Mount Lamborn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Lamborn |
|
|---|---|
View of Mount Lamborn (left) and Landsend Peak (right) from Lamborn Mesa, near Paonia, Colorado
|
|
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 11,402 ft (3,475 m) |
| Prominence | 1,616 ft (493 m) |
| Isolation | 2.39 mi (3.85 km) |
| Listing | Colorado county high points 40th |
| Geography | |
 Mount Lamborn
Location in Colorado
|
|
| Location | High point of Delta County, Colorado, United States |
| Parent range | West Elk Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Paonia, Colorado |
Mount Lamborn is a mountain peak found in the West Elk Mountains range. This range is part of the huge Rocky Mountains in North America. Standing at 11,402 feet (about 3,475 meters) tall, Mount Lamborn is a very important landmark. It is the highest point in Delta County, Colorado, United States.
A Mountain's Unique Shape
Mount Lamborn is not just any mountain. Geologists, who study the Earth, call it an eroded igneous intrusion. This means it was formed in a special way.
What is a Laccolith?
Mount Lamborn is a type of mountain called a laccolith. Imagine a huge blob of hot, melted rock, called magma, pushing up from deep inside the Earth. Instead of breaking through the surface like a volcano, this magma pushes up the layers of rock above it, forming a dome or mushroom shape.
Over millions of years, the softer rocks on top of this dome wear away due to wind, rain, and ice. This process is called erosion. What's left behind is the harder, cooled magma, which now stands tall as a mountain like Mount Lamborn. So, Mount Lamborn is essentially the "skeleton" of an ancient underground magma chamber that has been uncovered by nature.
Location and Surroundings
Mount Lamborn is located in the beautiful Gunnison National Forest. It is about 9.5 kilometers (or 5.9 miles) southeast of the town of Paonia.
Dramatic Views
Mount Lamborn stands out because it rises very dramatically from the land around it. Together with Landsend Peak, which is a nearby mountain, it marks the western edge of the West Elk Mountains. These peaks rise almost 6,000 feet (about 1,800 meters) above the valley of the North Fork Gunnison River to the west. This creates a stunning view for anyone looking up from the valley below.
