Gunsight Butte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gunsight Butte |
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South aspect
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,678 ft (1,426 m) |
| Prominence | 1,018 ft (310 m) |
| Isolation | 2.46 mi (3.96 km) |
| Parent peak | Romana Mesa |
| Geography | |
 Gunsight Butte
Location in Utah
Gunsight Butte
Location in the United States
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| Location | Glen Canyon National Recreation Area Kane County, Utah, U.S. |
| Parent range | Colorado Plateau |
| Topo map | USGS Gunsight Butte |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Jurassic |
| Type of rock | Entrada Sandstone |
Gunsight Butte is a cool sandstone mountain in southern Utah. It stands 4,678 feet (1,426 meters) tall. This amazing landmark is found in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. It's located in Kane County.
Gunsight Butte is like an island. It rises almost 1,000 feet above Lake Powell when the lake is full. It's a very famous spot in the Lake Powell area.
Contents
What is Gunsight Butte?
A butte is a tall, flat-topped hill. It has very steep sides. Gunsight Butte is mostly made of a type of rock called Entrada Sandstone. This is similar to other buttes nearby. These include Padres Butte and Dominguez Butte.
Where is Gunsight Butte Located?
Gunsight Butte is about 12 miles northeast of the town of Page. It is part of the large Colorado Plateau region. This area covers parts of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico.
How Was Gunsight Butte Formed?
The main rock in Gunsight Butte is Entrada Sandstone. Above this, you can find Romana Sandstone. The very top is covered by the Morrison Formation.
The Entrada Sandstone
The Entrada Sandstone formed about 160 million years ago. This was during the Jurassic period. At that time, it was a huge sand sea. It was the biggest sand sea in Earth's history! The sand was first laid down as sandy mud. This happened on a tidal flat.
Weather at Gunsight Butte
Gunsight Butte has a very dry climate. This is called an arid climate zone. Summers are hot and very dry. Winters are chilly, but there is very little snow.
Images for kids
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Gunsight Butte seen from the west at Alstrom Point
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Gunsight Butte seen from Alstrom Point
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Below the south peak of Gunsight Butte
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Gunsight Butte centered in lake
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East aspect
