Mount McKinley in Alaska is the highest mountain peak in North America, at a height of approximately 6,194 metres (20,320 feet). It is commonly known as Denali, which means "the great one" in the Athabascan language, and which is also the official name recognized by the State of Alaska. McKinley, named after former U.S president William McKinley, is the centerpiece of Denali National Park.
A 1903 claim of a first ascent by Dr. Frederick Cook was later proven fraudulent, and the first real ascent came on June 7, 1913 by a party led by Hudson Stuck. In 1947, Barbara Washburn became the first woman to reach the summit. The mountain is regularly climbed today, although it is still a dangerous undertaking, and there have been many fatalities.
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