Discussion: The "contour parent" of any given peak is the first peak up the Line parent chain that has a contour line completely surrounding the original peak. For example, Mount Robson is the contour parent of Resplendent, because Mount Robson is the first peak that has a contour line completely surrounding Resplendant. In order to be a contour parent, the key saddle is lower than the given peak. Thus the contour parent is often more distant than the "line parent" (which is just the first higher peak), or the "source parent" (which is just the first higher peak with more prominence.

The hghest peak on an island has no true parent. However all the other peaks on the island will have a true parent. However, the highest peak on an island within a lake above sea level will have a parent. Its parent will be the first peak up the chain that has a contour line lower than the surface of the lake. In some cases this might be Mount McKinley, same as a really low peak right beside the ocean. This quirk has been known by the various prominence groups for quite a while.

Usage: The term "contour parent" often used in discussions of prominence, as opposed to the line parent. Eg: Francs Peak is the line parent of Mount Robson, but not the contour parent.
Class: Core definition.