Neptuak Mountain facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Neptuak Mountain
Highest point
Elevation	3,241 m (10,633 ft)
Prominence	151 m (495 ft)
Parent peak	Deltaform Mountain
Listing	Mountains of Alberta
Geography
Neptuak Mountain Location in Alberta
Country	Canada
Parent range	Bow Range
Topo map	NTS 82N/08
Climbing
First ascent	1902 J. Norman Collie, H.E.M. Stutfield, G.M. Weed, H. Woolley, guided by C. Kaufmann

Neptuak (center) with Deltaform (left)

Neptuak Mountain is a cool peak located in the Canadian Rockies. It was named in 1894 by Samuel E.S. Allen. The name "Neptuak" comes from the Stoney Indian language. It means "nine." This is because Neptuak Mountain is the ninth peak in the famous Valley of the Ten Peaks.

This mountain sits right on the Continental Divide. This is like a giant line across North America. Water on one side flows to the Pacific Ocean. Water on the other side flows to the Atlantic Ocean. This divide also forms the border between British Columbia and Alberta in this area.

Neptuak Mountain is part of the Bow Range. It's also special because its top is a "tripoint." This means it's where the borders of three national parks meet. These parks are Banff National Park, Kootenay National Park, and Yoho National Park.

How Neptuak Mountain Was Formed

Like many mountains in Banff National Park, Neptuak is made of sedimentary rock. Imagine tiny bits of sand, mud, and shells settling at the bottom of ancient seas. Over millions of years, these layers piled up and hardened into rock.

These rocks formed during very old time periods. These include the Precambrian and Jurassic eras. Later, a huge event called the Laramide orogeny happened. This was when massive forces pushed the Earth's crust. It caused these layers of rock to fold and lift up. This is how the tall mountains we see today were created.

What's the Weather Like on Neptuak?

Neptuak Mountain has a subarctic climate. This is a type of weather pattern described by the Köppen climate classification system. It means the mountain experiences very cold and snowy winters. The summers, however, are usually mild.

Winter temperatures can drop below −20 degrees Celsius. With the wind, it can feel even colder, sometimes below −30 degrees Celsius. This is called the wind chill factor. When snow melts or rain falls on Neptuak, the water flows off the mountain. This is called precipitation runoff. The water then drains into smaller streams. These streams are called tributaries. Some flow east into the Bow River. Others flow west into the Vermilion River.