Nature
Mount Susitna, or Sleeping Lady, is a 4,396-foot peak on the lower Susitna River northwest of Anchorage and one of the city's most recognizable landmarks. Its Dena'ina name, Dghelishla, means "Little Mountain," while related Native names and the English name reflect the land's shape and the Susitna River. The mountain's reclining profile inspired the name Sleeping Lady and is tied to Dena'ina legend, including Peter Kalifornsky's account of a giant woman becoming the mountain. Geologically, it is a roche moutonnée formed by ancient glaciation roughly 2 to 6 million years ago, with even older Jurassic bedrock beneath. Its silhouette links Anchorage's landscape with Dena'ina tradition and deep glacial history.
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Susitna, Alaska · United States