Mount Thor (12,251 ft) is the second-highest peak of the Chugach Mountains in Alaska. It is named after Thor, Norse God of Thunder, because of the noise of avalanches on this mountain.[4] The mountain's toponym was officially adopted in 1969 by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[5]

Mount Thor
North aspect of Thor to right
(Mt. Valhalla to left)
Highest point
Elevation12,521 ft (3,816 m)[1]
Prominence3,250 ft (991 m)[2]
Isolation19.69 mi (31.69 km)[2]
Coordinates61°29′07″N 147°08′46″W / 61.48528°N 147.14611°W / 61.48528; -147.14611[3]
Geography
Mount Thor is located in Alaska
Mount Thor
Mount Thor
Location in Alaska
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughMatanuska-Susitna
Protected areaChugach National Forest[3]
Parent rangeChugach Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Anchorage B-1 Quadrangle
Climbing
First ascent1968 by Vin Hoeman, Winford Bludworth and Harry Bludworth[1]

Climate

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Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Thor is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and cool summers.[6] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below −10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F.

Further reading

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References

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  1. ^ a b Michael Wood; Colby Coombs (1 May 2002). Alaska: A Climbing Guide. The Mountaineers Books. p. 140. ISBN 978-0-89886-724-4. Retrieved 31 December 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Thor, Mount - 12,500' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  3. ^ a b "Mount Thor, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  4. ^ Entry on USGS
  5. ^ "Mount Thor". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-01-10.
  6. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
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