Mount Franklin (Australian Capital Territory) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Franklin |
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 Mount Franklin
Location in Australian Capital Territory
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,646 m (5,400 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Australian Capital Territory/New South Wales, Australia |
| Parent range | Brindabella Ranges, Great Dividing Range |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Mount Franklin is a tall mountain located in Australia. It stands at 1,646 meters (about 5,400 feet) high. This mountain is special because it sits right on the border between the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and New South Wales. The very top of the mountain is actually in the ACT.
Mount Franklin is part of the Brindabella Ranges, which are a group of mountains. It is also found within two important nature areas: the Bimberi Nature Reserve and the Namadgi National Park. You can reach the top of Mount Franklin by following a marked walking trail. This trail starts from Mount Franklin Road. It's a hike that doesn't need any special climbing skills.
The mountain was named after the family of a famous Australian writer, Miles Franklin. Her family once lived nearby at Brindabella Station. In winter, Mount Franklin often gets covered in snow. Because of this, it became a popular spot for early Australian ski pioneers starting in the 1930s. Today, if there's enough snow, you can still enjoy cross-country skiing in the area.
Skiing Adventures at Mount Franklin
In 1938, a special building called a ski chalet was built at Mount Franklin. This chalet was for the Canberra Alpine Club, a group of people who loved to ski. They even cleared areas for ski runs and made their own simple ski lifts.
Over time, the chalet was used as a museum. However, it was sadly destroyed in the big 2003 Canberra bushfires. These were large wildfires that caused a lot of damage.
A new shelter was built in 2008 by students from the University of Adelaide. This new building helps visitors learn about the area. It also gives park rangers and emergency teams a place to work from. They use it for things like search and rescue missions, especially if there are future bushfires. The border between the ACT and New South Wales runs right through the area where the old chalet used to be.
Today, when there's enough snow, you can still go cross-country skiing at Mount Franklin. You can also ski on the other mountains nearby.
