Freya Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Freya Castle |
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North aspect, from Angels Window Overlook
(Vishnu Temple upper right) |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,288 ft (2,221 m) |
| Prominence | 688 ft (210 m) |
| Isolation | 1.42 mi (2.29 km) |
| Parent peak | Wotans Throne (7,740 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Freya Castle
Location in Arizona
Freya Castle
Location in the United States
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| Location | Grand Canyon National Park Coconino County, Arizona, US |
| Parent range | Kaibab Plateau Colorado Plateau |
| Topo map | USGS Cape Royal |
| Type of rock | Coconino Sandstone |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1962 |
| Easiest route | class 4 climbing |
Freya Castle is a striking peak in the Grand Canyon, located in northern Arizona, USA. It stands tall at 7,288 feet (2,221 meters) above sea level. This impressive rock formation is found in Coconino County. It is about one mile southeast of the Cape Royal overlook on the canyon's North Rim. Freya Castle rises dramatically, about 3,400 feet (1,036 meters) from the Unkar Valley below.
What's in a Name?
Freya Castle is named after Freya. She is a powerful goddess from old Norse stories. Freya was known for love, beauty, and even war. Geologist François E. Matthes gave the peak this name. He followed a tradition of naming Grand Canyon features after gods and goddesses. The name "Freya Castle" became official in 1906. This was decided by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.
First to the Top
The very first people to climb to the top of Freya Castle were Harvey Butchart and Allyn Cureton. They made their successful climb on June 24, 1962. Climbing Freya Castle is considered a challenging adventure.
The Rocks of Freya Castle
The very top of Freya Castle is made of a rock called Coconino Sandstone. This sandstone is a creamy color. It formed about 265 million years ago from ancient sand dunes. Below this sandstone, you'll find other layers of rock. These include the Hermit Shale and the Supai Group. Even deeper down are layers like Redwall Limestone and the Tonto Group. At the very bottom, near the creek, are the oldest rocks, part of the Unkar Group. Rainwater flows off Freya Castle into the Colorado River. It travels through Vishnu Creek on one side and Unkar Creek on the other.
Images for kids
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Freya Castle centered, with Vishnu Temple to right, Apollo Temple distant left
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Freya Castle front and center, with Vishnu Temple behind, as seen from Walhalla Overlook.
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Freya Castle (left), Vishnu Temple (right)
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View from northeast at Cape Final. Left to right: Rama Shrine, Vishnu Temple, Freya Castle
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summit detail
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summit detail
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