Mount Howitt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Howitt(Toot-buck-nulluck) |
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The summit of Mount Howitt as seen from West Peak in late autumn
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,742 m (5,715 ft) AHD |
| Geography | |
| Location | Victoria, Australia |
| Parent range | Great Dividing Range |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Hike/ski |
Mount Howitt is a cool mountain in Victoria, Australia. It's also known as Toot-buck-nulluck in the Gunai language. The mountain was named after Alfred William Howitt. You can find it in the Alpine National Park, about 170 kilometers (105 miles) northeast of Melbourne.
Mount Howitt is a popular spot for hiking because it has amazing views. It's also fairly easy to get to in summer. Many trails lead to the summit, including the famous Australian Alps Walking Track. The closest you can get by road is about seven kilometers (4.3 miles) away, near MacAlister Springs and the Howitt Plains.
There's also a longer, tougher hike up the West Spur. This trail starts from the Howqua River. In winter, many roads close, making it harder to reach the mountain. This makes Mount Howitt a favorite place for backcountry and cross-country skiers who love remote adventures.
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Exploring Mount Howitt's Nature
The mountain is surrounded by deep valleys. Here, you'll find forests of Manna Gum trees. As you go higher up the mountain, between 1,000 and 1,400 meters (3,280 and 4,590 feet), you'll see Snow Gum forests. These trees grow in sheltered spots and have grassy or heath plants underneath them. Above this, the very top of the mountain is above the treeline, meaning no trees grow there.
A Glimpse into Mount Howitt's Past
Long ago, Aboriginal people used the King and Howqua areas as important trade routes. These routes crossed the Great Dividing Range, and Mount Howitt was part of them. They also had special places nearby where they found hard greenstone. This stone was very valuable for making tools.
European settlers started arriving in the 1840s and began grazing animals. Later, in the 1860s, gold was discovered in the Howqua Valley.
Shelters and Huts for Adventurers
The closest shelter to Mount Howitt is the Vallejo Gantner Hut. It's located at Macalister Springs. This spot also has a reliable water source from a spring that flows all year, even when it's dry. In 2013-2014, a new toilet was built at Macalister Springs. It's a special kind of toilet where waste is removed by helicopter when it's full.
Mount Howitt in Books and Movies
The area around Mount Howitt is a setting for the popular Tomorrow series of books. These books were written by John Marsden. In his stories, he changes the names of nearby places. For example, the Cross Cut Saw becomes Tailor's Stitch, and the Devils Staircase becomes Satan's Steps.
The Man from Snowy River is one of Australia's most famous poems. It was written by Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson. While the main character is thought to be based on Jack Riley from Corryong, the movie version was filmed right around Mount Howitt! One of the most famous spots in the movie is Hells Window, on Mount Magdala. This peak is connected to Mount Howitt by a ridge called Big Hill.
See also
In Spanish: Monte Howitt para niños
