Mount Babel (Quebec)
Encyclopedia
Mount Babel is the highest peak of the René-Levasseur Island
, at 952 m (3,123 ft) above sea-level, which is 590 m (1,936 ft) above the Manicouagan Reservoir
level. It lies within the Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve
in Quebec
, Canada
.
(1829-1912), who is said to have converted Montagnais and Naskapis.
Mount Babel is the central peak of the Manicouagan crater and was formed by the rebound of the crust after the impact of a crater 210 million years ago. The mountain and reservoir are of particular interest to geologists due to the shock metamorphosis
it endured.
and alpine climate
zones there, since meteorological conditions become increasingly extreme towards the summit. These conditions create a quick transition from boreal forest
to tundra
, where there can be found lichen
and other arctic life forms that would normally be observed hundreds of kilometers further north.
René-Levasseur Island
René-Levasseur Island is a large island in the center of Lake Manicouagan in Quebec, Canada. Its highest peak is Mount Babel, at 952 m . With a total area of 2,020 km² , the island is larger in terms of area than the lake in which it is situated...
, at 952 m (3,123 ft) above sea-level, which is 590 m (1,936 ft) above the Manicouagan Reservoir
Manicouagan Reservoir
Manicouagan Reservoir is an annular lake in central Quebec, Canada. The lake covers an area of 1,942 km², and its eastern shore is accessible via Route 389. The island in the centre of the lake is known as René-Levasseur Island, and its highest point is Mount Babel...
level. It lies within the Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve
Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve
Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve is an ecological reserve in Quebec, Canada. It was established on January 30, 1991. It is named after Canadian priest Louis Babel.-External links:* -References:...
in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, 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...
.
History
The mount is named after Catholic missionary Louis BabelLouis Babel
Louis Babel was an Oblate priest who might be considered multi-faceted in his career. He was born in Veyrier, Switzerland and received his formal training in Europe before coming to Canada in 1851...
(1829-1912), who is said to have converted Montagnais and Naskapis.
Mount Babel is the central peak of the Manicouagan crater and was formed by the rebound of the crust after the impact of a crater 210 million years ago. The mountain and reservoir are of particular interest to geologists due to the shock metamorphosis
Shock metamorphism
Shock metamorphism or impact metamorphism describes the effects of shock-wave related deformation and heating during impact events. The formation of similar features during explosive volcanism is generally discounted due to the lack of metamorphic effects unequivocally associated with explosions...
it endured.
Biodiversity
Mount Babel is also a valuable research ground for biologists. One can find montaneMontane
In biogeography, montane is the highland area located below the subalpine zone. Montane regions generally have cooler temperatures and often have higher rainfall than the adjacent lowland regions, and are frequently home to distinct communities of plants and animals.The term "montane" means "of the...
and alpine climate
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
zones there, since meteorological conditions become increasingly extreme towards the summit. These conditions create a quick transition from boreal forest
Taiga
Taiga , also known as the boreal forest, is a biome characterized by coniferous forests.Taiga is the world's largest terrestrial biome. In North America it covers most of inland Canada and Alaska as well as parts of the extreme northern continental United States and is known as the Northwoods...
to tundra
Tundra
In physical geography, tundra is a biome where the tree growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term tundra comes through Russian тундра from the Kildin Sami word tūndâr "uplands," "treeless mountain tract." There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra, alpine...
, where there can be found lichen
Lichen
Lichens are composite organisms consisting of a symbiotic organism composed of a fungus with a photosynthetic partner , usually either a green alga or cyanobacterium...
and other arctic life forms that would normally be observed hundreds of kilometers further north.