Endicott Mountains

Endicott Mountains

Endicott Mountains looking south, 1901
Highest point
Peak Mount Kiev
Elevation 7,775 ft (2,370 m)
Coordinates 68°19′52″N 149°32′49″W / 68.33111°N 149.54694°W
Dimensions
Length 151 mi (243 km) East-west
Width 70 mi (110 km) North-south
Geography
Location center of range
Country United States
State/Province Alaska
Range coordinates 68°22′N 152°18′W / 68.37°N 152.3°WCoordinates: 68°22′N 152°18′W / 68.37°N 152.3°W

The Endicott Mountains are a range of mountains, part of the Brooks Range in northern Alaska. They are located in the middle of the Brooks range and run some 151 miles (243 km) east–west. To the east are the Philip Smith Mountains and to the west are the Schwatka Mountains. The Endicott Mountains are separated from the Philip Smith Mountains by the Middle Fork of the Koyukuk River, the Dalton Highway, and Atigun Pass. The Enicott Mountains are separated from the Schwatka Mountains by Walker Lake, the upper reaches of the West Fork of the Kobuk River (Kaluluktok Creek), Akabluak Pass, and the Noatak River. The Endicott Mountains are separated from the mountains north of the Schwatka by Lucky Six Creek, Gull Pass, Gull Creek, a portion of the Alatna River and the Killik River.

From south to north the Endicott Mountains present long, broad glaciated valleys with rounded hills between rising in the center of the range to steep tors and aretes. The northern slopes of the Endicotts are steeper and more heavily incised, before they give way to the Arctic Coastal Plain.

Peaks

Peaks in the Endicott Mountains include the Arrigetch Peaks, and highest to lowest:[1]

  • Mount Kiev at 7,775 feet (2,370 m)
  • Thibedeau Mountain at 7,539 feet (2,298 m)
  • Mount Doonerak at 7,457 feet (2,273 m)
  • Cockedhat Mountain at 7,410 feet (2,259 m)
  • Caliban at 7,181 feet (2,189 m)
  • Xanadu at 7,160 feet (2,182 m)
  • Fan Mountain at 7,090 feet (2,161 m)
  • Dan Peak at 7,055 feet (2,150 m)
  • Wichmann Tower at 6,916 feet (2,108 m)
  • Mount MacVicar at 6,693 feet (2,040 m)
  • Ariel Peak at 6,685 feet (2,038 m)
  • Boreal Mountain at 6,654 feet (2,028 m)
  • Mount Arthur Emmons at 6,556 feet (1,998 m)
  • Rumbling Mountain at 6,510 feet (1,984 m)
  • Iniakuk Peak at 6,490 feet (1,978 m)
  • Mount Stuver at 6,286 feet (1,916 m)
  • Mayukuit Mountain at 6,240 feet (1,902 m)
  • Sillyasheen Mountain at 6,188 feet (1,886 m)
  • Bluecloud Mountain at 5,903 feet (1,799 m)
  • Gray Mountain at 5,783 feet (1,763 m)
  • Sirr Mountain at 5,712 feet (1,741 m)
  • Frigid Crags at 5,501 feet (1,677 m)
  • Plateau Mountain at 5,322 feet (1,622 m)
  • Natat Mountain at 5,141 feet (1,567 m)

as well as a number of unnamed peaks over 7000 ft.

Geology

Above the crystalline basement are partial metamorphozed PreCambrian and Paleozoic sediments. Above these are middle Cambrian sediments and the well documented Kanayuk Conglomerate.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The Kanayuk Conglomerate is a fluvial deposit, made by a river in its flood plain, and can be up to 8,000 feet (2,400 m) thick.[7] The Kanayuk Conglomerate began to be deposited in the Devonian and continued through into the Mississippian (early Carboniferous).[7] It is believed to have formed a huge delta almost 500 miles (800 km) long and 30 miles (48 km) wide.[7]

Notes

  1. ↑ These peaks may all be found at Peakbagger.com as well as on the Chandler Lake, Killik River, Survey Pass and Wiseman topographic maps of the United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ Nilsen, T. H. and Moore, T. E. (1982) "Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Kanayuk Conglomerate, Central and Western Brooks Range, Alaska—Report of the 1981 Field Season" United States Geological Survey Open file Report OF 82–674
  3. ↑ Nilsen, T. H. and Moore, T. E. (1984) "Stratigraphic Nomenclature for the Upper Devonian and Lower Mississippian(?) Kanayuk Conglomerate, Brooks Range, Alaska" U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1529-A, pp. Al-A64
  4. ↑ Nilsen, T. H.; Moore, T. E.; Balin, D. F. and Johnson, S. Y. (1982) "Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Kanayut Conglomerate, Central Brooks Range, Alaska—Report of 1980 Field Season" United States Geological Survey Open file Report OF 82–199
  5. ↑ Nilsen, T. H.; Moore, T. E.; Brosgé, W. P. and Dutro, J. T., Jr. (1981) "Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Kanayut Conglomerate and Associated Units, Brooks Range, Alaska: Report of the 1981 Field Season" United States Geological Survey Open file Report OF 81–506
  6. ↑ Nilsen, T. H.; Moore, T. E.; Dutro, J. T., Jr.; Brosgé, W. P. and Orchard, D. M. (1980) "Sedimentology and Stratigraphy of the Kanayuk Conglomerate and Associated Units, Central and Eastern Brooks Range, Alaska: Report of the 1978 Field Season" United States Geological Survey Open file Report OF 80–888
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Harris, Ann G. et al. (2004) Geology of National Parks (6th edition) Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, Dubuque, Iowa, page 380, ISBN 0-7872-9971-5

Further reading

External links

Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve