Mount Babel (Quebec)
Mountain in Quebec, Canada
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mount Babel is the highest peak of the René-Levasseur Island, at 952 m (3,123 ft) above sea-level, which is 590 m (1,936 ft) above the Manicouagan Reservoir level. It lies within the Louis-Babel Ecological Reserve in Quebec, Canada.
| Mount Babel | |
|---|---|
| Mont Babel | |
View from the east of Mount Babel (right of centre), René-Levasseur Island, and the Manicouagan Reservoir. | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 952 m (3,123 ft)[1] |
| Prominence | 590 m (1,940 ft)[1] |
| Listing | List of mountains of Canada |
| Coordinates | 51°26′28″N 68°41′31″W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Mount Babel | |
| Topo map | NTS 22N7 Mont de Babel |
History
The mount is named after Catholic missionary Louis Babel (1829–1912), who is said to have converted Montagnais and Naskapis.[2][3]
Mount Babel is the central peak of the Manicouagan impact structure and was formed by the rebound of the crust after the impact of a meteor 210 million years ago. The mountain and reservoir are of particular interest to geologists due to the shock metamorphosis it endured.[4]
Biodiversity
Mount Babel is a valuable research ground for biologists. One can find montane and alpine climate zones there, since meteorological conditions become increasingly extreme towards the summit. These conditions create a quick transition from boreal forest to tundra, where there can be found lichen and other arctic life forms that would normally be observed hundreds of kilometres farther north.[5]
