Saint Nicholas Peak (Canada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Nicholas Peak |
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Mount Olive (left) with Saint Nicholas Peak (right) seen from Bow Lake
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,938 m (9,639 ft) |
| Prominence | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Parent peak | Mount Olive (3,126 m) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta Mountains of British Columbia |
| Geography | |
 Saint Nicholas Peak
Location in Alberta
Saint Nicholas Peak
Location in British Columbia
Saint Nicholas Peak
Location in Canada
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| Country | Canada |
| Parent range | Waputik Mountains Canadian Rockies |
| Topo map | NTS 82N/10 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1930 by J. Monroe Thorington, Peter Kaufmann |
Saint Nicholas Peak is a tall mountain in the Rocky Mountains of Canada. It stands 2,938 meters (about 9,640 feet) high! This peak is special because it sits right on the Continental Divide. This means it's on the border between two Canadian provinces, Alberta and British Columbia. It's also part of two amazing places: Banff National Park and Yoho National Park. Saint Nicholas Peak is found at the edge of the huge Wapta Icefield and belongs to the Waputik Mountains, which are a smaller part of the larger Canadian Rockies.
How Mountains Are Formed
Have you ever wondered how giant mountains like Saint Nicholas Peak are made? This peak is mostly made of sedimentary rock. This type of rock forms when tiny bits of sand, mud, and shells settle at the bottom of ancient seas over millions of years. These layers get pressed together and turn into solid rock.
Later, during a time called the Laramide orogeny, huge forces deep inside the Earth pushed these rock layers. Imagine pushing a rug from both ends – it wrinkles up! That's kind of what happened to the Earth's crust. The older sedimentary rocks were pushed up and over younger rocks, forming the tall peaks we see today.
Weather at the Peak
The weather at Saint Nicholas Peak is part of a subarctic climate zone. This means it has very cold winters with lots of snow. Summers are usually mild, but even then, it can get chilly.
Temperatures can drop really low, sometimes below -20 degrees Celsius (which is -4 degrees Fahrenheit). When the wind blows, it can feel even colder, making it feel like -30 degrees Celsius (-22 degrees Fahrenheit) or less! So, if you ever visit, make sure to bundle up!
Gallery
- Views of Saint Nicholas Peak
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Saint Nicholas Peak
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Saint Nicholas Peak and Bow Hut
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Approaching summit of Saint Nicholas Peak
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Saint Nicholas Peak summit
