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Mount Grosvenor facts for kids

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Mount Grosvenor
Mt. Grosvenor.jpg
Aerial view of west aspect
Highest point
Elevation 5,540 ft (1,690 m)
Prominence 653 ft (199 m)
Isolation 1.34 mi (2.16 km)
Parent peak Columbia Peak (9,489 ft)
Geography
Mount Grosvenor is located in Alaska
Mount Grosvenor
Mount Grosvenor
Location in Alaska
Location Chugach National Forest
Valdez-Cordova Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent range Chugach Mountains
Topo map USGS Anchorage A-2

Mount Grosvenor is a mountain in Alaska, United States. It stands about 5,540 feet (1,689 meters) tall. This peak is located in the Chugach Mountains, about 39 miles (63 kilometers) west of Valdez. The land around it is managed by the Chugach National Forest.

Even though Mount Grosvenor is not the tallest mountain, it rises very steeply from the water. It goes from the tidewater at Unakwik Inlet of Prince William Sound to its peak in only about three miles. This makes it look very impressive.

The mountain was named in 1910 by a geographer named Lawrence Martin. The name was officially accepted by the United States Geological Survey. The peak honors Gilbert Hovey Grosvenor (1875–1966). He was the president of the National Geographic Society and the first full-time editor of National Geographic magazine. He is also known as a pioneer of photojournalism, which means telling stories through pictures.

Understanding Mount Grosvenor's Climate

Mount Grosvenor is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has long, cold, and snowy winters. The summers are usually mild.

Weather systems from the Gulf of Alaska bring a lot of moisture. When these systems hit the Chugach Mountains, the air is forced to rise. This process is called orographic lift. As the air rises, it cools down and drops its moisture as heavy rain or snow.

Temperatures can get very cold, sometimes dropping below −20 °C (−4 °F). With the wind, it can feel even colder, below −30 °C (−22 °F). This cold climate helps keep the large Meares and Columbia Glaciers around the mountain.

The best time to visit or view Mount Grosvenor is usually from May through June. The weather during these months is often the most pleasant for outdoor activities.

Meares glacier
Mt. Grosvenor (left) partially in clouds behind Meares Glacier
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