Mont Albert (English: Mount Albert) is a mountain in the Chic-Choc range in the Gaspésie National Park in the Gaspé Peninsula of eastern Quebec, Canada. At 1,151 m (3,776 ft),[1] it is one of the highest mountains in southern Quebec, and is popular for hiking.

Mont Albert
Highest point
Elevation1,151 m (3,776 ft)[1]
Prominence740m[2]
ListingQuebec 1000 meter peaks
List of mountains in Canada
Coordinates48°55′17″N 66°11′42″W / 48.9214°N 66.19495°W / 48.9214; -66.19495
Geography
Mont Albert is located in Quebec
Mont Albert
Mont Albert
Location in Quebec
LocationMont-Albert, Quebec, Canada
Parent rangeChic-Choc Mountains
Topo mapNTS 22B16 Mont Albert
Climbing
First ascentAugust 26, 1845 by Alexander Murray

Mount Albert was named in honour of Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, husband of Queen Victoria, because geologist Alexander Murray made the first recorded ascent of the mountain on the Prince's birthday, 26 Aug. 1845.[1]

Geography

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Southern summit of Mount Albert and Moses's table.

The summit of Mount Albert is a plateau 13 km (8.08 mi) across called La Table à Moïse, or Moses's Table.[3] It includes two summits, Albert North (1,070 m (3,510 ft))[4] and Albert South (1,151–1,154 m (3,776–3,786 ft)).[1][5] Each of the summits is situated at either side of the plateau.

The principal component of Mont Albert is an unusual kind of bedrock called serpentine; this originated as oceanic crust and was then uplifted during the formation of the Appalachian Mountains about 480 million years ago.[3] The nearly flat serpentine tableland on the mountain's summit is an alpine tundra area above the tree line, and supports a quite distinctive flora with many kinds of endemic and highly disjunct plants.[6]

The ascent of Mount Albert from near sea level is challenging, but popular with hikers, offering a view of the St. Lawrence and the Côte-Nord, the river's north shore, part of the ancient bedrock of the Canadian Shield.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Gouvernement du Québec (2011). "Mont Albert" (in French). Commission de toponymie. Retrieved 4 Jan 2011.
  2. ^ "Mont Albert, Québec". Peakbagger.com. 1 Nov 2004. Retrieved 2 Sep 2011.
  3. ^ a b Marie-José Auclair. "Un vaste plateau orangé: le mont Albert" (in French). Géoplein Air. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 15 Aug 2011.
  4. ^ "Sommet Albert Nord". Banque de noms de lieux du Québec (in French). Commission de toponymie. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Sommet Albert Sud". Banque de noms de lieux du Québec (in French). Commission de toponymie. Retrieved 15 August 2011.
  6. ^ Scoggan, H.J. (1950). The Flora of Bic and the Gaspé Peninsula, Quebec. Ottawa, Canada: National Museum of Canada. p. 399.