Mount Moffett facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Moffett |
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![]() Mount Moffett in 1990.
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,924 ft (1,196 m) |
Geography | |
Parent range | Aleutian Range |
Topo map | USGS Adak C-3 |
Geology | |
Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Last eruption | 1600 BCE (?) |
Mount Moffett is a tall mountain located on Adak Island in Alaska, United States. It is a special kind of volcano known as a stratovolcano. Its highest point reaches about 3,924 feet (1,196 meters) above sea level. Even though it is a volcano, it has never erupted in modern times.
About Mount Moffett
Mount Moffett is a stratovolcano, which means it is a cone-shaped volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, ash, and rocks. These volcanoes often have steep slopes and can be very tall. Mount Moffett is covered in thick ice and snow, making it a heavily glaciated mountain.
The mountain is mostly made of two types of volcanic rock: basalt and andesite. Scientists believe the southern side of the mountain is its newest part. Compared to other volcanoes in the Aleutian Islands, Mount Moffett is considered a smaller volcano.
How Mount Moffett Got Its Name
The mountain was named in 1936 by the United States Navy. It was named after Rear Admiral William Adger Moffett. A Rear Admiral is a high-ranking officer in the navy.
Fun Facts About the Mountain
Even though it is a remote and icy place, people have occasionally skied on Mount Moffett. There was even a ski-lift on the lower part of the mountain at one time!