Fort Mountain (Maine) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fort Mountain |
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 Fort Mountain
Location in Maine
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,867 ft (1,179 m) |
| Prominence | 199 ft (61 m) |
| Listing | #80 New England 100 Highest |
| Geography | |
| Location | Piscataquis County, Maine, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Katahdin |
Fort Mountain is a cool mountain found in Piscataquis County, Maine, in the U.S.. It's part of the beautiful Baxter State Park. This mountain stands tall between North Brother Mountain to its southeast and Mullen Mountain to its north. Even though there isn't an official trail, a clear path, often called a 'herd path,' can guide you to the top from North Brother Mountain.
Where Does the Water Go?
Fort Mountain is part of the watershed for the big Penobscot River. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or lake. For Fort Mountain, all the water eventually flows into the Penobscot Bay.
The water from the south and east sides of Fort Mountain flows into Wassataquoik Stream. This stream then joins the East Branch of the Penobscot River. Water from the northeast side of the mountain goes into Annis Brook, which also flows into Wassataquoik Stream.
On the northwest side, water from Fort Mountain drains into Little Nesowadnehunk Stream. This stream then connects to Nesowadnehunk Stream, and finally to the West Branch of the Penobscot River.
The 1944 Plane Crash
On June 20, 1944, a C-54-A cargo plane was flying from Newfoundland to Washington, D.C.. This was part of a long flight called TWA Flight 277 that started in England.
During the flight, bad weather pushed the plane about 70 miles (113 km) north of where it was supposed to be. The crew couldn't see outside or use their radio to figure out their exact location. They didn't know they had flown into a mountainous area. The plane was still flying at 4,000 feet (1,219 meters), which was a safe height for flying over a flatter area like Bangor, Maine.
Sadly, the plane hit Fort Mountain. The single passenger and all six crew members on board did not survive. The plane caught fire, but some large parts of it are still there today and are quite well preserved.
