Mount Edziza

Mount Edziza
Elevation	2,787 m (9,144 ft)
Prominence	1,750 m (5,741 ft)
Listing	List of volcanoes in Canada List of Ultras in Canada
Location
Location	British Columbia, Canada
Range	Tahltan Highland
Coordinates	57°42′56.0″N 130°38′04.0″W
Topo map	NTS 104G/10
Geology
Type	Stratovolcano
Age of rock	Pleistocene-to-Holocene
Volcanic arc/belt	Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province
Last eruption	1340 BP

Mount Edziza is a stratovolcano in the Stikine Country of northwestern British Columbia, Canada. The volcano and the surrounding area are protected within Mount Edziza Provincial Park. It consists of a complex of multiple peaks and ridges, with several glaciers flowing in all directions. The summit is topped by an ice-filled caldera, which is almost 2 km (1 mi) wide. The three main peaks around the summit caldera are the southwest summit, the southeast summit and the north summit.

Mount Edziza is Canada's highest volcano at 2,787 m (9,144 ft). However, Mount Silverthrone in southwestern British Columbia, has a height of 2,865 m (9,400 ft) and might be the highest volcano in Canada. But it has never been determined if Silverthrone's 2,865 m (9,400 ft) high point is actually volcanic rock or not (it is covered by snow and ice), making Mount Edziza the highest confirmed volcano in Canada.

History

As early as 10,000 years ago, the Tahltan people, who now live in Dease Lake, Telegraph Creek and the Iskut, used obsidian from Mount Edziza to make tools and weapons for trading material. This is the main source of obsidian found in northwestern British Columbia, which was traded as far away as Alaska and northern Alberta. Obsidian is a type of naturally occurring glass that is highly valued for its cutting qualities. Like all glass and some other types of naturally occurring rocks, obsidian breaks with a characteristic conchoidal fracture, creating razor sharp edges.

More recently, Mount Edziza was made into the Mount Edziza Provincial Park to preserve the volcanic and culture treasures unique to the northern British Columbia area. It encompasses over 230,000 hectares of the Tahltan Highland. There is no vehicle access to the park, and there are only a very few basic facilities.

See also

• List of volcanoes in Canada
• List of Northern Cordilleran volcanoes
• Mount Edziza volcanic complex
• Mount Edziza Provincial Park and Recreation Area
• Mountain peaks of Canada
• Mountain peaks of North America
• Northern Cordilleran Volcanic Province
• Volcanism of Canada
• Volcanism of Western Canada
• Geology of the Pacific Northwest

External links

• "Mount Edziza". BC Geographical Names. http://apps.gov.bc.ca/pub/bcgnws/names/2256.html. 
• ParkWardens
• Skiing the Pacific Ring of Fire and Beyound: Mount Edziza