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Selkirk Mountains
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Selkirk Mountains | |
| Range | |
 At the Rogers Pass by John A. Fraser, 1886
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| Countries | Canada, United States |
|---|---|
| Provinces/States | British Columbia, Idaho, Washington |
| Part of | Columbia Mountains |
| Borders on | Monashee Mountains, Purcell Mountains, Cariboo Mountains |
| Highest point | Mount Sir Sandford |
| - elevation | 3,519 m (11,545 ft) |
| - coordinates | |
| Length | 525 km (326 mi), NS |
| Width | 175 km (109 mi), EW |
| Geology | Metamorphic rock |
| Period | Mesozoic |
 Location map of the Selkirk Mountains
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The Selkirk Mountains are a mountain range originating in Idaho and Washington, and extending into southeastern British Columbia. They begin at Mica Peak near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and extend approximately 320 km north from the border. The range is roughly bounded by the Columbia River. The Selkirks are distinct from, and geologically older than, the Rocky Mountains. Together with the neighbouring Monashee and Purcell Mountains, and sometimes including the Cariboo Mountains to the northwest, the Selkirks are part of a larger grouping known as the Columbia Mountains.
The Selkirks were named after Thomas Douglas, 5th Earl of Selkirk.
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During the development of Western Canada, the Selkirks presented a formidable barrier to the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway, until A.B. Rogers discovered the mountain pass that bears his name in 1881–1882. As a result of the railway's construction via that route, Mount Revelstoke and Glacier National Parks in the heart of the Selkirks were among the first national parks created in Canada, along with Yoho, and Banff National Parks. Until the completion of the Trans-Canada Highway via the Rogers Pass, automotive traffic between most of British Columbia and the rest of Canada necessarily was forced to follow the path of the Columbia River via its Big Bend, around the north end of the Selkirks.
- Asulkan Range
- Battle Range
- Big Bend Ranges
- Bishops Range
- Bonnington Range
- Clachnacudainn Range
- Dawson Range
- Duncan Ranges
- Goat Range
- Hermit Range
- Kokanee Range
- Lardeau Range
- Nelson Range
- Purity Range
- Sir Donald Range
- Valhalla Ranges
- Valkyr Range
The southern end of these mountains are home to the only extant woodland caribou population in the contiguous United States.[1] This area, some of it protected in Washington's Salmo-Priest Wilderness, is also home to mule deer and white-tailed deer, elk, black bears, cougars, bobcats, badgers, pine martens, bighorn sheep, and moose. Although rarely seen, grizzly bears and gray wolves are also known to roam through this region.[2]
- ^ Mammals of Eastern Washington Mammals of Eastern Washington. Retrieved on 2007-12-23.
- ^ Wilderness.net: Salmo-Priest Wilderness. Retrieved on 2007-12-28.
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