Mount Darwin (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Darwin |
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Mount Darwin above Midnight Lake.
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,837 ft (4,218 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 1,871 ft (570 m) |
| Listing |
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| Naming | |
| Etymology | Charles Darwin |
| Geography | |
 Mount Darwin
Location in California
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| Location | Fresno and Inyo counties, California |
| Country | United States of America |
| State | California |
| County | Fresno |
| Parent range | Sierra Nevada, Evolution region |
| Topo map | USGS Mount Darwin |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1908 by Ernest Clayton Andrews and Willard D. Johnson |
| Easiest route | West Face, exposed scramble, class 3 with summit block class 4 |
Mount Darwin is a tall, flat-topped mountain in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It sits right on the border between Fresno and Inyo counties in California. This amazing peak is part of Kings Canyon National Park and the John Muir Wilderness.
Contents
The Story of Mount Darwin's Name
Who First Climbed Mount Darwin?
The first people known to climb Mount Darwin were two geologists from Australia. Their names were Ernest Clayton Andrews and Willard D. Johnson. They reached the top on August 12, 1908. Imagine being the first to stand on that peak!
How Did Mount Darwin Get Its Name?
Mount Darwin got its name in 1895 from two people working for the United States Geological Survey. They were Theodore S. Solomons and E. C. Bonner. They named a group of mountains in this area after six important scientists who studied evolution.
Mount Darwin is named after the famous naturalist, Charles Darwin. He was a scientist who developed the theory of evolution. Other mountains nearby are also named after scientists. These include Mount Mendel, Mount Fiske, Mount Haeckel, Mount Huxley, Mount Spencer, Mount Wallace, and Mount Lamarck. This whole area is known as the Evolution Region, and it includes places like Evolution Basin and Evolution Valley.
You can also find other places named after Darwin nearby, like Darwin Glacier and Darwin Canyon.
Mount Darwin's Climate
Mount Darwin is a very high mountain, so the weather there can be quite extreme. It gets very cold, especially in winter. Temperatures often drop below freezing.
The mountain also gets a lot of snow and rain. Most of the precipitation happens in the winter months. Summers are usually drier and a bit warmer, but it's still cool at such high elevations. If you ever visit, be prepared for chilly weather, even in summer!
