Regal Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Regal Mountain |
|
|---|---|
Regal Mountain rises above the Regal Glacier
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 13,845 ft (4,220 m) |
| Prominence | 4,345 ft (1,324 m) |
| Isolation | 12 mi (19 km) |
| Listing |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, Alaska, U.S. |
| Parent range | Wrangell Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS McCarthy C-5 |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Eroded stratovolcano or shield volcano |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | August 3, 1964 by Yasuichi Kitamura, Ryoichi Hasegawa, Masao Tanaka, and Shinichi Naito |
| Easiest route | Glacier climb |
Contents
Regal Mountain is a giant mountain in eastern Alaska. It is part of the Wrangell Mountains and sits inside the amazing Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. This mountain is special because it's an old, worn-down volcano. Scientists think it might be either a stratovolcano or a shield volcano.
Regal Mountain stands about 19 miles (31 km) east of Mount Blackburn. Mount Blackburn is the second-tallest volcano in the United States! Regal Mountain is also southeast of the huge Nabesna Glacier. Most of Regal Mountain is covered in thick glaciers, which are like slow-moving rivers of ice. Because of all this ice, it's hard for scientists to study the rocks underneath. But maps and other information show it's definitely an ancient volcano.
What Kind of Mountain Is It?
Regal Mountain is an "eroded volcanic edifice." This means it was once an active volcano, but over a very long time, wind, water, and ice have worn it down.
Stratovolcano or Shield Volcano?
- A stratovolcano is usually cone-shaped. It's built up from many layers of hardened lava, ash, and rocks. These volcanoes often have explosive eruptions.
- A shield volcano looks more like a warrior's shield lying on the ground. It has gentle slopes because it's made from very runny lava that flows far and wide. These eruptions are usually less explosive.
Scientists are still figuring out exactly which type Regal Mountain was. Both types are formed when hot melted rock, called magma, rises from deep inside the Earth.
Rivers of Ice: The Glaciers
Many large glaciers flow from the steep sides of Regal Mountain. These icy rivers carve out the mountain's shape over thousands of years.
- The Rohn Glacier and Regal Glacier flow east and southeast. They eventually join up with the Nizina Glacier.
- The Root Glacier flows south for about 15 miles (24 km). It meets the Kennicott Glacier near the town of McCarthy.
- Some of these glaciers are more than 1 mile (1.6 km) wide!
- The biggest glacier on Regal Mountain doesn't even have a name. It's over 3 miles (4.8 km) wide and flows northwest for more than 10 miles (16 km) to join the mighty Nabesna Glacier.
Climbing Regal Mountain
Regal Mountain is very tall, reaching 13,845 feet (4,220 meters) high. It's one of the highest peaks in Alaska.
- The first people to successfully climb Regal Mountain were a team of four Japanese climbers.
- They reached the top on August 3, 1964. Their names were Yasuichi Kitamura, Ryoichi Hasegawa, Masao Tanaka, and Shinichi Naito.
- The easiest way to climb Regal Mountain is by going over its glaciers. This kind of climb requires special skills and equipment to be safe.
Images for kids
-
Regal Mountain rises above the Regal Glacier
