Big Belt Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Big Belt Mountains are a section of the Rocky Mountains
in the U.S.
state of Montana
. Situated mainly in the Helena National Forest
, the mountains are used for logging and recreation for the surrounding residents. Nearby is Helena, Montana
, Canyon Ferry Lake
, the Missouri River
, Townsend, Montana
, and White Sulphur Springs, Montana
. The highest point in the Big Belt Range is Mount Edith at 9504 feet (2,897 m).
The Big Belts lie primarily between the Missouri River
drainage on the west and the Smith River
drainage on the east. Today, they are traversed by U.S. Highway 12 going between Townsend, Montana
in the Missouri drainage, and White Sulphur Springs, Montana
in the upper Smith River drainage.
The gulches on the western slopes of the Big Belts were noted historically for rich gold placer strikes. The richest was the 1864 and 1865 placer gold strikes in Confederate Gulch
, including Montana Bar, which was one of the most concentrated gold placer strikes ever made.
The range takes its name from the fact it is situated in a long belt-like arc. The range stretches 75 miles, making it a mid-length subrange of the Rocky Mountains. To the east are the Little Belts
and to the south, somewhat continuing this arc, are the Bridger Mountains
.
The Belt supergroup
series of rocks, which are primarily pre-Cambrian mudstones, were named after this mountain range and the adjacent Little Belt Mountains.
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
in the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of 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,...
. Situated mainly in the Helena National Forest
Helena National Forest
Helena National Forest is located in west-central Montana, in the United States. Covering 976,000 acres , the forest is broken into several separate sections. The eastern regions are dominated by the Big Belt Mountains, and are the location of the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, which remains...
, the mountains are used for logging and recreation for the surrounding residents. Nearby is Helena, Montana
Helena, Montana
Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...
, Canyon Ferry Lake
Canyon Ferry Lake
thumb|Canyon Ferry LakeCanyon Ferry Lake is a reservoir on the Missouri River near Helena, Montana and Townsend, Montana. It is Montana's third largest body of water, covering 35,181 acres and 76 miles of shore . The dam was completed in 1954 and has been used for...
, the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
, Townsend, Montana
Townsend, Montana
Townsend is a city in and the county seat of Broadwater County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, and White Sulphur Springs, Montana
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
White Sulphur Springs is a city in and the county seat of Meagher County, Montana, United States. The population was 984 at the 2000 census.The center of population of Montana is located in White Sulphur Springs.-Geography:...
. The highest point in the Big Belt Range is Mount Edith at 9504 feet (2,897 m).
The Big Belts lie primarily between the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
drainage on the west and the Smith River
Smith River (Montana)
Smith River is a tributary of the Missouri River, in central Montana, in the United States. It rises in southern Meagher County in the Castle Mountains and flows northwest in the valley between the Big Belt and Little Belt mountains, past White Sulphure Springs and past Smith River State Park...
drainage on the east. Today, they are traversed by U.S. Highway 12 going between Townsend, Montana
Townsend, Montana
Townsend is a city in and the county seat of Broadwater County, Montana, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census.-History:...
in the Missouri drainage, and White Sulphur Springs, Montana
White Sulphur Springs, Montana
White Sulphur Springs is a city in and the county seat of Meagher County, Montana, United States. The population was 984 at the 2000 census.The center of population of Montana is located in White Sulphur Springs.-Geography:...
in the upper Smith River drainage.
The gulches on the western slopes of the Big Belts were noted historically for rich gold placer strikes. The richest was the 1864 and 1865 placer gold strikes in Confederate Gulch
Confederate Gulch and Diamond City
Confederate Gulch is a steeply incised valley on the west facing slopes of the Big Belt Mountains. Its small stream drains westward into Canyon Ferry Lake, on the upper Missouri River Valley near present day Townsend, Montana...
, including Montana Bar, which was one of the most concentrated gold placer strikes ever made.
The range takes its name from the fact it is situated in a long belt-like arc. The range stretches 75 miles, making it a mid-length subrange of the Rocky Mountains. To the east are the Little Belts
Little Belt Mountains
The Little Belt Mountains are a section of the Rocky Mountains in the U.S. state of Montana. Situated mainly in the Lewis and Clark National Forest, the mountains are used for logging and recreation for the residents of Great Falls, Montana...
and to the south, somewhat continuing this arc, are the Bridger Mountains
Bridger Mountains
The Bridger Mountains may refer to either of two mountain ranges in the United States:* Bridger Mountains * Bridger Mountains...
.
The Belt supergroup
Belt Supergroup
The Belt Supergroup, is an assemblage of Mesoproterozoic sedimentary rocks which outcrop chiefly in western Montana, but also exposed in Idaho, Washington, Wyoming, and British Columbia. It is most famous as the formation that makes up Glacier National Park in northwest Montana...
series of rocks, which are primarily pre-Cambrian mudstones, were named after this mountain range and the adjacent Little Belt Mountains.