Mount Skukum Volcanic Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Skukum Volcanic Complex |
|
|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,382 m (7,815 ft) |
| Prominence | 997 m (3,271 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Yukon, Canada |
| Parent range | Coast Mountains |
| Topo map | NTS 115D/03 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Eocene |
| Mountain type | Caldera |
| Last eruption | Eocene |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scramble |
The Mount Skukum Volcanic Complex is a very old volcanic area located in the Yukon Territory, Canada. It sits about 43 kilometers (27 miles) west of Carcross. This complex is actually a type of volcano called a caldera, which is a large, bowl-shaped hollow that forms after a volcano erupts and collapses. It was active a very long time ago, during a period called the Eocene epoch. The entire complex covers an area of about 140 square kilometers (54 square miles).
What is a Caldera?
A caldera is a special kind of volcano. Instead of having a cone shape, a caldera is a big, sunken area. It forms when a volcano erupts with great force, emptying the magma chamber underneath. Without the magma supporting it, the ground above collapses inward, creating a huge crater. Over time, these craters can fill with water, forming lakes, or they can be covered by new volcanic activity.
When Was the Eocene Epoch?
The Eocene epoch was a long time ago, from about 56 to 33.9 million years ago. During this time, the Earth's climate was much warmer than it is today. Many modern types of mammals started to appear and spread across the planet. The continents were also slowly moving into the positions we see them in today. The Mount Skukum Volcanic Complex was active during the early part of this epoch.
How Mount Skukum Formed
The Mount Skukum Volcanic Complex was created because of something called plate tectonics. This is when huge pieces of the Earth's outer layer, called tectonic plates, slowly move around. In the case of Mount Skukum, an ancient oceanic plate called the Kula Plate was sliding underneath the North American Plate. This process is called subduction. When one plate slides under another, it can cause rocks to melt deep underground, forming magma. This magma then rises to the surface, leading to volcanic eruptions and the formation of volcanoes like Mount Skukum.
