Island Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Island Mountain |
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 Island Mountain
Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,847 ft (1,173 m) NGVD 29 |
| Geography | |
| Location | Trinity County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Range from Mendocino County to Trinity County |
| Topo map | USGS Bell Springs and Updegraff Ridge |
Island Mountain is a special mountain in Trinity County, California. It's made of very strong volcanic rock. People used to mine for valuable metals like sulfur there a long time ago.
This mountain was also a big challenge when they were building a railroad to Eureka, California in 1914. The name "Island Mountain" is used for the mountain itself, a mountain range, a small town, and even an old railroad station, tunnel, and bridge! Most of these are found within a big "S" shaped bend of the Eel River, which is how the mountain got its name.
Where is Island Mountain?
Island Mountain is a named peak within the larger Island Mountain range. This range stretches from Mendocino County into Trinity County.
Settlers in the 1850s gave Island Mountain its name because it's almost completely surrounded by water. Two creeks and the Eel River flow around it, making it look like an island. The rocks of Island Mountain are very tough and don't wear away easily. Because of this, the Eel River has to make a sharp "S" curve around the mountain as it flows north through the California Coast Ranges.
Railroad History
Island Mountain was the very last obstacle for the Northwestern Pacific Railroad to finish its tracks between San Francisco and Eureka. The railroad builders had to construct a long tunnel (Tunnel number 27) right through the mountain. This tunnel was about 4,313 feet (1.3 kilometers) long!
In 1914, a special ceremony was held to celebrate the railroad's completion. Later, in 1978, the wooden supports inside Tunnel 27 caught fire, and part of the tunnel collapsed. It cost a lot of money, about 3.8 million dollars, to rebuild it. The repairs were finished in 1979. There was also a railroad stop called "Island Mountain" near the river, close to where a bridge crosses the Eel River before the tunnel.
Mining History
After the railroad was built, mining became easier at Island Mountain. Between 1915 and 1930, miners dug up a lot of valuable metals. They found about 4,100 tons of copper, 140,000 ounces of silver, and 8,600 ounces of gold!
Some of the minerals found in the mountain included chalcanthite, chalcopyrite, and pyrite. The Northwestern Pacific Railroad also used volcanic rock from Island Mountain. They quarried it (dug it out) to make heavy riprap, which are large rocks used to protect riverbanks and coastlines, even as far away as Humboldt Bay.
Island Mountain Town
Island Mountain is also the name of a small town in Trinity County. It sits about 538 feet (164 meters) above sea level. The first post office in this area opened in 1905 and was simply called "Island." However, on August 16, 1915, its name was changed to "Island Mountain."
