Montana Earth Science Picture of the Week

Triple Divide Peak in Glacier National Park
Photo by Tom Kotynski, courtesy of the Great Falls Tribune

Like the Matterhorn . . .
The peaks shown in the photo are "glacial horns" located in Glacier National Park. These pyramid-shaped features are formed as three or more glaciers erode the sides of a single mountain. The larger peak in the background is Mt. Stimson and the smaller horn near the middle is called Triple Divide Peak. Triple Divide Peak was given its name because runoff from each of its three sides drains to a different area. (Runoff is melted snow or other forms of precipitation that drain off the land.) Melted snow from the southwest slope flows toward the Pacific, runoff from the east slope flows toward the Gulf of Mexico and the north face drains to Canada's Hudson Bay.

Triple Divide Pass . . .
The hikers are near the ridge that separates the Hudson Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. Such an area is known as a "divide". Divides are higher areas that separate drainage basins. The most famous divide of all, "The Continental Divide" (a.k.a. the Great Divide) is also shown in the photo.

More about Triple Divide Peak . . .
Click on the "Hot Link" below for a better look at Triple Divide Peak. Also, the March/April issue of Montana Magazine has an article about Triple Divide Peak. It includes some great photos.

Terms: erode, drainage basin

HOT LINKS

	*A more detailed look at Triple Divide Peak
	Next picture of the week

By Rod Benson
Earth Science Teacher at Helena high School

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