Front Ranges facts for kids

The Front Ranges are a special group of mountain ranges found in the Canadian Rockies. They stretch across parts of eastern British Columbia and western Alberta in Canada. These mountains are the lowest and most eastern part of a bigger mountain system called the Continental Ranges. They are located east of the Bull River and Elk River, and also east of a long crack in the Earth's crust called a fault line. This fault line goes from West Elk Pass all the way to McGregor Pass.

What are the Front Ranges?

The Front Ranges are like the first row of mountains you see when approaching the Canadian Rockies from the east. They are part of a much larger mountain system. Even though they are the lowest of the main subranges, they still have many tall and impressive peaks. These mountains are known for their unique shapes and the beautiful landscapes they create.

Where are the Front Ranges located?

These mountains are found in two Canadian provinces: British Columbia and Alberta. They form a natural border between these two areas. The Front Ranges are on the eastern side of the Continental Ranges. This means they are closer to the flat lands of central Canada.

How were the Front Ranges formed?

The Front Ranges were created over millions of years. This happened when huge pieces of the Earth's crust, called tectonic plates, slowly pushed against each other. This immense pressure caused the land to fold and break, lifting up the mountains we see today. The "fault line" mentioned earlier is one of these breaks in the Earth's crust. It shows where the rocks moved past each other during this process.

Mountains within the Front Ranges

The Front Ranges are made up of many smaller mountain groups, often called subranges. Each subrange has its own unique features and peaks. Here are some of the well-known subranges that make up the Front Ranges:

• Bare Range
• Bighorn Range
• Bosche Range
• De Smet Range
• Elk Range
• Fairholme Range
• First Range
• Fisher Range
• Goat Range
• Greenhills Range
• High Rock Range
• Highwood Range
• Jacques Range
• Kananaskis Range
• Lizard Range
• Maligne Range
• Miette Range
• Murchison Group
• Nikanassin Range
• Opal Range
• Palliser Range
• Queen Elizabeth Ranges
• Ram Range
• Sawback Range
• Slate Range
• Taylor Range
• Vermilion Range
• Victoria Cross Ranges
• Whitegoat Peaks
• Wisukitsak Range