Cardinal Peak

Last updated
Cardinal Peak
Cardinal Peak Chelan Mountains.jpg
Highest point
Elevation 8,595 ft (2,620 m) [1]  NAVD 88
Prominence 2,070 ft (630 m) [1]
Coordinates 48°6′10″N120°36′45″W / 48.10278°N 120.61250°W / 48.10278; -120.61250 Coordinates: 48°6′10″N120°36′45″W / 48.10278°N 120.61250°W / 48.10278; -120.61250 [2]
Geography
USA Washington relief location map.jpg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Cardinal Peak
Location of Cardinal Peak in Washington
Location Chelan County, Washington, United States

Cardinal Peak is the highest peak of the Chelan Mountains, a subrange of the Cascade Range in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located in Wenatchee National Forest at the head of the Entiat River drainage basin, in Chelan County. To the west and north, streams flow into Lake Chelan. Cardinal Peak is less than 5 miles (8.0 km) from the lake and rises 7,500 feet (2,300 m) above the lakeshore. [3] At 8,595 feet (2,620 m) high, it is the 49th highest peak in Washington. Its 2,070-foot (630 m) prominence ranks 132nd in the state. [1] [4]

Chelan Mountains mountain range in Washington, United States of America

The Chelan Mountains, or Chelan Range is a mountain range in the U.S. state of Washington. Located west of the Columbia River, north of the Entiat River, and south of Lake Chelan, the range is part of the North Cascades section of the Cascade Range. The Chelan Range is about 40 mi (64 km) long northwest to southeast and about 8 mi (13 km) wide, southwest to northeast.

Cascade Range mountain range in western North America

The Cascade Range or Cascades is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades. The small part of the range in British Columbia is referred to as the Canadian Cascades or, locally, as the Cascade Mountains. The latter term is also sometimes used by Washington residents to refer to the Washington section of the Cascades in addition to North Cascades, the more usual U.S. term, as in North Cascades National Park. The highest peak in the range is Mount Rainier in Washington at 14,411 feet (4,392 m).

U.S. state constituent political entity of the United States

In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are currently 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory and shares its sovereignty with the federal government. Due to this shared sovereignty, Americans are citizens both of the federal republic and of the state in which they reside. State citizenship and residency are flexible, and no government approval is required to move between states, except for persons restricted by certain types of court orders.

Contents

The rocks of Cardinal Peak are mainly granodiorite and hornblende quartz diorite, minerals of the Cardinal Peak pluton. [3]

Granodiorite A phaneritic-textured intrusive igneous rock similar to granite

Granodiorite is a phaneritic-textured intrusive igneous rock similar to granite, but containing more plagioclase feldspar than orthoclase feldspar. According to the QAPF diagram, granodiorite has a greater than 20% quartz by volume, and between 65% to 90% of the feldspar is plagioclase. A greater amount of plagioclase would designate the rock as tonalite.

Hornblende A complex inosilicate series of minerals

Hornblende is a complex inosilicate series of minerals. It is not a recognized mineral in its own right, but the name is used as a general or field term, to refer to a dark amphibole.

Quartz mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms in a continuous framework of SiO₄ silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO₂

Quartz is a mineral composed of silicon and oxygen atoms in a continuous framework of SiO4 silicon–oxygen tetrahedra, with each oxygen being shared between two tetrahedra, giving an overall chemical formula of SiO2. Quartz is the second most abundant mineral in Earth's continental crust, behind feldspar.

History

Cardinal Peak was named by Albert H. Sylvester because it is the highest peak in the region. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

Chelan County, Washington U.S. county in Washington

Chelan County is a county in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2010 census, its population was 72,453. The county seat and largest city is Wenatchee. The county was created out of Okanogan and Kittitas Counties on March 13, 1899. It derives its name from a Chelan Indian word meaning "deep water," likely a reference to 55-mile (89 km)-long Lake Chelan, which reaches a maximum depth of 1,486 feet.

Lake Chelan lake in Chelan County, Washington, United States of America

Lake Chelan is a narrow, 50.5-mile (81.3 km) long lake in Chelan County, north-central Washington state, U.S. Before 1927, it was the largest natural lake in the state by any measure. Upon the completion of Lake Chelan Dam in 1927, the elevation of the lake was increased by 21 feet (6.4 m) to its present maximum-capacity elevation of 1,100 feet (340 m). Two communities lie on the southern end of the lake, and a third sits at the far north end, providing a gateway to the North Cascades National Park.

Wenatchee Mountains Mountain in Washington, USA

The Wenatchee Mountains are a range of mountains in central Washington State, United States of America. A major subrange of the Cascade Range, extending east 50 miles (80 km) from the Cascade crest, the Wenatchee Mountains separate the drainage basins of the Yakima River from the Wenatchee River. The crest of the range forms part of the boundary between Chelan and Kittitas Counties.

Eagle Mountain (Minnesota) mountain in the Misquah Hills, Minnesota

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Stehekin River watercourse in the United States of America

The Stehekin River is a river located in Washington state in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. It is the main river flowing into Lake Chelan. Miners arrived in Stehekin River Valley in the late 19th century. They were followed by homesteaders in the early 20th century. Today, the Stehekin River Valley is still a remote area that can only be reached by way of a 55-mile boat ride up Lake Chelan.

Goode Mountain mountain in United States of America

Goode Mountain is one of the major peaks of the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. Named for topographer Richard U. Goode of the USGS, it is the highest peak located in North Cascades National Park, between the Skagit River and Lake Chelan. It is the fourth-highest non-volcanic peak in Washington, and the twelfth-highest summit overall.

Chiwawa River river in the United States of America

The Chiwawa River is a tributary of the Wenatchee River, in the U.S. state of Washington. It is completely contained within Chelan County.

Chelan River river in the United States of America

The Chelan River is a tributary of the Columbia River, in the U.S. state of Washington. Just 4.1 miles (6.6 km) long, it is the shortest river in Washington. Lake Chelan Dam is located at the river's source: the outlet of Lake Chelan. Nearly the entire river's flow is diverted to the Lake Chelan Powerhouse, 3.9 miles (6.3 km) downstream near the river's mouth. Thus the Chelan River is almost always dry. Statistics on the streamflow are taken at the tailrace of the powerhouse, measuring the water that would flow through the river were it not diverted, although not including small tributaries, including Daybreak Canyon, that join the Chelan riverbed from the Lake Chelan Dam to the canal outlet.

Geography of the North Cascades

The geography of the North Cascades describes a range of rugged mountains in British Columbia, Canada and Washington, United States. In Canada, the range is officially named the Cascade Mountains but is commonly referred to as the Canadian Cascades.

Bonanza Peak (Washington) mountain in United States of America

Bonanza Peak is a tall peak in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington and the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the Wenatchee National Forest. At 9,516 feet (2,900 m) in elevation, it is the highest point in Chelan County, and the highest non-volcanic peak in Washington and the Cascade Range as a whole. Bonanza Peak's prominence is 3,711 feet (1,131 m), making it the 26th most prominent peak in Washington. The nearest higher peak is Glacier Peak, 14.4 miles (23.2 km) to the southwest.

Mount Fernow mountain in United States of America

Mount Fernow is a tall peak in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington and within the Glacier Peak Wilderness of the Wenatchee National Forest. At 9,249 feet (2,819 m) in elevation it is the eighth-highest peak in Washington and the state's third-highest non-volcanic peak. It is also the highest peak of the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the Cascades. Mount Fernow's prominence is 2,811 ft (857 m), making it the sixtieth-most-prominent peak in Washington. The nearest higher peak is Bonanza Peak, 5.9 mi (9.5 km) to the north.

Buckner Mountain mountain

Buckner Mountain is a tall peak in the North Cascades of Washington state and in the Stephen Mather Wilderness of North Cascades National Park. At 9,114 feet (2,778 m) in elevation it is the highest in Skagit County and one of about ten of Washington's non-volcanic peaks above 9,000 feet high. It is ranked as the 14th highest peak in the state, and the third highest peak in North Cascades National Park.

Boston Peak mountain in United States of America

Boston Peak is a tall peak in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington and within North Cascades National Park. At 8,894 feet (2,711 m) in elevation it is the 26th highest peak in Washington. Its nearest higher neighbor is Buckner Mountain, 1.66 miles (2.67 km) to the east.

Seven Fingered Jack mountain in United States of America

Seven Fingered Jack is a mountain in the North Cascades in the U.S. state of Washington. It is located at the north end of the Entiat Mountains, a sub-range of the Cascade Range. It is part of a three-peak group called the Entiat Cirque which includes Mount Maude and Mount Fernow. Seven Fingered Jack is about 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Holden. The peak is in the Glacier Peak Wilderness of Wenatchee National Forest.

Mount Spickard mountain in United States of America

Mount Spickard is a 8,980-foot (2,740 m) mountain peak in the North Cascades, a mountain range in the U.S. state of Washington. Located just 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the Canada–US border, it is part of the Chilliwack Group, a subrange of the Skagit Range which is part of the North Cascades. It is composed mainly of gneiss and is part of two major drainage basins: that of the Skagit River and Fraser River.

Sacajawea Peak mountain in United States of America

Sacajawea Peak is a peak in the Wallowa Mountains, in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is in the Eagle Cap Wilderness and the Wallowa–Whitman National Forest.

Lyall Glacier glacier in Washington state, United States

Lyall Glacier is within the Wenatchee National Forest in Chelan County, Washington, United States, and is just southeast of Frisco Mountain. It occupies the north cirque on Rainy Peak. Melt from Lyall Glacier contributes to waterfalls which tumble 1,000 ft (300 m) into Rainy Lake.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cardinal Peak, Washington". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "Cardinal Peak". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey.
  3. 1 2 "Cardinal Peak". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2011-05-07.
  4. USGS topographic maps accessed via the "GNIS in Google Maps" feature of GNIS
  5. Search on "Cardinal Peak" at "Washington Place Names". Tacoma Public Library. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2009.