Denali, The Tallest — And Coldest — Mountain Peak In North America
Public DomainDenali, the highest mountain peak in North America.
Denali, the Alaskan mountain federally designated as Mount McKinley, is North America’s tallest peak at 20,310 feet. At the summit, temperatures can plummet below negative 75 degrees Fahrenheit, with wind chills making it feel even colder. In the surrounding Denali National Park and Preserve, particularly at lower elevations, temperatures can also become frigid. For instance, on Feb. 5, 1999, a record low of minus 54 degrees Fahrenheit was reported at the park headquarters.
According to Anchorage Daily News, the name “Denali” originates from a Koyukon word meaning “the high one.” Long before it was known as Mount McKinley, it was a place of great importance to Indigenous groups in the region.
Then, in 1896, a gold prospector named William Dickey gave Denali a new name, Mount McKinley, in support of then-presidential candidate William McKinley for his strong commitment to the gold standard. The U.S. government officially adopted this name in 1917.
However, in 2015, the Obama administration restored the original name, Denali, honoring its Indigenous heritage. Recently, though, President Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring that Denali should again be recognized as Mount McKinley.
