Mount Kosciuszko is part of which Australian mountain range?

Mount Kosciuszko is part of Australia’s Snowy Mountains. It stands on the Main Range in New South Wales, within Kosciuszko National Park, and reaches 2,228 metres above sea level, making it the highest mountain on mainland Australia.

The Snowy Mountains form the northeastern half of the Australian Alps and are themselves part of the much larger Great Dividing Range. The region contains Australia’s five highest peaks, all rising above 2,100 metres. Its alpine terrain was shaped by uplift, erosion and limited Pleistocene glaciation rather than recent volcanic activity.

Polish explorer Paweł Edmund Strzelecki climbed the summit in 1840 and named it after Polish military leader Tadeusz Kościuszko. A historical surveying mix-up once caused confusion between Kosciuszko and nearby Mount Townsend, but later research confirmed Kosciuszko’s identity as the higher peak. The spelling “Kosciuszko” became official in New South Wales in 1997.

The mountain is accessible by walking tracks from Thredbo or Charlotte Pass. The Snowy Mountains are also known for ski resorts, glacial lakes and the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme.