Castor (mountain)

Castor
Italian: Castore

Pollux (left) and Castor (right)
Highest point
Elevation 4,228 m (13,871 ft)
Prominence 165 m (541 ft)
Parent peak Dufourspitze
Coordinates 45°55′20″N 7°47′34″E / 45.92222°N 7.79278°E / 45.92222; 7.79278Coordinates: 45°55′20″N 7°47′34″E / 45.92222°N 7.79278°E / 45.92222; 7.79278
Geography
Castor

Location in the Alps

Location On the Swiss (Valais) – Italian (Aosta Valley) border
Countries Switzerland and Italy
Parent range Pennine Alps
Topo map Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Climbing
First ascent August 23, 1861 by F. W. Jacomb and William Mathews with guide Michel Croz

Castor (Italian: Castore) is a mountain in the Pennine Alps on the border between Valais, Switzerland and the Aosta Valley in Italy. It is the higher of a pair of twin peaks (German: Zwillinge), the other being Pollux, named after the Gemini twins of Roman mythology. Castor's peak is at an elevation of 4,228 m (13,871 ft), and it lies between Breithorn and the Monte Rosa. It is separated from Pollux by a pass at 3,845 m (12,615 ft), named Passo di Verra in Italian and Zwillingsjoch in German.

Ascents are usually made from the alpine hut Capanna Quintino Sella on the Italian side, by means of the Felikjoch and the long and narrow southeast ridge. From the Swiss side, ascents start from Klein Matterhorn and go by way of the Italian glacier Grande Ghiacciaio di Verra and the mountain's west flank. The first ascent was made on August 23, 1861.

Castor and Pollux are also a pair of summits in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, USA. Located in the Absaroka Range, Castor is 3,308 m, 65 m lower than its twin.

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