Finland Peak is a 9,405-foot (2,867 m) elevation mountain summit in the U.S. state of Alaska.

Finland Peak
Finland Peak centered, west aspect
(Sweden Peak right, Denmark Peak lower right)
Highest point
Elevation9,405 ft (2,867 m)[1][2][3]
Prominence1,755 ft (535 m)[4]
Parent peakPeak 9595[4]
Isolation2.80 mi (4.51 km)[4]
Coordinates61°34′54″N 147°23′04″W / 61.5816769°N 147.3844258°W / 61.5816769; -147.3844258[5]
Geography
Finland Peak is located in Alaska
Finland Peak
Finland Peak
Location of Finland Peak in Alaska
CountryUnited States
StateAlaska
BoroughMatanuska-Susitna
Protected areaChugach National Forest
Parent rangeChugach Mountains[2]
Topo mapUSGS Anchorage C-2
Climbing
First ascent1990
Easiest routeNorth Ridge[3]

Description

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Finland Peak is located in the Chugach Mountains approximately midway between Anchorage and Glennallen. It is situated 14 miles (23 km) southeast of Mount Wickersham near the head of Matanuska Glacier. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains north to the Matanuska River. Finland Peak's toponym was officially adopted in 1977 by the United States Board on Geographic Names, along with Sweden Peak, Norway Peak, and Denmark Peak to honor Alaskan settlers from Scandinavia.[1] Finland Peak is the highest of this cluster of peaks that surround the unofficially named Scandinavia Glacier, which is a tributary of the Matanuska Glacier. The first ascent of Finland Peak was made on July 6, 1990, by Willy Hersman, Neil O'Donnell, and Tom Choate, who were members of the Mountaineering Club of Alaska.[6][7][8] Another report claims that USGS employees were on the peak in 1960 assisted by a helicopter.[3]

Climate

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Based on the Köppen climate classification, Finland Peak is located in a tundra climate zone with long, cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[9] Weather systems coming off the Gulf of Alaska are forced upwards by the Chugach Mountains (orographic lift), causing heavy precipitation in the form of rainfall and snowfall. Winter temperatures can drop below -10 °F with wind chill factors below −20 °F. The months May through June offer the most favorable weather for climbing or viewing.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List No. 7701, (1977), page 1.
  2. ^ a b "Finland Peak, Alaska". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  3. ^ a b c Michael Wood and Colby Holmes, Alaska: A Climbing Guide, The Mountaineers Books, 2001, page 139.
  4. ^ a b c "Finland Peak - 9,405' AK". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  5. ^ "Finland Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-01-26.
  6. ^ Willy Hersman, Scree, August 1990, p. 4.
  7. ^ Willy Hersman, American Alpine Journal, 1991, p. 361.
  8. ^ Steve Howe, Backpacker, May 2003, p. 37.
  9. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. ISSN 1027-5606.
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