Copper Mountain (Alberta)

Copper Mountain is a mountain in Banff National Park, 20 km (12 mi) north of the town of Banff. The mountain was named in 1884 by George M. Dawson after he had climbed to a mining site set up by Joe Healy and J.S. Dennis in 1881. Healy and Dennis claimed they had found a copper deposit at the site. It was also at this point that Dawson spotted and named Mount Assiniboine.^[1]

Copper Mountain
North aspect of Copper Mountain from Bow Valley Parkway
Highest point
Elevation	2,795 m (9,170 ft)[1]
Prominence	479 m (1,572 ft)[2]
Coordinates	51°12′30″N 115°53′00″W[1]
Geography
Copper Mountain Location in Alberta Show map of Alberta Copper Mountain Location in Canada Show map of Canada
Interactive map of Copper Mountain
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Protected area	Banff National Park
Parent range	Ball Range
Topo map	NTS 82O4 Banff
Climbing
First ascent	1885 by J. and W.T. Macoun[1]
Easiest route	Scramble

The mountain is located on the western side of the Trans-Canada Highway, just northeast of Redearth Creek. It is named "Copper" Mountain because it is theorized to house a nearly infinite supply of copper.^[1]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Copper Mountain is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.^[3] Winter temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C.

Geology

Like other mountains in Banff Park, Copper Mountain is composed of sedimentary rock laid down from the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.^[4] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.^[5]

Gallery

• 
  Copper Mountain and Bow River
• 
  Copper Mountain (right) from the Trans Canada Highway

See also

• Mountains portal
• Geography of Alberta