Mount Albert (Quebec)

Mont Albert
Highest point
Elevation 1,151 m (3,776 ft)[1]
Prominence 740m[2]
Listing Quebec 1000 meter peaks
List of mountains in Canada
Coordinates 48°55′17″N 66°11′42″W / 48.9214°N 66.19495°W / 48.9214; -66.19495Coordinates: 48°55′17″N 66°11′42″W / 48.9214°N 66.19495°W / 48.9214; -66.19495
Geography
Mont Albert
Location in Quebec
Location Mont-Albert, Quebec, Canada
Parent range Chic-Choc Mountains
Climbing
First ascent August 26, 1845 by Alexander Murray

Mont Albert is a mountain in the Chic-Choc range in the Gaspésie National Park in the Gaspé Peninsula of eastern Quebec, Canada. At 1,151 m (3,776 ft),[1] it is one of the highest mountains in southern Quebec, and is popular for hiking.

Mount Albert was named in honour of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, husband of Queen Victoria, because geologist Alexander Murray made the first recorded ascent of the mountain on the Prince's birthday, 26 Aug. 1845.[1]

Geography

Southern summit of Mount Albert and Moses's table.

The summit of Mount Albert is a plateau 13 km (8.08 mi) across called La Table à Moïse, or Moses's Table.[3] It includes two summits, Albert North (1,070 m (3,510 ft))[4] and Albert South (1,151–1,154 m (3,776–3,786 ft)).[1][5] Each of the summits is situated at either side of the plateau.

The principal component of Mont Albert is an unusual kind of bedrock called serpentine; this originated as oceanic crust and was then uplifted during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains about 480 million years ago.[3] The nearly flat serpentine tableland on the mountain's summit is an alpine tundra area above the tree line, and supports a quite distinctive flora with many kinds of endemic and highly disjunct plants.[6]

The ascent of Mount Albert from near sea level is challenging, but popular with hikers, offering a view of the St. Lawrence and the Côte-Nord, the river's north shore, part of the ancient bedrock of the Canadian Shield.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Gouvernement du Québec (2011). "Mont Albert" (in French). Commission de toponymie. Retrieved 4 Jan 2011.
  2. "Mont Albert, Québec". Peakbagger.com. 1 Nov 2004. Retrieved 2 Sep 2011.
  3. 1 2 Marie-José Auclair. "Un vaste plateau orangé: le mont Albert" (in French). Géoplein Air. Retrieved 15 Aug 2011.
  4. "Sommet Albert Nord". Banque de noms de lieux du Québec (in French). Commission de toponymie. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  5. "Sommet Albert Sud". Banque de noms de lieux du Québec (in French). Commission de toponymie. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  6. Scoggan, H.J. (1950). The Flora of Bic and the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec. Ottawa, Canada: National Museum of Canada. p. 399.
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