Mount McKinley

About Mount McKinley:

• It is the highest peak in North America.
• Location: It is located near the centre of the Alaska Range, with two summits rising above the Denali Fault, in south-central Alaska, U.S.
• The mountain is essentially a giant block of granite that was lifted above Earth’s crust during a period of tectonic activity that began about 60 million years ago.
• It rises abruptly some 18,000 feet (5,500 metres) from Denali Fault at its base to the higher, more southerly of its two summits.
• The upper half of the mountain is covered with permanent snowfields that feed many glaciers like Kahiltna Glacier, the Muldrow Glacier, the Peters Glacier, the Ruth Glacier, and the Traleika Glacier.
• It forms the central feature of the Denali National Park and Preserve.

Key facts about the Denali Fault

• It is located in southern Alaska, has played a crucial role in shaping Earth’s geological history.
• A study reveals that three sites along the Denali Fault were once part of a single geologic feature, symbolizing the final joining of two landmasses millions of years ago.
• Over 483 km of horizontal movement along the fault tore apart this united feature due to millions of years of tectonic activity.
• These three locations once formed a terminal suture zone, indicating the last phase of tectonic plate integration into a larger mass.

Q1: Why is Denali or Mount McKinley so important?

Denali is one of the most striking features on the entire planet. At 20,310 feet, it is the crowning peak of the Alaska Range and the highest mountain on the continent. It towers three and one-half vertical miles above its base, making it a mile taller from base to summit than Mt. Everest.

Source: IE