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| Belknap Mountain | |
|---|---|
Belknap Mountain (left) as seen from Red Hill |
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| Elevation | 726 m (2,382 ft) |
| Prominence | 565 m (1,854 ft) |
| Listing | |
| Location | |
| Location | Gilford, Belknap County, New Hampshire |
| Range | Belknap Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS West Alton |
Belknap Mountain is a mountain located in Belknap County, New Hampshire, south of Lake Winnipesaukee. Like the county, the mountain and the associated Belknap Mountains are named after Jeremy Belknap (1744–1798), a renowned preacher, historian, and author of The History of New Hampshire.
The peak of Belknap Mtn. is the highest point in the county. Although of only modest elevation, the isolation of the Belknap Mountains gives Belknap Mtn. 1,850 ft (560 m) of relative height above the low ground separating it from the White Mountains, making it one of the fifty most topographically prominent peaks in New England. Belknap Mtn. is flanked to the northwest by Gunstock Mountain, the site of the Gunstock Mountain Resort ski area. The summit of Belknap Mountain features an active fire tower.
Belknap Mountain stands within the watershed of the Merrimack River, which drains into the Gulf of Maine in Massachusetts. The east and northeast sides of Belknap Mtn. drain into Poorfarm Brook, thence into Lake Winnipesaukee, the Winnipesaukee River, and the Merrimack. The west side of Belknap Mtn. drains into Gunstock River, thence into Lake Winnipesaukee. The south side of Belknap Mtn. drains into Manning Lake, thence into Crystal Lake, the source of the Suncook River, and thence into the Merrimack River.