Buried Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Buried Mountain |
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 Buried Mountain
Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,472 ft (449 m) |
| Prominence | 152 ft (46 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Riverside County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Orocopia Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Cottonwood Spring |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | Scramble |
Buried Mountain is a unique mountain located in the Orocopia Mountains in California. You can easily spot it from Interstate 10. This mountain looks like it's "buried" in the ground because it's about 500 feet shorter than the taller mountains around it. This makes it stand out from the rest of the mountain range.
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Where is Buried Mountain Located?
Buried Mountain sits between a major highway, Interstate 10, and Box Canyon Road. Box Canyon Road used to be part of California State Route 195. The land around the mountain is managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This is a government agency that takes care of public lands.
Exploring the Area Around the Mountain
The areas around the mountain are often used for outdoor activities.
- The nearby washes, which are dry riverbeds, are sometimes used for camping.
- Utility companies and youth groups also use these areas as a starting point for their activities.
To the north of the mountain is the Buried Mountain Wash. You can reach it by a dirt road. This road was first built in the 1930s for utility work. To the south, you'll find the Box Canyon Wash. Box Canyon Road runs through this wash. This wash also goes through the famous Box Canyon in the Mecca Hills. This area is popular for learning about geology.
Water and Power Near the Mountain
In the past, there were wells at Buried Mountain. These wells provided water for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. This district supplies water to many homes and businesses. A power line also runs to the south of the mountain.
What is Buried Mountain Made Of?
The top of Buried Mountain is mostly made of a type of rock called granite. This granite formed a very long time ago during the Mesozoic Era. That's the same time dinosaurs lived! This granite is younger than another rock found here, called Orocopia schist.
How the Mountain Was Formed
The bottom of the mountain has a large break in the rock, called a fault. This fault creates a clear line between the steep upper slopes and the flatter lower parts. The lower parts are made of different rocks. These rocks are called conglomerates and breccias. They belong to the Maniobra Formation, which formed during the Eocene Epoch. This was after the dinosaurs died out.
