Brown Mountain (Klamath County, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brown Mountain |
|
|---|---|
Brown Mountain from across Lake of the Woods
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7344+ ft (2238+ m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 2,058 ft (627 m) |
| Geography | |
 Brown Mountain
Location in Oregon
|
|
| Location | Klamath / Jackson counties, Oregon, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Brown Mountain |
| Geology | |
| Mountain type | Shield volcano |
| Volcanic arc | Cascade Volcanic Arc |
| Last eruption | Over 12,000 years ago |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scramble |
Brown Mountain is a cool volcano in Oregon, USA. It's found in both Klamath and Jackson counties. This mountain is actually a small cinder cone sitting on top of a bigger shield volcano. It's part of the Cascade Volcanic Arc, a chain of volcanoes. Brown Mountain stands about 7,344 feet (2,238 meters) tall. Even though it's quite high, it's a bit smaller than its neighbor, Mount McLoughlin, which is over 9,000 feet tall!
Geology of Brown Mountain
At first glance, Brown Mountain might look like a very new volcano. Its top has no trees and looks fresh. But if you look closer, you'll see signs of glaciers. There are valleys and a bowl-shaped area called a cirque near the top. These features show that the mountain is actually quite old. Scientists believe it formed between 12,000 and 60,000 years ago.
Around 2,000 years ago, a huge flow of lava poured out from the mountain. This lava was mostly a type called basaltic andesite. It covered about 13 square miles (34 square kilometers) of the mountain's northern and western sides. This lava flow was very thick, more than 250 feet (76 meters) deep in some places. Over its long history, Brown Mountain has erupted a lot of lava. It has produced over 1.2 cubic miles (5 cubic kilometers) of molten rock!
How to Visit Brown Mountain
You can easily get to Brown Mountain by car. Oregon Route 140 passes just north of the mountain's peak. If you like hiking, you can also reach it using the famous Pacific Crest Trail. There's also a special trail just for Brown Mountain. It's called the Brown Mountain Trail and is about 6.8 miles (10.9 kilometers) long.
Plants and Animals
The lower parts of Brown Mountain are covered with beautiful old-growth forests. These are very old forests with huge, ancient trees. Many animals live here. You might spot Douglas squirrels scampering around. Tiny, cute animals called pikas also make their homes on the mountain. As you go higher up the mountain, the land changes. Near the very top, there are hardly any plants growing.
