Black Mountain (Australian Capital Territory)
| Black Mountain | |
|---|---|
 Black Mountain and Black Mountain Tower as seen from across Lake Burley Griffin | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 812 m (2,664 ft) |
| Prominence | 256 m (840 ft)  |
| Geography | |
  Black Mountain Locality of Black Mountain | |
| Location | Canberra, Australia |
| Region | AU |
| Parent range | Brindabella Ranges |
| Climbing | |
| First ascent | 1820[1] |
| Easiest route | Hike or drive |
Black Mountain is situated close to the central business district of Australia's capital city Canberra. Like all major hills in Canberra it is protected from development by the Canberra Nature Park. It is covered in native bushland and is a haven to native wildlife.
With its peak at 811.987m AHD, Black Mountain rises 256m above the water level of Lake Burley Griffin. Situated at close to the highest point is Black Mountain Tower, a broadcasting tower rising a further 195m above the summit.
The Australian National Botanic Gardens and the CSIRO share the eastern base of Black Mountain, next to the Australian National University.
Black Mountain was originally named Black Hill [2] at the same time as the naming of nearby Red Hill. The original name explains why the mountain is not now known as Mount Black like nearby Mount Majura and Mount Ainslie. The early settlers referred to the mountain formation as the Canberry Ranges[3]
Geology
The bulk of Black Mountain consists of the white quartz Black Mountain Sandstone. This was deposited in the late early Silurian Age. On the south east slopes and north west there are exposures of State Circle Shale. The Black Mountain Peninsula contains mudstone in the north and greywacke from the Ordovician age Pittman Formation in the south. Geology of the Australian Capital Territory covers more of the geology of the ACT.
References
- ^ The Story of Canberra - Yesterday's Canberra
- ^ http://www.aila.org.au/lapapers/papers/seddon/loci/default.htm
- ^ Murry of Yarralumla, Gwendoline Wilson, Tabletop press p186
