Cathedral Peak (Alaska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cathedral Peak |
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Cathedral Peak, south face
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 6,500+ ft (1,980+ m) |
| Prominence | 800 ft (240 m) |
| Isolation | 0.92 mi (1.48 km) |
| Parent peak | Taku Towers |
| Geography | |
 Cathedral Peak
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Tongass National Forest Juneau Borough Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Coast Mountains Boundary Ranges Juneau Icefield |
| Topo map | USGS Juneau C-2 |
Cathedral Peak is a tall mountain in Alaska, standing at about 6,500 feet (1,981 meters) high. It's part of the Boundary Ranges within the larger Coast Mountains. This peak is found in the Taku Range, which is a part of the huge Juneau Icefield.
The mountain is located about 22 miles (35 km) north of Juneau, the capital city of Alaska. It's also just one mile (1.6 km) north of another peak called Taku Towers. The land around Cathedral Peak is managed by the Tongass National Forest, which is a very large forest area.
The Taku Range is a long ridge that runs north to south. It sits right on the edge of the Taku Glacier, a massive river of ice. Members of the Juneau Icefield Research Project gave the mountain its name in 1964. The name "Cathedral Peak" was officially recognized in 1965 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.
What is the Climate Like?
Cathedral Peak is in a subpolar oceanic climate zone. This means it has very long, cold, and snowy winters. The summers are usually cool.
Weather systems often come from the Gulf of Alaska. When they hit the tall Coast Mountains, the air is forced to rise. This process is called orographic lift. It causes a lot of rain and snow to fall on the mountains.
Temperatures on Cathedral Peak can drop very low, sometimes below -20 °C (-4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, below -30 °C (-22 °F). If you want to see or climb Cathedral Peak, July usually has the best weather.
