Toponymie | Canton de Potton | Place Names

It may be Mont Éléphant to some, but to those living between the Owl and the Elephant, she is Elephantis, an especially beloved, unmistakable, well named and shape shifting mountain profile.  Her sides are very steep rock faces, where one wonders how trees cling so tenaciously to her flanks. 

Elephantis and Sugar Loaf Mountains are one and the same.  When viewed from the south and east, Elephantis is unquestionably aptly named.  Viewed from other angles, the friendly pachyderm is not so much in evidence.  View Elephantis from Sugarloaf Pond road: the Elephant disappears, and the conical crown of Sugarloaf emerges.  No elephant to be found.  Drive north along Chemin du Lac, where the backside of Sugarloaf resembles neither elephant nor loaf of sugar!     

For those wishing to discuss geographical definition and topographical contour lines on a map, the subject of Elephantus (as it is sometimes spelled) will provide endless fodder!  Elephantis is unquestionably a defining landmark in Potton.  

Please note that the map reference for Elephantis is incorrectly identified on the accompanying map.  It's hard to hide an elephant, but somehow the cartographer seems to have misplaced ours!