Presidential Range | |
---|---|
Highest point | |
Peak | Mount Washington |
Elevation | 6,288 ft (1,917 m) |
Coordinates | 44°16′14.98″N 71°18′12.54″W / 44.2708278°N 71.3034833°W |
Naming | |
Etymology | U.S. presidents |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | New Hampshire |
Region | New England |
Parent range | White Mountains |
The Presidential Range is a mountain range located in the White Mountains of the U.S. state of New Hampshire. Containing the highest peaks of the Whites, its most notable summits are named for American presidents, followed by prominent public figures of the 18th and 19th centuries. The Presidential Range is notorious for having some of the worst weather on Earth, mainly because of the unpredictability of high wind speeds and whiteout conditions on the higher summits. Because of the poor weather conditions, the Presidential Range is often used for mountaineering training for those who go on to climb some of the world's highest mountains, including K2 and Everest.[1][2]
Mount Washington, long home of the highest winds recorded on the surface of the Earth at 231 mph (372 km/h), is the tallest at 6,288 ft (1,917 m), followed by neighboring peaks Mount Adams at 5,793 ft (1,766 m) and Mount Jefferson at 5,712 ft (1,741 m). The range is almost entirely in Coos County.