Chilkat Range facts for kids
The Chilkat Range is a beautiful mountain range located in Alaska, a large state in the United States. These mountains are found west of the city of Juneau. They stretch across parts of Haines Borough and the Hoonah-Angoon Census Area.
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Where is the Chilkat Range?
The Chilkat Range acts like a natural wall. It helps separate Haines Borough from Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve. This park is famous for its amazing glaciers and wildlife.
Natural Borders
The mountains also create a boundary between different water bodies. They separate Chilkat Inlet and Lynn Canal from Muir Inlet. Muir Inlet is a part of the larger Glacier Bay. To the north, the Klehini River is usually seen as the edge of the Chilkat Range.
Glaciers and Ice Fields
High up in the Chilkat Range, there's a large ice field. An ice field is like a big area of connected glaciers. This ice field feeds many individual glaciers. Two well-known glaciers that get their ice from here are the Davidson Glacier and the Rainbow Glacier.
How the Chilkat Range Got Its Name
The name of this mountain range has changed a little over time. It was first officially named in the late 1800s.
Early Naming
In 1879, the USGS (a science agency) named these mountains the Chilkat Mountains. They chose this name to honor the Chilkat people. The Chilkat are a group of the Tlingit People, who are Native Alaskans.
Name Change
Later, in 1891, the name was updated. The mountains became officially known as the Chilkat Range, which is what we call them today.
