Mount Nansen (Yukon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Nansen |
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 Mount Nansen
Location in Yukon
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,827 m (5,994 ft) |
| Prominence | 532 m (1,745 ft) |
| Parent peak | Victoria Mountain |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yukon, Canada |
| Parent range | Dawson Range |
| Topo map | NTS 115J/03 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Late Cretaceous |
| Mountain type | Stratovolcano |
Mount Nansen is an ancient, deeply eroded stratovolcano located in the central Yukon, Canada. It stands about 53 kilometers (33 miles) west of Carmacks and 10 kilometers (6 miles) west of Victoria Mountain. This old volcano was formed during the Cretaceous period, a very long time ago.
Contents
What is Mount Nansen?
Mount Nansen is a type of volcano called a stratovolcano. These volcanoes are also known as composite volcanoes. They are usually tall and cone-shaped. They are built up over many eruptions of lava, ash, and rocks.
An Ancient Volcano
Mount Nansen is considered "deeply eroded." This means that over millions of years, wind, water, and ice have worn away much of its original shape. Even though it's eroded, scientists can still study its rocks to learn about its past.
What is it Made Of?
The rocks that make up Mount Nansen include different types of volcanic material. These are:
- Rhyolite: A light-colored volcanic rock.
- Dacite: A volcanic rock similar to rhyolite but darker.
- Andesite: A common volcanic rock, often gray.
- Breccia: Rocks made of broken, angular fragments cemented together.
- Tuff: Rocks formed from volcanic ash and fragments.
How Mount Nansen Formed
Mount Nansen was formed during the Mid-Cretaceous period. This was about 100 million years ago! Its formation is linked to a process called subduction.
Understanding Subduction
Subduction happens when one of Earth's large tectonic plates slides underneath another. Imagine two giant pieces of Earth's crust slowly colliding. One piece goes down into the Earth's hot interior. As this plate sinks, it melts. This melted rock, called magma, then rises to the surface. When magma reaches the surface, it erupts, forming volcanoes. Mount Nansen formed because a tectonic plate was subducting under the North American plate.
Where is Mount Nansen?
Mount Nansen is located in the Dawson Range mountains. This range is in the central part of the Yukon territory in Canada. The Yukon is known for its vast wilderness, mountains, and long, cold winters.
Geographic Location
The exact coordinates for Mount Nansen are 62 degrees, 6 minutes, 22.3 seconds North latitude and 137 degrees, 18 minutes, 10.1 seconds West longitude. These coordinates help scientists and explorers pinpoint its exact location on a map.
