Mount Turner facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Turner |
|
|---|---|
Mount Turner seen from Spray Lakes
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,806 m (9,206 ft) |
| Prominence | 389 m (1,276 ft) |
| Parent peak | Mount Byng (2965 m) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta |
| Geography | |
 Mount Turner
Location in Alberta
Mount Turner
Location in Canada
|
|
| Location | Alberta, Canada |
| Parent range | Blue Range Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82J/14 |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Cambrian |
| Type of rock | Sedimentary rock |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scrambling |
Mount Turner is a tall mountain in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. It stands about 2,806-metre (9,206-foot) high! You can find it in the upper Spray River Valley, which is part of southern Banff National Park.
Even though it's in Banff Park, you can't see Mount Turner from every road. However, you can get a great view from Alberta Highway 742, also known as the Smith-Dorrien/Spray Trail in Kananaskis Country. The closest taller mountain to Mount Turner is Cone Mountain, which is about 2.91 km (1.81 mi) to the north.
The Story Behind the Name
Mount Turner got its name in 1918. It was named after Sir Richard Ernest William Turner (1871–1961). He was a very important general in the Canadian Army. He fought in two big wars: the Second Boer War and the First World War. He even received the Victoria Cross, which is a very brave award!
Earlier in his career, Sir Richard Turner served with another important person, Sir Edward Whipple Bancroft Morrison. They were both in the Royal Canadian Dragoons in 1900. It's not a coincidence that Mount Morrison is located just two kilometers south of Mount Turner.
The name "Mount Turner" was officially accepted in 1924 by the Geographical Names Board of Canada.
How Mount Turner Was Formed
Mount Turner is made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms over millions of years from layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of plants and animals. The rocks that make up Mount Turner were laid down during the Precambrian and Jurassic periods, which are very, very old times in Earth's history.
Later, during an event called the Laramide orogeny, huge forces pushed these rocks eastward. They were even pushed up and over younger rocks, creating the mountain we see today!
Weather on the Mountain
Mount Turner is located in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very cold, snowy winters and mild summers. During winter, temperatures can drop below −20 °C (that's −4 °F!), and with the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 °C (−22 °F).
If you want to visit or climb Mount Turner, the best time is usually from June through September. That's when the weather is most pleasant. The water from the mountain, like melted snow and rain, flows into Owl Creek and Bryant Creek. These creeks then empty into the Spray Lakes Reservoir.
Gallery
-
Mount Turner seen from Watridge Lake
-
Mt. Turner centered, with Mt. Assiniboine to right, and Mt. Morrison left
