Black Mesa (Warm Springs, Arizona) facts for kids
The Black Mesa (also known as the Warm Springs Mesa) is a cool natural landmark found in northwestern Arizona. It's actually the very southern part of a larger mountain range called the Black Mountains. Imagine a huge, flat-topped hill standing tall above the land around it – that's a mesa!
What Makes Black Mesa Special?
This mesa is really important because the entire area is part of the Warm Springs Wilderness. A wilderness area is a special place where nature is protected, and people can enjoy it without a lot of buildings or roads. It's a great spot for exploring the outdoors!
The Black Mesa is separated from another part of the Black Mountains, called the Black Hills, by a deep canyon and a road. On the other side of this canyon is another protected area, the Mount Nutt Wilderness. So, these two wilderness areas together create a large, wild space for animals and plants to thrive.
How Big is Black Mesa?
The Black Mesa stretches about 10 miles (or 16 kilometers) from north to south. It rises about 1,000 feet (around 300 meters) higher than the flat valleys around it. You can see these valleys to the east, south, and west of the mesa.
If you're traveling, Interstate 40 in Arizona runs along the valleys to the east and south of Black Mesa. This highway connects cities like Needles, California and Kingman. A small town called Yucca, Arizona is located in the Sacramento Valley, just east of the mesa.
