Christmas Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christmas Mountains |
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North Pole Stream, a tributary to the Little Southwest Miramichi River in north-central New Brunswick, Canada
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 750 m (2,460 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Northumberland County, New Brunswick |
| Parent range | Appalachian Mountains |
| Topo map | NTS 21O/02 |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
The Christmas Mountains are a group of rounded mountains in northern New Brunswick, Canada. They are found where the North Pole Stream and the Little Southwest Miramichi River begin. These mountains are west of Big Bald Mountain and south of Mount Carleton. They help separate the water flowing into the Miramichi River from other rivers like the Serpentine and Nepisiguit River. The Christmas Mountains are part of the larger Appalachian Mountains range.
Why Are They Called Christmas Mountains?
In 1964, a person named Arthur F. Wightman gave these mountains their special name. He noticed that these mountains were close to where the North Pole Stream starts. Because of this, he decided to name the mountain range after the holiday of Christmas. It's a fun way to connect the area to a well-known holiday!
The Ten Peaks of Christmas
The Christmas Mountains have ten main peaks. Each one has a unique name, and many of them are named after characters from a famous Christmas story!
Here are the ten peaks:
- North Pole Mountain (690 meters or 2,264 feet high)
- Mount St. Nicholas (625 meters or 2,051 feet high)
- Mount Dasher (750 meters or 2,461 feet high)
- Mount Dancer (670 meters or 2,198 feet high)
- Mount Prancer (580 meters or 1,903 feet high)
- Mount Vixen (650 meters or 2,133 feet high)
- Mount Comet (550 meters or 1,804 feet high)
- Mount Cupid (530 meters or 1,739 feet high)
- Mount Donder (730 meters or 2,395 feet high)
- Mount Blitzen (670 meters or 2,198 feet high)
Reindeer Names
Eight of these peaks are named after Santa Claus's reindeer. These names come from a famous poem written in 1823 called "A Visit from St. Nicholas" by Clement Clarke Moore. In the poem, Santa calls out his reindeer by name.
The poem says:
With a little old driver so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!
More rapid than eagles, his coursers they came,
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
Now Dasher! Now Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! To the top of the wall!
Even though a ninth reindeer, Rudolph, became very famous later on in the song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", no mountain peak in the Christmas Mountains was named after him.
