Selkirk Mountains, a range in southeastern British Columbia, extend north from the United States boundary to the Columbia River. The Columbia River and its tributary, the Kootenay, run almost completely around this range. The largest of the many glaciers in the Selkirk Mountains is the Illecillewaet, near the Glacier House station of the Canadian Pacific Railway line. Mount Sir Sandford (11,590 feet, or 3,533 meters) is the highest peak in the Selkirks.
The range is about 200 miles (320 kilometers) long, and about 80 miles (130 kilometers) wide. Gold was discovered there in 1857, and silver, copper, zinc, mercury, coal, and marble also have been found. The mountains were named for Thomas Douglas, Earl of Selkirk.
