Mount Darwin (Andes) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Darwin |
|
|---|---|
Bahía Pía
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,438 m (7,999 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Darwin
Location in Southern Patagonia
|
|
| Parent range | Andes |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1970 by M. Andrews, N. Banks, M. Taylor, P. Radcliffe, P. James, N. Bennett and R. Heffernan |
Mount Darwin (also known as Spanish: Monte Darwin) is a tall mountain peak. It is located on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego, a large island at the southern tip of South America. This mountain is part of the Cordillera Darwin, which is the southernmost mountain range of the Andes. It stands just north of the Beagle Channel, a famous waterway.
For a long time, people thought Mount Darwin was the highest mountain in Tierra del Fuego. However, a nearby peak is actually taller. This other mountain is sometimes called Monte Shipton. It is about 2,580 meters (8,460 feet) high. Monte Shipton is located at 54°39′33″S 69°35′54″W / 54.65917°S 69.59833°W. Both Mount Darwin and Monte Shipton are best climbed during the summer months in the Southern Hemisphere. This means late December, January, February, and March are the best times. Monte Shipton was first climbed in 1962. The climbing team included Eric Shipton, E. Garcia, F. Vivanco, and C. Marangunic.
How Mount Darwin Got Its Name
Mount Darwin was named during a famous journey around the world. This journey was made by the ship HMS Beagle. The ship's captain, Robert FitzRoy, named the mountain. He did this to celebrate Charles Darwin's 25th birthday. Charles Darwin was a young naturalist on the ship. His birthday was on February 12, 1834.
A year before, Captain FitzRoy had named a body of water the Darwin Sound. This sound is southwest of the mountain. He named it to remember Charles Darwin's quick thinking. Darwin had helped save their boats from being stranded. This happened when large waves from a breaking glacier threatened them.
Location and Features
Mount Darwin is located inside the Alberto de Agostini National Park. This park is a protected area in Chile. The mountain is made of a type of rock called crystalline schists. These rocks are formed under great heat and pressure. The southern sides of Mount Darwin are very steep. They are covered with huge glaciers.
See also
- In Spanish: Monte Darwin (Chile) para niños
