Atna Peaks
Encyclopedia
Atna Peaks is an eroded stratovolcano
or shield volcano
in the Wrangell Mountains
of eastern Alaska
. It is located in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park about 6 mi (10 km) east of Mount Blackburn
, the second highest volcano in the United States, and just south of the massive Nabesna Glacier
. Because the mountain is almost entirely covered in glaciers, no geological studies have been done, but published references state and the geological map shows that the mountain is an old eroded volcanic edifice.
The mountain's main summit is 13860 feet (4,225 m), making it the second highest thirteener
(a peak between 13,000 and 13,999 feet in elevation) in Alaska. The second summit is located about 0.6 mi (1 km) to the east, reaching over 13,600 ft (4,150 m), and another named summit, 13280 ft (4,048 m) Parka Peak, is about 1.6 mi (3 km) further east across a glacier-covered saddle. The steep rocky south faces of these three peaks form part of the cirque
of the Kennicott Glacier
, which flows southeast over 20 mi (32 km) to just above the town of McCarthy
.
Atna Peaks was named in 1965 by the first ascent party from the Mountaineering Club of Alaska, because the "peaks are at the edge of the Copper River
drainage and the old Indian name for that river was Atna."
Stratovolcano
A stratovolcano, also known as a composite volcano, is a tall, conical volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, pumice, and volcanic ash. Unlike shield volcanoes, stratovolcanoes are characterized by a steep profile and periodic, explosive eruptions...
or shield volcano
Shield volcano
A shield volcano is a type of volcano usually built almost entirely of fluid lava flows. They are named for their large size and low profile, resembling a warrior's shield. This is caused by the highly fluid lava they erupt, which travels farther than lava erupted from more explosive volcanoes...
in the Wrangell Mountains
Wrangell Mountains
The Wrangell Mountains are a high mountain range of eastern Alaska in the United States. Much of the range is included in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve. The Wrangell Mountains are almost entirely volcanic in origin, and they include the second and third highest volcanoes in the...
of eastern Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is located in Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park about 6 mi (10 km) east of Mount Blackburn
Mount Blackburn
Mount Blackburn is the highest peak in the Wrangell Mountains of Alaska in the United States. It is the fifth highest peak in the United States and the twelfth highest peak in North America. The mountain is an old, eroded shield volcano, the second highest volcano in the United States behind Mount...
, the second highest volcano in the United States, and just south of the massive Nabesna Glacier
Nabesna Glacier
Nabesna Glacier is a glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. Fed by deep snowfall in the Wrangell Mountains, the 75 mile long Nabesna is the longest valley glacier in North America and the world's longest interior valley glacier....
. Because the mountain is almost entirely covered in glaciers, no geological studies have been done, but published references state and the geological map shows that the mountain is an old eroded volcanic edifice.
The mountain's main summit is 13860 feet (4,225 m), making it the second highest thirteener
Thirteener
In mountaineering in the United States, a thirteener is a mountain that exceeds above mean sea level, similar to the more familiar "fourteeners," which exceed...
(a peak between 13,000 and 13,999 feet in elevation) in Alaska. The second summit is located about 0.6 mi (1 km) to the east, reaching over 13,600 ft (4,150 m), and another named summit, 13280 ft (4,048 m) Parka Peak, is about 1.6 mi (3 km) further east across a glacier-covered saddle. The steep rocky south faces of these three peaks form part of the cirque
Cirque (landform)
thumb|250 px|Two cirques with semi-permanent snowpatches in [[Abisko National Park]], [[Sweden]].A cirque or corrie is an amphitheatre-like valley head, formed at the head of a valley glacier by erosion...
of the Kennicott Glacier
Kennicott Glacier
Kennicott Glacier is a glacier in the U.S. state of Alaska. It trends southeast 43 km from Mount Blackburn to its terminus at the head of the Kennicott River in the Wrangell Mountains. It is located in the middle of Wrangell-St...
, which flows southeast over 20 mi (32 km) to just above the town of McCarthy
McCarthy, Alaska
McCarthy is a census-designated place in Valdez-Cordova Census Area, Alaska, United States. The population was 42 at the 2000 census.- Geography and location:...
.
Atna Peaks was named in 1965 by the first ascent party from the Mountaineering Club of Alaska, because the "peaks are at the edge of the Copper River
Copper River (Alaska)
The Copper River or Ahtna River is a 300-mile river in south-central Alaska in the United States. It drains a large region of the Wrangell Mountains and Chugach Mountains into the Gulf of Alaska...
drainage and the old Indian name for that river was Atna."
See also
- 4000 meter peaks of Alaska
- 4000 metre peaks of Canada
- 4000 meter peaks of North America
- 4000 meter peaks of the United States
- Mountain peaks of AlaskaMountain peaks of AlaskaThis article comprises three sortable tables of mountain peaks of the U.S. State of Alaska.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface. Topographic prominence is the...
- Mountain peaks of CanadaMountain peaks of CanadaThis article comprises three sortable tables of major mountain peaks of Canada.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface. Topographic prominence is the elevation...
- Mountain peaks of North AmericaMountain peaks of North AmericaThis article comprises three sortable tables of major mountain peaks of greater North America.This article defines greater North America as the portion of the continental landmass of the Americas extending northward from Panama plus the islands surrounding that landmass...
- Mountain peaks of the United StatesMountain peaks of the United StatesThis article comprises three sortable tables of the major mountain peaks of the United States of America.Topographic elevation is the vertical distance above the reference geoid, a precise mathematical model of the Earth's sea level as an equipotential gravitational surface...