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Castle Mountain (Alaska) facts for kids

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Castle Mountain
Castle Mountain in Alaska.jpg
Castle Mountain, east aspect
Highest point
Elevation 8,620 ft (2,630 m)
Prominence 1,170 ft (360 m)
Isolation 4.63 mi (7.45 km)
Geography
Castle Mountain is located in Alaska
Castle Mountain
Castle Mountain
Location in Alaska
Location Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Valdez-Cordova Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent range Wrangell Mountains
Topo map USGS McCarthy C-3
Type of rock Sedimentary rock

Castle Mountain is a tall mountain in Alaska, United States. It stands 8,620 feet (2,630 meters) high. This mountain is found at the southeastern edge of the Wrangell Mountains. It is part of the huge Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve.

Castle Mountain is about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of a town called McCarthy. It sits near a place known as Skolai Pass. Even though it's not the tallest mountain, its south side is very steep. It rises 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) from the Russell Glacier in less than a mile. Water from the mountain flows into the White River to the east. To the west, it flows into the Nizina River through Skolai Creek. The name "Castle Mountain" was given in 1914 by the United States Geological Survey.

Weather at Castle Mountain

Castle Mountain has a subarctic climate. This means it has long, cold, and snowy winters. The summers are usually cool. Weather systems from the Gulf of Alaska hit the Wrangell Mountains. This causes a lot of rain and snow to fall. This process is called orographic lift.

Temperatures can drop very low, sometimes below −20 °F (−29 °C). With wind, it can feel even colder, below −30 °F (−34 °C). The best time to visit or climb Castle Mountain is from May through June. The weather is usually nicer during these months.

Iceberg lake on the Russell Glacier
Sedimentary rock layers of Castle Mountain's cliffs rise above a lake with icebergs.
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