Jade Mountains
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The Jade Mountains are a small offshoot range of the larger Baird Mountain Range within the greater
Brooks Range The Brooks Range (Gwich’in language, Gwich'in: ''Gwazhał'') is a mountain range in far northern North America stretching some from west to east across northern Alaska into Canada's Yukon Territory. Reaching a peak elevation of on Mount Isto, ...
in Alaska. They extend 11 miles northwest to southeast, and are 4 miles wide. They run along the eastern border of
Kobuk Valley National Park Kobuk Valley National Park is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in the Arctic region of northwestern Alaska, located about north of the Arctic Circle. The park was designated in 1980 by the Alaska ...
, half inside and half out. They stand between Onion Portage within the park and the village of Ambler. The range is surrounded by forests of coniferous trees and tundra plants. Rivers and creeks flow through its valleys, supplying the surrounding ecosystem with fresh water. The mountains have historically been an important source of minerals to the Iñupiaq people. Pre-contact,
jade Jade is an umbrella term for two different types of decorative rocks used for jewelry or Ornament (art), ornaments. Jade is often referred to by either of two different silicate mineral names: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in t ...
was one of the strongest materials available and was used in the making of a number of necessary items, including tools, weaponry, knives, and beads. The mountains were first named by George Morse Stoney after his visit there in 1884. He likely named the mountains after the samples of jade he obtained for the
Smithsonian Institution The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...
during his visit.


References

{{authority control Mountain ranges of Alaska