Dome Rock Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dome Rock Mountains |
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|---|---|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Cunningham Mountain |
| Elevation | 3,314 ft (1,010 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 30 mi (48 km) N-S-(NW-SE) |
| Width | 8 mi (13 km) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Region | Sonoran Desert–(northwestern) |
| Range coordinates | 33°41′N 114°20′W / 33.69°N 114.34°W |
| Borders on | La Posa Plain-E Plomosa Mountains-E (Trigo Mountains-SW) |
| Topo map | USGS Blythe |
The Dome Rock Mountains are a group of mountains in Arizona, a state in the United States. You can find them in the southern part of La Paz County. To their west is the famous Colorado River. The Colorado River Indian Reservation is to their northwest. This area is part of the Lower Colorado River Valley. A town called Quartzsite, Arizona is right at the eastern edge of these mountains.
The Dome Rock Mountains are also part of a larger geological area. This area is known as the Maria fold and thrust belt. It's a region where the Earth's crust has been pushed and folded.
Exploring the Dome Rock Mountains
The Dome Rock Mountains stretch for about 30 miles (48 km). They run mostly from north to south. The Palo Verde Valley is to the west, right next to the Colorado River. A major highway, Interstate 10, cuts through the middle of these mountains. This highway connects Ehrenberg by the Colorado River to Quartzsite in the east.
Quartzsite sits on the western edge of the La Posa Plain. This plain is where water drains from the western part of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. The Tyson Wash is a natural waterway that flows north along the western edge of the La Posa Plain. It then turns west at the northern end of the Dome Rock Mountains. Finally, it meets the Colorado River.
Highest Peaks and Waterways
The tallest point in the Dome Rock Mountains is Cunningham Mountain. It stands at 3,314 feet (1,010 meters) high. You can find it about 6 miles (10 km) south of Interstate 10. Further north, another peak called Middle Camp Mountain reaches 2,515 feet (767 meters). This peak is about 2 miles (3 km) north of Interstate 10.
The mountains have many old mines and dry washes. A dry wash is like a creek bed that only has water after it rains a lot. The washes on the western side of the mountains drain into the Colorado River. The washes on the eastern side flow into the La Posa Plain and the Tyson Wash.
How to Visit the Dome Rock Mountains
It's pretty easy to get to the Dome Rock Mountains. You can reach the northern parts from the west using Arizona State Route 95. You can also get there from the east through the Colorado River Indian Reservation. Interstate 10 also provides good access.
The town of Quartzsite is right in the middle-east of the mountains. It offers many ways to get into the area. If you are in Ehrenberg to the west, you can also find access points to the western side of the mountains.
