Bristol Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bristol Mountains |
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Southeast end of Bristol Mountains as seen from Amboy Crater. The town of Amboy can be seen on the right side of the image
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,030 m (3,380 ft) |
| Geography | |
 Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| Region | Mojave Desert |
| District | San Bernardino County |
| Range coordinates | 34°50′56.954″N 116°3′18.033″W / 34.84915389°N 116.05500917°W |
| Topo map | USGS East of Broadwell Lake |
The Bristol Mountains are a mountain range located in the Mojave Desert in California, USA. These mountains are found just west of the Mojave National Preserve. They reach a height of about 3,874 feet (1,181 meters).
The Bristol Mountains are in San Bernardino County. They cross over Interstate 40, a major highway, between the towns of Ludlow and the Granite Mountains. At the southern end of the range, you can find the town of Amboy, the Amboy Crater, and Bristol Dry Lake.
Protecting the Bristol Mountains
Most of the Bristol Mountains are part of a special protected area called a Wilderness Area. This means the land is kept wild and natural, with very few human changes. Parts of the mountains are within the Bristol Mountains Wilderness Area or the Kelso Dunes Wilderness Area.
Plans for Protection
Other parts of the Bristol Mountains are also planned to become Wilderness Areas. This was proposed in a bill called the California Desert Protection Act of 2010. This act aims to protect more of California's desert lands.
Project Carryall: A Past Idea
In 1963, there was a plan called Project Carryall. It was suggested by the Atomic Energy Commission, the California Division of Highways (now Caltrans), and the Santa Fe Railway. This project proposed using powerful explosions to dig a huge path through the Bristol Mountains. This path would have been for building Interstate 40 and a new railway line.
This plan was part of a bigger program called Operation Plowshare. However, many people did not agree with Project Carryall. Because of this public opposition, the project was never carried out.
