Snow Dome (Canada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Snow Dome |
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Snow Dome and Dome Glacier seen from the Icefields Parkway
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,456 m (11,339 ft) |
| Prominence | 171 m (561 ft) |
| Listing | Mountains of Alberta Mountains of British Columbia |
| Geography | |
 Snow Dome
Location in Alberta
Snow Dome
Location in British Columbia
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| Parent range | Winston Churchill Range |
| Topo map | NTS 83C/03 |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1898 by J. Norman Collie, Hugh Stutfield, Herman Woolley |
| Easiest route | snow/glacier climb |
Snow Dome is a tall mountain in Canada. It is located on the Continental Divide. This imaginary line separates which ocean water flows to. Snow Dome is part of the huge Columbia Icefield. It sits where the borders of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park meet. The mountain also marks the border between Alberta and British Columbia. Its highest point is about 3,456 meters (11,339 feet) high.
Contents
Snow Dome: A Special Mountain
Why is it Called Snow Dome?
The mountain was named in 1898 by a person named J. Norman Collie. He chose the name "Snow Dome" because the mountain is always covered in snow and ice. Its top looks like a giant dome.
The Water Divide: A Triple Point
Snow Dome is one of only two places in North America that are "hydrological apexes." This means it's a major triple divide. Water falling on Snow Dome's summit can flow into three different large drainage basins. A drainage basin is an area of land where all water drains to a single river or ocean.
How Water Flows from Snow Dome
From Snow Dome, water can flow in three main directions:
- It can go to the Pacific Ocean. This water travels through the Bush River and the Columbia River.
- It can go to the Arctic Ocean. This water flows through the Athabasca River.
- It can go to Hudson Bay. This water travels through the North Saskatchewan River.
The other "triple divide" in North America is Triple Divide Peak. It is located in Glacier National Park in Montana, United States.
Other Glaciers Around Snow Dome
Several large glaciers flow from Snow Dome. The Dome Glacier flows to the northeast. The Stutfield Glacier flows to the northwest. The Columbia Glacier flows to the west. The famous Athabasca Glacier flows to the east of the mountain.
