Castle Mountains (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Mountains |
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 Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,567 m (5,141 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California and Nevada |
| Range coordinates | 35°19′28.968″N 115°4′43.932″W / 35.32471333°N 115.07887000°W |
| Topo map | USGS Hart Peak |
The Castle Mountains are a mountain range found in the eastern part of the Mojave Desert. They are located in both California (specifically, northeastern San Bernardino County) and Nevada (in Clark County).
These mountains are situated near other ranges like the New York Mountains to their north and east, and the Piute Range to their southeast. The Castle Mountains stretch mainly from southwest to northeast, with most of the range being in California. The highest point in the range is Hart Peak, which reaches about 5,543 feet (1,567 meters) above sea level.
For a while, there was an open pit gold mine in the southern part of the Castle Mountains. A company called Canadian NewCastle Gold Ltd. had the rights to mine gold there. However, mining stopped in 2001 because the price of gold was too low. The company still has the right to mine until 2025 if conditions change.
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Protecting the Castle Mountains
The Castle Mountains are a special place, and a large part of them is now protected.
What is a National Monument?
A National Monument is an area of land that is protected by the United States government. It's usually set aside because it has important natural, historical, or scientific features. These areas are managed by the National Park Service, which helps keep them safe and open for people to visit and enjoy.
Castle Mountains National Monument Established
On February 12, 2016, President Obama officially created the Castle Mountains National Monument. This means that a significant part of the Castle Mountains and the land around them is now a protected area.
The monument covers about 20,920 acres of land. It's located between two major highways, I−15 and I−40. Inside the monument, you can find the old mining camp of Hart, which is very close to the California−Nevada border.
Surrounded by Nature
The Castle Mountains National Monument is almost completely surrounded by another large protected area called the Mojave National Preserve, which is also managed by the National Park Service. This helps create a very large area of protected desert land.
Future of the Mining Area
Even though the national monument was created, the old Castle Mountain Mine Area is still within its boundaries. The plan is that once any mining activities are finished, or after 10 years if no mining happens, the land in the 8,340-acre mine area will also become part of the National Park Service's protected land. This will ensure even more of the Castle Mountains are preserved for the future.
