St. Elias Range

7.6

A range of high mountains on the border between Alaska and Yukon, including Mount St Elias

proper noun

: Cordillera St. Elias

The St. Elias Range features some of the highest peaks in North America.

Examples

Mountaineers are drawn to the St. Elias Range for its challenging climbs and remote beauty.
Glaciers in the St. Elias Range are studied for their impact on sea levels.
The St. Elias Range is breathtakingly beautiful.
Have you ever visited the St. Elias Range?
Mount St. Elias is the most prominent peak in the St. Elias Range, attracting climbers from around the world.
The St. Elias Range stretches across the border between Alaska and the Yukon Territory, featuring breathtaking landscapes.
Hiking enthusiasts often visit the St. Elias Range to explore its rugged terrain and enjoy stunning views.

Synonyms

Saint Elias Mountains

vsSt. Elias Range

5.6

A range of high mountains between southern Alaska and the Yukon that has some of North America's highest peaks

focuses on the same border range but highlights a particular famous summit

St. Elias Mountains

vsSt. Elias Range

6.5

A mountain range between southeastern Alaska and Yukon with some of North America's highest peaks

refers to that border range while calling attention to one standout summit

Surface Forms

St. Elias Range main

Morphology

St. + Elias + range

The phrase is a compositional toponym: 'St.' (Saint) + the proper name 'Elias' + 'range' (a group of mountains). A B1 learner who knows 'range' and recognizes 'St.' as a title can infer it denotes a mountain chain named after Elias, so the meaning is directly derivable from the constituents.

Etymology

St. Elias Range may come from the Christian 'saint' St. Elias, another name for the prophet Elijah. One popular story says an explorer saw the very high peaks on the saint's 'holy day' and named the mountains after him, so the name helps you remember this is a group of tall, remote peaks.