Coso Range facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Coso Range |
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 Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,038 m (6,686 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District | Inyo County |
| Range coordinates | 36°8′29.796″N 117°41′23.252″W / 36.14161000°N 117.68979222°W |
| Topo map | USGS Coso Peak |
The Coso Range is a mountain range in eastern California. It is located just south of a dry lake called Owens Lake. To its east is the Argus Range, and to its west are the tall mountains of the Sierra Nevada.
A large part of the southern Coso Range is inside a special area. This area is called the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake. It is a restricted military zone. The northern part of the range is a protected area. It is known as the Coso Range Wilderness.
The highest point in the Coso Range is Coso Peak. It stands about 2,038 meters (8,160 feet) above sea level. Other notable peaks include Silver Peak and Silver Mountain. Both of these are more than 2,255 meters (7,400 feet) high.
The Coso Range is mostly made of very old rocks. These rocks formed millions of years ago. On top of these old rocks, you can find newer volcanic rocks. These volcanic rocks come from the Coso Volcanic Field. This area has had many volcanic eruptions over time.
Scientists believe there is a large pool of hot, melted rock, called a magma chamber, deep under the Coso Range. This magma chamber has caused lava to erupt to the surface many times. These eruptions have happened over the past few million years. You can still see active steam vents, called fumaroles, in the area today.
Ancient History of the Coso Range
The Coso Range is famous for its amazing rock art. Many sites with ancient drawings are found here. This area is known as the Coso Rock Art District. These drawings were made by the ancient Coso people.
The Coso people lived in this area a very long time ago. They were skilled at finding and using a special type of volcanic glass. This glass is called Coso obsidian. It was very useful for making sharp tools. The Coso people traded this valuable obsidian with other groups. Pieces of Coso obsidian have been found far away. They have even been found on the Channel Islands of California, which are off the coast.
If you are interested in seeing some of this ancient art, you can take a tour. Places like Little Petroglyph Canyon and Renegade Canyon are open for guided visits. These tours are arranged through the Maturango Museum in Ridgecrest, California. It is a great way to learn about the people who lived here long ago.
