Tonsa, or Tonsa Peak, is a 3,053-metre (10,016 ft) mountain summit located on the border of Alberta and British Columbia on the Continental Divide in the Canadian Rockies. The mountain forms part of the backdrop to Moraine Lake in the Valley of the Ten Peaks of Banff National Park. It was named in 1894 by Samuel E.S. Allen for the Stoney Indian word for the number four. [2]

Tonsa
Tonsa (center) seen from Larch Valley flanked by Mount Bowlen on left and Mount Perren on right
Highest point
Elevation	3,053 m (10,016 ft)[1]
Prominence	173 m (568 ft)[1]
Parent peak	Mount Bowlen (3072 m)[1]
Listing	Mountains of Alberta Mountains of British Columbia
Coordinates	51°17′51″N 116°12′00″W[1]
Geography
Tonsa Location on Alberta and British Columbia border Show map of Alberta Tonsa Tonsa (British Columbia) Show map of British Columbia
Country	Canada
Provinces	Alberta and British Columbia
Protected area	Banff National Park
Parent range	Bow Range Canadian Rockies[1]
Topo map	NTS 82N8 Lake Louise

Geology

Like other mountains in Banff Park, Tonsa is composed of sedimentary rock laid down during the Precambrian to Jurassic periods.[3] Formed in shallow seas, this sedimentary rock was pushed east and over the top of younger rock during the Laramide orogeny.[4]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Tonsa is located in a subarctic climate zone with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[5] Temperatures can drop below −20 °C with wind chill factors below −30 °C. Precipitation runoff from Tonsa drains east into tributaries of the Bow River, or west into tributaries of the Vermilion River.

See also

• List of peaks on the British Columbia–Alberta border
• Geography of Alberta
• Geography of British Columbia

References

External links

• Parks Canada web site: Banff National Park
• Parks Canada web site: Kootenay National Park
• Tonsa weather: Mountain Forecast