Hazelton Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Hazelton Mountains are a grouping of mountain range
s on the inland lee of the Kitimat Ranges
of the Coast Mountains
in northwestern British Columbia
, Canada
, spanning the area of Hazelton, British Columbia
south to the Nechako Reservoir
. They are considered by geographers to be part of the Interior Mountains
complex, though in local perspective they are considered to be part of the Coast Mountains. They are neighboured on the west by the Kitimat Ranges
and on the east by the southermost section of the Skeena Mountains
; beyond the Nass River
, which is their northern boundary, are the Boundary Ranges
of the Coast Mountains
. To their southeast is the Nechako Plateau
, including the Quanchus Range
on the near-island between Ootsa and Eutsuk Lakes of the Nechako Reservoir
(the Quanchus may be considered to be part of the Hazelton Mountains in some classification systems).
The Hazelton Mountains consist of several subranges:
North of the Skeena River
:
South of the Skeena River and west of the Bulkley River:
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
s on the inland lee of the Kitimat Ranges
Kitimat Ranges
The Kitimat Ranges are one of the three main subdivisions of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, the other being the Pacific Ranges to the south and the Boundary Ranges to the north...
of the Coast Mountains
Coast Mountains
The Coast Mountains are a major mountain range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, of western North America, extending from southwestern Yukon through the Alaska Panhandle and virtually all of the Coast of British Columbia. They are so-named because of their proximity to the sea coast, and are often...
in northwestern British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, spanning the area of Hazelton, British Columbia
Hazelton, British Columbia
Hazelton is a small town located at the junction of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers in northern British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1866 and has a population of 293...
south to the Nechako Reservoir
Nechako Reservoir
The Nechako Reservoir, sometimes called the Ootsa Lake Reservoir, is a hydroelectric reservoir in British Columbia, Canada that was formed by a diversion of the Nechako River through the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains to sea level at Kemano to provide power for the aluminum smelter at Kitimat...
. They are considered by geographers to be part of the Interior Mountains
Interior Mountains
The Interior Mountains, also called the Northern Interior Mountains and Interior Ranges, are the semi-official names for a huge area that comprises much of the northern two thirds of the Canadian province of British Columbia and a large area of southern Yukon...
complex, though in local perspective they are considered to be part of the Coast Mountains. They are neighboured on the west by the Kitimat Ranges
Kitimat Ranges
The Kitimat Ranges are one of the three main subdivisions of the Coast Mountains in British Columbia, Canada, the other being the Pacific Ranges to the south and the Boundary Ranges to the north...
and on the east by the southermost section of the Skeena Mountains
Skeena Mountains
The Skeena Mountains, also known as the Skeenas, are a subrange of the Interior Mountains of northern British Columbia, Canada, essentially flanking the upper basin of the Skeena River. They lie just inland from the southern end of the Boundary Ranges of the Coast Mountains, and also of the...
; beyond the Nass River
Nass River
The Nass River is a river in northern British Columbia, Canada. It flows from the Coast Mountains southwest to Nass Bay, a sidewater of Portland Inlet, which connects to the North Pacific Ocean via the Dixon Entrance...
, which is their northern boundary, are the Boundary Ranges
Boundary Ranges
The Boundary Ranges, also known in the singular and as the Alaska Boundary Range, are the largest and most northerly subrange of the Coast Mountains...
of the Coast Mountains
Coast Mountains
The Coast Mountains are a major mountain range, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, of western North America, extending from southwestern Yukon through the Alaska Panhandle and virtually all of the Coast of British Columbia. They are so-named because of their proximity to the sea coast, and are often...
. To their southeast is the Nechako Plateau
Nechako Plateau
The Nechako Plateau is the northernmost subdivision of the Interior Plateau, one of the main geographic regions of the Canadian province of British Columbia...
, including the Quanchus Range
Quanchus Range
The Quanchus Range is a subrange of the Nechako Plateau in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada, located on the north end of Tweedsmuir North Provincial Park and Protected Area. It is almost completely an island after the creation of the Nechako Reservoir. Its two main summits are Michel Peak ...
on the near-island between Ootsa and Eutsuk Lakes of the Nechako Reservoir
Nechako Reservoir
The Nechako Reservoir, sometimes called the Ootsa Lake Reservoir, is a hydroelectric reservoir in British Columbia, Canada that was formed by a diversion of the Nechako River through the Kitimat Ranges of the Coast Mountains to sea level at Kemano to provide power for the aluminum smelter at Kitimat...
(the Quanchus may be considered to be part of the Hazelton Mountains in some classification systems).
The Hazelton Mountains consist of several subranges:
North of the Skeena River
Skeena River
The Skeena River is the second longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada . The Skeena is an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan - whose names mean "inside the Skeena River" and "people of the Skeena River" respectively, and also during the...
:
- Nass RangesNass RangesThe Nass Ranges are a mountain range north of the Skeena River, west of Hazelton, and northeast of Terrace, British Columbia, Canada. It is associated with the Hazelton Mountains, which in turn form part of the Interior Mountains.-Volcanic eruption:...
, between the Kitsumkalum (W) and Kitwanga RiverKitwanga RiverThe Kitwanga River is a tributary of the Skeena River near Hazelton in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, joining that stream at the community of Kitwanga , which means "people of the place of rabbits"....
s (E).- The Nass Ranges include the Tseax ConeTseax ConeThe Tseax Cone , also called the Tseax River Cone or alternately the Aiyansh Volcano, is a young cinder cone and adjacent lava flows associated with the Nass Ranges and the Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province...
, an active volcano which killed 2,000 Nisga'a people.
- The Nass Ranges include the Tseax Cone
- Kispiox RangeKispiox RangeThe Kispiox Range is a subrange of the Hazelton Mountains, located east of Kitwanga Lake and Kitwanga River in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
, east of the Kitwanga RiverKitwanga RiverThe Kitwanga River is a tributary of the Skeena River near Hazelton in northwestern British Columbia, Canada, joining that stream at the community of Kitwanga , which means "people of the place of rabbits"....
to the Skeena RiverSkeena RiverThe Skeena River is the second longest river entirely within British Columbia, Canada . The Skeena is an important transportation artery, particularly for the Tsimshian and the Gitxsan - whose names mean "inside the Skeena River" and "people of the Skeena River" respectively, and also during the...
.- The town of Hazelton, British ColumbiaHazelton, British ColumbiaHazelton is a small town located at the junction of the Bulkley and Skeena Rivers in northern British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1866 and has a population of 293...
is at the range's southeast corner.
- The town of Hazelton, British Columbia
South of the Skeena River and west of the Bulkley River:
- Bulkley RangesBulkley RangesThe Bulkley Ranges is mountain range in northern British Columbia, Canada, located between the Skeena and Bulkley Rivers south of Hazelton, north of the Morice River and Zymoetz River. It has an area of 7851 km2 and is a subrange of the Hazelton Mountains which in turn form part of the...
, the highest summit is Seven Sisters Peaks, 2786 m (9,140 ft), southwest of Kitwanga., and which is also the highest summit of the Hazelton Mountains. They include the:- Bornite RangeBornite RangeThe Bornite Range is a subrange of the Bulkley Ranges, located just northeast of Terrace on the north side of Kleanza Creek in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Howson RangeHowson RangeThe Howson Range is a north-south trending subrange of the Bulkley Ranges of the Hazelton Mountains in northern British Columbia, Canada. It is located southwest of Telkwa Pass and southwest of Smithers...
, the highest summit of which is Howson PeakHowson PeakHowson Peak is a mountain in west central British Columbia, Canada, located southwest of Telkwa and southwest of the head of Telkwa River. This prominent mountain is the highest of the Howson Range. Howson Peak was first climbed in 1958 after an accident during a 1957 attempt in which Rex Gibson,...
, 2759 m (9,052 ft) - O.K. Range
- Rocher Déboulé RangeRocher Déboulé RangeThe Rocher Déboulé Range, formerly known as the Roche Déboulé Mountains, is a subrange of the Bulkley Ranges, located south of Hazelton in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Telkwa RangeTelkwa RangeThe Telkwa Range is a subrange of the Bulkley Ranges, located south of the junction of the Telkwa River and Bulkley River in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Bornite Range
- Tahtsa RangesTahtsa RangesThe Tahtsa Ranges are a mountain range in northern British Columbia, Canada. It has an area of 7526 km2 and is a subrange of the Hazelton Mountains which in turn form part of the Interior Mountains...
, including the:- Chikamin RangeChikamin RangeThe Chikamin Range is a subrange of the Tahtsa Ranges, located between the west end of Eutsuk Lake and Whitesail Lake in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Kasalka RangeKasalka RangeThe Kasalka Range is a subrange of the Tahtsa Ranges, located between Tahtsa Lake and Troitsa Lake in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Morice RangeMorice RangeThe Morice Range is a subrange of the Tahtsa Ranges, located on the west side of Morice Lake in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Sibola RangeSibola RangeThe Sibola Range is a subrange of the Tahtsa Ranges, located north of Tahtsa Lake in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Tochquonyalla RangeTochquonyalla RangeThe Tochquonyalla Range is a subrange of the Tahtsa Ranges, located east of the Gamby River and west of Lindquist Lake in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Whitesail RangeWhitesail RangeThe Whitesail Range is a subrange of the Tahtsa Ranges, located north of Whitesail River in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...
- Chikamin Range
- Pattullo RangePattullo RangeThe Pattullo Range is a subrange of the Hazelton Mountains, located south of Tesla Lake and northeast of Bella Coola in northern British Columbia, Canada.-References:* in the Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia...