Twin Peaks (British Columbia) facts for kids

Twin Peaks, sometimes called Twin Peaks Mountain, is a special mountain on northern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It's located about 14 kilometers (9 miles) southwest of a town called Port McNeill. This mountain is actually an extinct volcano, which means it won't erupt again.

What is Twin Peaks?

Twin Peaks gets its name because it has two main tops, or "peaks." It's a type of mountain that was formed by a volcano long, long ago. Instead of a typical cone shape, it looks like two rounded hills close together.

Where is Twin Peaks Located?

Twin Peaks is found on Vancouver Island, which is a large island off the west coast of Canada. This island is part of the province of British Columbia. The mountain is in the northern part of the island, not far from the ocean.

How Was Twin Peaks Formed?

Twin Peaks was created by lava that flowed out of the ground about three million years ago. This lava was a type of rock called andesite. When the lava cooled down, it hardened and built up the mountain we see today.

What is a Volcano?

A volcano is like a vent or opening in the Earth's surface. When a volcano is active, hot melted rock, ash, and gases can escape from inside the Earth. This melted rock is called magma when it's underground and lava when it comes out.

The Alert Bay Volcanic Belt

Twin Peaks is part of something called the Alert Bay Volcanic Belt. Imagine a long line of volcanoes! This "belt" is a chain of volcanoes that were active a very long time ago. They formed when the Earth's plates moved and created cracks in the crust.

The Pliocene Period

When we say Twin Peaks formed three million years ago, we're talking about a time in Earth's history called the Pliocene period. This was a very ancient time, long before humans existed. During the Pliocene, many parts of the world looked quite different from today, and there was a lot of volcanic activity in some areas, like where Twin Peaks is now.