many years, Big Bald Mountain played an important role. Before we had planes and satellites, people needed ways to spot wildfires in remote areas. A special hut was built and kept on the mountain's summit. This hut was used by fire spotters. Their job was to look for smoke from new fires.

How Fire Spotting Worked

The fire spotters used a clever system to find fires quickly. They worked with other fire spotters in similar huts. For example, a very similar hut was on Mount Carleton. Mount Carleton is the highest peak in New Brunswick. These huts, along with other fire towers, formed a network.

When a spotter saw smoke, they would report its direction. By sharing information from different huts, they could use a method called triangulation. This method helped them figure out the exact location of a wildfire. This made it easier for firefighters to get to the fire and put it out.

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