Mount Denali (formerly McKinley) is the highest peak in North America and the third most prominent peak in the world. Geographically, it is located in south-central Alaska. Its height is particularly impressive because its base-to-peak rise is actually greater than that of Mount Everest. Denali is part of the Alaska Range, a segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire created by the subduction of the Pacific Plate. Its geographical location near the Arctic Circle makes it one of the coldest mountains on Earth, with permanent snow and massive glaciers covering its upper slopes year-round.