Mount Eielson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Eielson |
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Mount Eielson
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,802 ft (1,768 m) |
| Prominence | 1,054 ft (321 m) |
| Isolation | 2.82 mi (4.54 km) |
| Parent peak | Red Mountain (7,165 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Mount Eielson
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Denali Borough Alaska, United States |
| Parent range | Alaska Range |
| Topo map | USGS Denali B-1 |
Mount Eielson is a mountain peak in Alaska, United States. It stands about 5,802 feet (1,768 meters) tall. This mountain is part of the Alaska Range, a huge chain of mountains. You can find it inside Denali National Park and Preserve, a famous wild area in Alaska.
Mount Eielson is located right next to the end of the Muldrow Glacier. It's about 3.5 miles (5.6 km) south of the Eielson Visitor Center. Another mountain, Red Mountain, is about 3.9 miles (6.3 km) north of Mount Eielson.
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History of Mount Eielson
This mountain was not always called Mount Eielson. Its first name was Copper Mountain. The name was changed by the United States Congress on June 14, 1930. Congress is a group of people who make laws for the United States. They decided to rename the mountain to honor a brave pilot.
Who Was Carl Ben Eielson?
The mountain was named after Carl Ben Eielson (1897–1929). He was a very important pilot who did amazing work flying planes in Alaska. Ben Eielson was one of the first people to fly airplanes in this wild part of the world. He even made the first airplane landing near Copper Mountain. At that time, the park was known as Mount McKinley National Park.
Climate Around Mount Eielson
Mount Eielson is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very long, cold, and snowy winters. The summers are usually mild, not too hot.
Temperatures and Weather
In winter, temperatures can drop below −20 °C (–4 °F). With the wind chill, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C (–22 °F). Wind chill makes the air feel colder than it actually is because of the wind. The best time to visit or climb Mount Eielson is usually from May through June. The weather is often nicer during these months.
Water Flow
The water from rain and melting snow on the mountain flows north. This water eventually joins the McKinley River. The McKinley River then flows into the Tanana River, which is a very large river system in Alaska.
