Hart Ranges
Encyclopedia
The Hart Ranges are one of the main geographic subdivisions of the Canadian Rockies
and are the main part of the area that is meant by the Northern Rockies, although the much larger Muskwa Ranges
to the north are more deserving of that term — but also much more inaccessible and much less visited — and the Northern Rockies are generally also considered to extend at least as far south as Mount Robson, which is in the Continental Ranges
. The Hart Ranges were named in honour of British Columbia Premier
John Hart
, as is the highway which traverses the Pine Pass
in the northern part of the range, connecting the north-central Interior of the province to its Peace River District to the northeast.
The boundaries of the Hart Ranges are the Rocky Mountain Trench
and the McGregor Plateau
on the west/southwest, the Peace Reach of Williston Lake
on the north, and a certain line of demarcation with the Rocky Mountain Foothills
to the east/northeast. The southern boundary is at Jarvis Creek. Mount Ida and Mount Sir Alexander are South of Jarvis Creek and are in the Continental Ranges
, which comprise the main and best-known part of the Rocky Mountains and run all the way south to Marias Pass
in Montana
.
Other areas of the Hart Ranges have no subdesignations though the area around Mount Sir Alexander has been dubbed the Mount Sir Alexander Group by The Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia; however, this is not an official designation.
, which is the only town in the range.
Canadian Rockies
The Canadian Rockies comprise the Canadian segment of the North American Rocky Mountains range. They are the eastern part of the Canadian Cordillera, extending from the Interior Plains of Alberta to the Rocky Mountain Trench of British Columbia. The southern end borders Idaho and Montana of the USA...
and are the main part of the area that is meant by the Northern Rockies, although the much larger Muskwa Ranges
Muskwa Ranges
The Muskwa Ranges are a group of mountain ranges in northern British Columbia, Canada. They are part of the Northern Rockies section of the Rocky Mountains and are bounded on their west by the Rocky Mountain Trench and on their east by the Rocky Mountain Foothills...
to the north are more deserving of that term — but also much more inaccessible and much less visited — and the Northern Rockies are generally also considered to extend at least as far south as Mount Robson, which is in the Continental Ranges
Continental Ranges
The Continental Ranges is a name for a major grouping of mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountains located in eastern British Columbia and western Alberta...
. The Hart Ranges were named in honour of British Columbia Premier
Premier of British Columbia
The Premier of British Columbia is the first minister, head of government, and de facto chief executive for the Canadian province of British Columbia. Until the early 1970s the title Prime Minister of British Columbia was often used...
John Hart
John Hart (Canadian politician)
John Hart was the 23rd Premier of British Columbia, Canada, from December 9, 1941 to December 29, 1947....
, as is the highway which traverses the Pine Pass
Pine Pass
The Pine Pass, 875 m , is a mountain pass in the Hart Ranges of the Northern Rockies of British Columbia, Canada. It is used by BC Highway 97 and the Canadian National Railway formly BC Rail to connect the Peace Country of the province's Northeastern Interior, and is the location of the...
in the northern part of the range, connecting the north-central Interior of the province to its Peace River District to the northeast.
The boundaries of the Hart Ranges are the Rocky Mountain Trench
Rocky Mountain Trench
The Rocky Mountain Trench, or the Trench or The Valley of a Thousand Peaks, is a large valley in the northern part of the Rocky Mountains. It is both visually and cartographically a striking physiographic feature extending approximately from Flathead Lake, Montana, to the Liard River, just south...
and the McGregor Plateau
McGregor Plateau
The McGregor Plateau is a sub-plateau of the Fraser Plateau, the northernmost major subdivision of the Interior Plateau spanning the inland regions of the Pacific Northwest...
on the west/southwest, the Peace Reach of Williston Lake
Williston Lake
Williston Lake is a reservoir created by the W. A. C. Bennett Dam and is located in the Northern Interior of British Columbia, Canada.-Geography:...
on the north, and a certain line of demarcation with the Rocky Mountain Foothills
Rocky Mountain Foothills
The Rocky Mountain Foothills are an upland area flanking the eastern side of the Rocky Mountains, extending south from the Liard River into Alberta. Bordering the Interior Plains system, they are part of the Rocky Mountain System or Eastern System of the Western Cordillera of North America....
to the east/northeast. The southern boundary is at Jarvis Creek. Mount Ida and Mount Sir Alexander are South of Jarvis Creek and are in the Continental Ranges
Continental Ranges
The Continental Ranges is a name for a major grouping of mountain ranges in the Rocky Mountains located in eastern British Columbia and western Alberta...
, which comprise the main and best-known part of the Rocky Mountains and run all the way south to Marias Pass
Marias Pass
Marias Pass is a high mountain pass near Glacier National Park in northwestern Montana in the United States.The pass traverses the continental divide in the Lewis Range, along the boundary between the Lewis and Clark National Forest and the Flathead National Forest...
in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
.
Sub-ranges
Official subdivisions of the Hart Ranges include the:- Misinchinka Ranges (from the Pine PassPine PassThe Pine Pass, 875 m , is a mountain pass in the Hart Ranges of the Northern Rockies of British Columbia, Canada. It is used by BC Highway 97 and the Canadian National Railway formly BC Rail to connect the Peace Country of the province's Northeastern Interior, and is the location of the...
south to Monkman PassMonkman PassMonkman Pass, 1061 m , is a mountain pass in the Canadian Rockies, located southwest of the coal-mining town of Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia...
)- Murray Range
- Pioneer Range
- Solitude Range
Other areas of the Hart Ranges have no subdesignations though the area around Mount Sir Alexander has been dubbed the Mount Sir Alexander Group by The Canadian Mountain Encyclopedia; however, this is not an official designation.
Industry
The Hart Ranges are the location of a number of large coal mines focussed on the remote community of Tumbler Ridge, British ColumbiaTumbler Ridge, British Columbia
The District Municipality of Tumbler Ridge is a small town in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies in northeastern British Columbia, Canada, and a member municipality of the Peace River Regional District. The municipality of , with its population of 2,454 people, incorporates a townsite and a...
, which is the only town in the range.