Obsidian Ridge facts for kids

Obsidian Ridge is a special kind of mountain ridge in British Columbia, Canada. It's a volcanic ridge, meaning it was formed by volcanoes long ago. You can find it in the beautiful Mount Edziza Provincial Park, near a place called Artifact Creek.

What is Obsidian Ridge?

Obsidian Ridge is a unique mountain because it has a lot of a natural glass called obsidian. This obsidian is very high quality. Because of this, the ridge was named "Obsidian Ridge" on January 2, 1980. The Geological Survey of Canada gave it this name.

Where is Obsidian Ridge Located?

This interesting ridge is part of the Spectrum Range mountains. It sits in the northwestern part of British Columbia, which is a province in Canada. Specifically, it's on the south side of Artifact Creek. It's also at the southeast end of a large protected area called Mount Edziza Provincial Park. This park is known for its amazing volcanic landscapes.

The Story of Obsidian and Its Uses

Obsidian is a type of natural glass that forms when lava from a volcano cools down very quickly. It's usually black and very smooth. The obsidian found at Obsidian Ridge is especially good.

For many, many years, the local Tahltan people used the obsidian from this ridge. They were very skilled at making tools from it. Because obsidian can be shaped to have extremely sharp edges, it was perfect for making things like knives, arrowheads, and other cutting tools. It was a very important resource for their daily lives and survival.