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Porphyry Mountain facts for kids

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Porphyry Mountain
Porphyry Mountain and National Creek Rock Glacier.jpg
Northwest aspect of Porphyry Mountain featuring the National Creek Rock Glacier
Highest point
Elevation 6,375 ft (1,943 m)
Prominence 1,675 ft (511 m)
Isolation 3.42 mi (5.50 km)
Parent peak Bonanza Peak
Geography
Porphyry Mountain is located in Alaska
Porphyry Mountain
Porphyry Mountain
Location in Alaska
Location Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Valdez-Cordova Borough
Alaska, United States
Parent range Wrangell Mountains
Topo map USGS McCarthy B-5

Porphyry Mountain is a prominent 6,375-foot (1,943 meter) mountain summit located in the Wrangell Mountains, in the U.S. state of Alaska. The peak is situated in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, immediately southeast of Kennecott, 4 mi (6 km) northeast of McCarthy, and, 5 mi (8 km) northwest of Sourdough Peak. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains into tributaries of the Nizina River, which in turn is part of the Copper River drainage basin. The peak is notable for a rock glacier on its north slope. The mountain was so named because it is largely composed of porphyry, which is a very hard igneous rock. The mountain's local name was reported in 1908 by the U.S. Geological Survey. On a clear day the summit of Porphyry Mountain offers views of Donoho Peak, Kennicott Glacier, and Mount Blackburn to the northwest, and Fireweed Mountain to the west.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Porphyry Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers. Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Wrangell Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for viewing and climbing.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Montaña del Pórfido para niños

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