Dunn Peak facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunn Peak |
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| Dunn Peaks | |
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Matterhorn Peak in the Dunn Peak massif
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,636 m (8,648 ft) |
| Prominence | 1,531 m (5,023 ft) |
| Parent peak | Hallam Peak |
| Listing | |
| Geography | |
 Dunn Peak
Location in British Columbia
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| Parent range | Columbia Mountains |
Dunn Peak, also sometimes called the Dunn Peaks, is a cool group of mountains in the middle of British Columbia, Canada. The tallest part of this group is called Matterhorn Peak. It stands super tall at 2,636 meters (about 8,648 feet) high! This makes it the highest point in the Shuswap Highland area.
Where is Dunn Peak?
Even though Dunn Peak is technically part of the Columbia Mountains, it stands pretty much by itself. It's separated from other mountain ranges by flat lands called the Interior Plateau and the Shuswap Highland.
The Dunn Peak area is surrounded by rivers and creeks. The North Thompson River is to its west and north. Harper Creek is to the east, and the Barrière River is to the south.
The closest towns and cities are Barriere, Clearwater, and Kamloops. There are no main roads right into the protected mountain area. You can reach the higher parts by following trails from the Harper Creek Forest Service road.
Matterhorn Peak is a very important peak in British Columbia. It's the 92nd most "prominent" peak in the whole province. A prominent peak means it sticks up a lot from the land around it.
Animals and Plants
The area around Dunn Peak is a protected space. It has very old forests with huge trees like Engelmann spruce and interior Douglas fir. These trees have been growing there for a long, long time!
This protected area is also home to many different kinds of wildlife. You might find wolves, cougars, martens, river otters, black bears, mule deer, and mountain goats living there. There are also special birds like the great blue heron and the bald eagle that are protected in this area.
History of Dunn Peak
Dunn Peak is named after James Dunn. He was a gold prospector who looked for gold in this region a long time ago. In 1888, he got sick and left for California. He used a special tool called a "rocker" to find gold near a place called ChuChua, which is on the western side of Dunn Peak.
Another nearby mountain, Baldy Mountain, was home to the Windpass gold mine. This mine operated from 1916 until 1939.
On April 30, 1996, the Dunn Peak area became a special protected space. It's now known as the Dunn Peak Protected Area and covers about 19,353 hectares (about 47,822 acres). This helps keep the mountains, forests, and animals safe.
