Mount Nkwala facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Nkwala |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 1,019 m (3,343 ft) |
Prominence | 469 m (1,539 ft) |
Listing | Mountains of British Columbia |
Geography | |
Location | British Columbia, Canada |
Parent range | Thompson Plateau |
Topo map | NTS 82E/12 |
Mount Nkwala is a mountain located in the beautiful Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada. It stands proudly just west of the city of Penticton and overlooks the southern part of Okanagan Lake. This mountain is a well-known landmark in the area.
What's in a Name?
Mount Nkwala has an interesting history behind its name.
Chief Nkwala
The mountain is named after Chief Nkwala, also known as Chief Nicolas Hwistesmetxēe'qen. He was a very important and respected Indigenous Chief in the nearby Nicola Valley. Chief Nkwala lived from 1780 to 1865 and played a big role in the history of the region.
Gerry Mountain
Locally, many people know this mountain as Gerry Mountain. This name came about in 1949. A man named Dennis McDonald was mapping the mountain for the BC Forest Service. He decided to name it after his wife, Geraldine. For many years, there was a forest fire look-out station on the mountain. It was known as the Gerry Look-Out and helped spot forest fires until 1969.