Gap Mountain (Alberta) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gap Mountain |
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Gap Mountain from Highway 40 at Highwood Pass
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,675 m (8,776 ft) |
| Prominence | 282 m (925 ft) |
| Parent peak | Elpoca Mountain (3036 m) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Geography | |
 Gap Mountain
Location in Alberta
Gap Mountain
Location in Canada
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| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Opal Range Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82J/11 Kananaskis Lakes |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Cambrian |
| Type of rock | Limestone |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scramble on eastern side |
Gap Mountain is a tall mountain in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta, Canada. It stands about 2,675 meters (8,776 feet) high. Its closest taller neighbor is Elpoca Mountain, about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) away. You can find Gap Mountain inside Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) south of Mount Wintour. It's easy to spot Gap Mountain from Alberta Highway 40 near Highwood Pass. Many people like to climb Gap Mountain. It has fun, challenging paths on its eastern side, and from the top, you get amazing views of Kananaskis Country.
Contents
Mountain's Name and History
A man named George Pocaterra gave the mountain its name. He called it 'Gap' because it sits in a gap between two mountain ranges, the Opal Range and the Elk Range. The name was officially accepted in 1978 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
How Gap Mountain Was Formed
Gap Mountain is made of a type of rock called limestone. This rock was formed a very long time ago, from the Precambrian to the Jurassic periods. It was created in shallow seas.
Later, huge forces pushed this sedimentary rock eastward. It even slid over younger rock during an event called the Laramide orogeny. Gap Mountain was specifically formed during something called the Lewis Overthrust. If you look closely, you'll see that the layers of rock in Gap Mountain are tilted steeply. This is similar to other peaks in the Opal Range.
Weather and Climate
Gap Mountain is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has cold, snowy winters and mild summers. Temperatures can drop below -20 °C (-4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below -30 °C (-22 °F).
The best time to climb Gap Mountain is from June through September. During these months, the weather is usually more favorable. The water from rain and melting snow on the mountain flows into Pocaterra Creek. This creek then joins the Kananaskis River.
Images for kids
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Highwood Pass and Gap Mountain
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Gap Mountain (left) and Elpoca Mountain (right)
