Mount Susitna facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Susitna |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,396 ft (1,340 m) |
| Listing | List of mountain ranges in the world named The Sleeping Lady |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Sandy River or Little Mountain |
| Language of name | Dena'ina |
| Geography | |
 Mount Susitna
Location in Alaska
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| Location | Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, U.S. |
| Parent range | [isolated] |
| Topo map | USGS Tyonek B-2 |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Summit |
Mount Susitna is a tall mountain in Alaska, a state in the U.S.. It stands about 4,396 feet (1,340 meters) high. You can find it on the west side of the lower Susitna River. It is about 33 miles (53 kilometers) northwest of the city of Anchorage, Alaska. This mountain is a very famous sight in the Anchorage area. People can see it clearly from many parts of the city, especially from higher places. It looks out over the Knik Arm of the Cook Inlet.
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What is the Story Behind Mount Susitna's Name?
Mount Susitna is often called The Sleeping Lady. This is because it looks like a woman lying down. Many people believe this name came from a short story. Nancy Lesh wrote this story, and it was in the Alaska Northern Lights magazine in the early 1960s.
The Legend of The Sleeping Lady
In Nancy Lesh's story, a giant woman named Susitna promised to sleep. She said she would not wake up until her true love came back from battle. Another children's book, "The Sleeping Lady," was written by Ann Dixon in 1964. In her version, the giant woman fell asleep waiting for her love. She did not know he had been killed in battle.
There was a legal case about this story. But a judge decided that the story had become a legend. This meant it was a traditional tale shared by many. So, it could not be protected by copyright laws.
What Does "Susitna" Mean?
The mountain's name in the Dena'ina language is Dghelishla. This means "Little Mountain." In English, it was simply named after the nearby Susitna River. The name "Susitna" itself means "Sandy River."
Another similar word, "Dinglishna," is used in Alaska. It means "Little Ridge that Extends." This is mentioned in a book called "Shem Pete's Alaska 2003."
The Mountain People's Tale
Peter Kalifornsky, an elder from the Dena'ina Athabascan people, shared another story. He wrote about the Mountain People who gathered at Susitna. In his tale, a giant lady said she would lie down by the river she loved. She then became Susitna Mountain. Her family members followed her. They became other famous mountains like Mount Redoubt, Mount Iliamna, and the Chigmit Mountain Range. Another one traveled inland and became Denali, North America's highest peak.
How Was Mount Susitna Formed?
Mount Susitna is a special type of landform called a roche moutonnée. Imagine a huge ice river, called a glacier, flowing over a strong rock. The glacier smooths and shapes the rock, making it look like a teardrop. This shape shows the direction the ice moved.
The Ice Ages of Alaska
The area around Anchorage has been shaped by many ice ages. Over thousands of years, very thick sheets of ice flowed down the Cook Inlet. These ice sheets came from the Talkeetna, Chugach, and Alaska mountain ranges.
Scientists have found evidence of five main ice ages in this area. The oldest one is called the Mount Susitna glaciation. This is because scientists found rocks and other signs of glaciers on top of Mount Susitna. It was during this time that the mountain got its smooth, streamlined shape. This happened a very long time ago, between 2 and 6 million years ago.
What is Mount Susitna Made Of?
Mount Susitna is made of a type of rock called quartz monzonite and granodiorite. These rocks formed deep inside the Earth during the Mesozoic Era. This era was a long time ago, when dinosaurs lived!
