Loma Prieta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Loma Prieta Peak |
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Loma Prieta from the West
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 3,790 ft (1,155 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 3,426 ft (1,044 m) NGVD 29 |
| Naming | |
| English translation | Dark Hill |
| Language of name | Spanish |
| Geography | |
 Loma Prieta Peak
Location in California
Loma Prieta Peak
Location in the United States
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| Parent range | Santa Cruz Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Loma Prieta |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | RoadAlexander Dallas Bache |
Loma Prieta is a tall mountain peak in Northern California. It is the highest point in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The name "Loma Prieta" comes from Spanish words meaning "dark hill." This mountain is about 3,790 feet (1,155 meters) high.
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What's in a Name?
A long time ago, in the 1800s, Loma Prieta was sometimes called Mount Bache. This name honored a person named Alexander Dallas Bache. However, people do not use the name Mount Bache anymore.
A Home for Stargazers
From 1976 to 1990, an amateur astronomer named Donald Machholz often used the mountain. He set up his telescope on the south side of Loma Prieta. He did this about 120 times each year. His goal was to search for new comets.
From this special spot, he found three new comets. These comets are now named after him. One famous comet he found was Periodic Comet Machholz 1, also known as 96P/Machholz. He discovered it on May 12, 1986.
In March 1979, the first official "Messier marathon" on the West Coast happened here. A Messier marathon is when astronomers try to find as many objects from the Messier Catalog as possible in one night.
The 1989 Earthquake
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was a very strong earthquake. Its starting point, called the epicenter, was very close to Loma Prieta mountain. This earthquake caused a lot of damage in the nearby areas.
A Tower on the Peak
For many years, from 1955 to 2005, Loma Prieta was home to a tall tower. This tower was used by a television station in San Jose called KNTV. It sent out TV signals from the mountain.
In September 2005, the station moved its transmitter. A transmitter is a device that sends out radio or TV signals. It moved about 52 miles (83 kilometers) northwest to San Bruno Mountain. This happened after KNTV became the local NBC TV station for the Bay Area.
Winter Snow
Loma Prieta is the tallest peak in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Because it is so high, it is common to see snow on the mountain during the winter months.
Images for kids
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Loma Prieta (the peak just right of center) and other nearby peaks are festooned with television broadcast towers and other communication towers, serving the Santa Clara Valley. Fog-shrouded Monterey Bay and the Monterey Peninsula are visible in the background in this late-afternoon approach to San José International Airport.
