Columbia Icefield

The Columbia Icefield is a large icefield located in the Canadian Rockies, astride the Continental Divide of North America. The icefield lies partly in the northwestern tip of Banff and the southern end of Jasper National Park. It is about 325 km² in area, 100 to 365 metres (328' to 1,197') in depth and receives up to seven metres (23 feet) of snowfall per year. The icefield feeds eight major glaciers, including:

Related Topics:
Icefield - Canadian Rockies - Continental Divide - North America - Banff - Jasper National Park - 325 km² - 100 to 365 metres - Glacier

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• Athabasca Glacier
• Castleguard Glacier
• Columbia Glacier
• Dome Glacier
• Stutfield Glacier
• Saskatchewan Glacier

Some of the highest mountains in the Canada Rockies are located around the edges:

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:Mount Andromeda (3450m), Mount Athabasca (3491m), Mount Bryce (3507m), Castleguard Mountain (3090m), Mount Columbia (3747m), Mount King Edward (3490m), Mount Kitchener (3505m), North Twin Peak (3684m), South Twin Peak (3566m), Snow Dome (3456m) and Stutfield Peak (3450m)

Related Topics:
Mount Andromeda - Mount Athabasca - Mount Bryce - Castleguard Mountain - Mount Columbia - Mount King Edward - Mount Kitchener - North Twin Peak - South Twin Peak - Snow Dome - Stutfield Peak

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Part of the icefield, the Athabasca Glacier, is visible from the Icefields Parkway. The Athabasca Glacier has receeded significantly since its greatest modern-era extent in 1844. During the summer months visitors to the area can travel onto the glacier in the comfort of large "snowcoaches".

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The icefield was discovered in 1898 by J. Norman Collie and Hermann Woolley after they had completed the first ascent of Mount Athabasca.

Related Topics:
1898 - J. Norman Collie - Hermann Woolley - First ascent

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The Columbia River, the North Saskatchewan River, and the Athabasca River originate in the Columbia Icefield. As the icefield is atop a triple continental divide these waters flow ultimately to the Pacific Ocean, Hudson's Bay, and the Arctic Ocean, respectively.

Related Topics:
Columbia River - Saskatchewan River - Athabasca River - Continental divide - Pacific Ocean - Hudson's Bay - Arctic Ocean

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