Mount Harper facts for kids

Mount Harper is a very old volcano that has worn down a lot over time. It is located about 71 kilometers (44 miles) north of Dawson City in the Yukon, Canada. This mountain is part of the Ogilvie Mountains range.

Mount Harper is a special type of volcano called a shield volcano. It started forming underwater and then grew above the surface. It is made mostly of a rock called basalt. The top of the volcano also has smaller amounts of other lava types, like rhyodacite and andesite.

About Mount Harper's Formation

Mount Harper is a Late Proterozoic volcanic complex. This means it formed a very, very long time ago, during the Proterozoic Eon. This time period was between 2.5 billion and 541 million years ago. Over millions of years, wind, water, and ice have worn down the volcano. This is why it is called "deeply eroded."

How the Volcano Was Shaped

The mountain is about 1,200 meters (3,900 feet) thick. It was once a large shield volcano. Shield volcanoes get their name because they look like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. They have gentle slopes because the lava that flows from them is very runny.

Mount Harper also sits on top of a large crack in the Earth's crust. This crack is known as the Harper Fault.

Who Named Mount Harper?

The mountain was officially named in 1888. A surveyor named William Ogilvie gave it its name. He chose to honor Arthur Harper.

Arthur Harper was an important person in the history of the Yukon. He is known as one of the first people to explore the Yukon country looking for gold.