The Chugach Mountains of southern Alaska are the northernmost of the several mountain ranges that make up the Pacific Coast Ranges of the western edge of North America. The range is about long and wide, and extends from the Knik and Turnagain Arms of the Cook Inlet on the west to Bering Glacier, Tana Glacier, and the Tana River on the east. It is bounded on the north by the Matanuska, Copper, and Chitina rivers. The highest point of the Chugach Mountains is Mount Marcus Baker, at , but with an average elevation of , most of its summits are not especially high. Even so, its position along the Gulf of Alaska ensures more snowfall in the Chugach than anywhere else in the world, an annual average of over 1500 cm (800 in).Steep, Freeskiing Documentary, 2007
The mountains are protected in the Chugach State Park and the Chugach National Forest. Near to Anchorage, they are a popular destination for outdoor activities.
The Richardson Highway, Seward Highway, Portage Glacier Highway, and the Glenn Highway run through the Chugach Mountains. The Anton Anderson Memorial Tunnel of the Portage Glacier Highway provides railroad and automobile access underneath Maynard Mountain between Portage Lake and the city of Whittier on Prince William Sound.
On Mount Gordon Lyon, at about the level, is a five-pointed star using around 350 light globes. This faces Anchorage to be visible from the city at night. It is illuminated to commemorate Christmas, being lit from Thanksgiving until Christmas Day; and, on 9/11. Maintenance is undertaken by the US Air Force’s Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, although it was established in around 1960 and formerly maintained by the US Army having been near the former Army (Nike missile Site Summit) in the mountains.Airmen help save holiday tradition in Alaska’s largest city, The Associated Press/militarytimes.com, December 3, 2021
History The name "Chugach" comes from Chugach Sugpiaq , Alaska Natives inhabiting the Kenai Peninsula and Prince William Sound on the south coast of Alaska. The Chugach people are an Alutiiq (Pacific Eskimo) people who speak the Chugach dialect of the Alutiiq language. In 1898 United States Army captain William R. Abercrombie spelled the name "Chugatch" and applied it to the mountains. It is possible that the Koniagmiut (Sugpiat or Alutiit of the Kodiak Archipelago and the Alaska Peninsula) may also have called these northern Sugpiat "Cuungaaciirmiut" in ancient times but it is also possible that this was a neologism during Russian times.
Mountains The twelve highest peaks in the Chugach Mountains are listed below: Rank Name Elevation Prominence Coordinates 1 Mount Marcus Baker 2 Mount Thor 3 Mount Valhalla 4 Mount Witherspoon 5 Mount Einstein 6 Mount Tom White 7 Icing Peak 8 Mount Grace 9 Mount Goode 10 Mount Steller 11 Mount Gannett 12 Mount Gilbert
Other important peaks in the Chugach Mountains include: Mount Michelson Bashful Peak Mount Billy Mitchell Mount Palmer Eagle Peak Polar Bear Peak Mount Williwaw The Ramp North Yuyanq’ Ch’ex Ptarmigan Peak Byron Peak Flattop Mountain Bold Peak
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See also Matanuska Formation
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