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.
[edit] History
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 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.
[edit] Sub-ranges
- Asulkan Range
- Battle Range
- Big Bend Ranges
- Adamant Range
- Sir Sandford Range
- Windy Range
- Bishops Range
- Bonnington Range
- Clachnacudainn Range
- Dawson Range
- Duncan Ranges
- Badshot Range
- Goat Range
- Hermit Range
- Kokanee Range
- Lardeau Range
- Nelson Range
- Purity Range
- Sir Donald Range
- Valhalla Ranges
- Ruby Range
- Valkyr Range
- Norns Range
[edit] Fauna
The southern end of these mountains are home to the only extant woodland caribou population in the United States. [1]
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