Kofa Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kofa Mountains |
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 Location in Arizona
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Signal Peak |
| Elevation | 4,877 ft (1,487 m) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Range coordinates | 33°19′48″N 113°57′13″W / 33.3300344°N 113.9535457°W |
The Kofa Mountains are a mountain range in Arizona, USA. They are found in Yuma and La Paz counties. The mountains are a main part of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a special protected area for animals and plants.
The Kofa Mountains are about 60 miles northeast of Yuma. The Kofa Wilderness is a huge part of the refuge. It covers over 547,000 acres. This makes it the second largest wilderness area in Arizona. Other mountain ranges like the Castle Dome Mountains and New Water Mountains are nearby.
These mountains are home to special plants and animals. One unique plant is the Kofa Mountain Barberry (Berberis harrisoniana). You can also find California fan palms here. These palms are only found in Palm Canyon in Arizona. They are like living fossils from the Ice Age. Back then, these palms grew in many more places.
Geography of the Kofa Mountains
The Kofa Mountains stretch from northwest to southeast. They also have an arm that reaches north towards the New Water Mountains. There are three main peaks in this area.
Two peaks are in the west:
- Signal Peak, which is 4,877 feet (1,487 meters) tall.
- Squaw Peak, which is 4,416 feet (1,346 meters) tall.
Polaris Mountain is in the south. It stands at 3,624 feet (1,105 meters) tall.
The closest town to the Kofa Mountains is Quartzsite. It is about 30 miles northwest. You can reach the mountains from US 95. This highway is about five miles to the west.
Climate and Wildlife
The Kofa Mountains and the wildlife refuge are very dry. They are made of rugged volcanic rocks. These mountains formed a long time ago.
This area is one of the hottest places in the southwest Sonoran Desert. Despite the heat, many animals live here. It is a major home for Desert Bighorn Sheep. These amazing animals are well-adapted to the desert.
Origin of the Name Kofa
The Kofa Mountains got their name from a famous gold mine. This mine was called the King of Arizona gold mine. It was found in King Valley in 1896.
The mine used to stamp its property with the letters "K of A". People started calling it the Kofa Mine. That's how the name "Kofa" came to be. The old mine and the land around it are private property.
There was even a post office named Kofa, Arizona. It opened in 1900 and closed in 1928. Some of the old buildings from that time are still used today. People use them as winter homes.
Gallery
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Berberis harrisoniana, the Kofa Mountain Barberry
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Berberis harrisoniana
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Prickly pear blossoms
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The desert in bloom
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Kofa Mountains
