Olson Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Olson Mountain |
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Olson Mountain reflected in Waterton Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,913 ft (2,412 m) |
| Prominence | 793 ft (242 m) |
| Geography | |
 Olson Mountain
Location in Montana
Olson Mountain
Location in the United States
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| Location | Glacier County, Montana, U.S. |
| Parent range | Livingston Range |
| Topo map | USGS Porcupine Ridge, MT |
Olson Mountain, also known as Mount Olson, is a tall mountain in Montana, U.S.. It stands about 7,913 feet (2,412 meters) high. This mountain is part of the Livingston Range and is located inside Glacier National Park.
Olson Mountain rises more than 3,700 feet (1,128 meters) above the western shore of Waterton Lake. The mountain was named after a surveyor who worked on mapping the international border. Its name became official in 1929. The even taller Campbell Mountain is just a short distance, about 1.13 miles (1.82 km), to the north. Rain and melted snow from Olson Mountain flow into Olson Creek, which then empties into Waterton Lake.
Mountain Weather
Olson Mountain is in a subarctic climate zone. This means it has long, very cold winters. Summers are short and can be cool or mild. Temperatures can drop below −10° F (−23° C). With the wind chill, it can feel colder than −30° F (−34° C).
How Olson Mountain Formed
Like other mountains in Glacier National Park, Olson Mountain is made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms from layers of sand, mud, and tiny bits of plants and animals that settle at the bottom of ancient seas. These layers were laid down a very long time ago, during the Precambrian and Jurassic periods.
About 170 million years ago, a huge geological event happened. A massive slab of these old rocks, about 3 miles (5 km) thick, 50 miles (80 km) wide, and 160 miles (257 km) long, was pushed up and over younger rocks. This event is called the Lewis Overthrust. It helped create the impressive mountains we see in Glacier National Park today, including Olson Mountain.
Images for kids
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Left to right: Kootenai Peak, Citadel Peaks, Porcupine Ridge, Olson Mountain, Campbell Mountain.
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