What is the highest point in Canada?
The highest point in Canada is Mount Logan in the Yukon Territory. A laser altimeter aerial survey described the official height to be 5959 meters above sea level. Recent American researchers of the University of Alaska claimed that Canada’s ice – covered summit has undergone a “growth spurt”. It now stands at 5966 meters which is seven meters at a higher level compared to the official height of 5,959 meters. In 1992, Mike Schmidt of the Geological Survey of Canada led a group of Canadian researchers to climb the summit of Mount Logan. They were the ones to announce the height of Mount Logan to be 5959 meters.
Mount Logan is not only the tallest peak of Canada, but is also the world’s “largest” mountain. Within its periphery, Mount Logan contains a 20 kilometers long plateau as well as immense footprint inside the St. Elias – Wrangell range that touches the Yukon – Alaska boundary.
Mount Logan has been named honoring William Logan who was a renowned 19th century scientist credited to have founded the Geological Survey of Canada. The mountain also forms the centerpiece of Kluane National Park. The Kluane National Park is the Canadian part of the “bi national UNESCO World Heritage Site” that encompasses pristine glaciers, huge ice fields, and sky – touching summits.
Scientists have debated over the actual height of Mount Logan. A combined Canadian – American group of climbers were the first one to ascend Mount Logan in 1925. At that time they erroneously marked the height of Mount Logan to be 6,050 meters. Lots of speculations ultimately led to another expedition in 1992 by Schmidt to its summit, thereafter recording the height as 5959 meters. The recent increase of Mount Logan’s height to 5966 meters has been probably due to accumulation of snow and ice.
