Mount Soledad facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mount Soledad |
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Mount Soledad seen from the north in Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 823 ft (251 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 472 ft (144 m) |
| Parent peak | Black Mountain |
| Geography | |
 Mount Soledad
Location in Northwestern San Diego
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| Location | La Jolla, San Diego, County, California, U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS La Jolla |
Mount Soledad, also known as Soledad Mountain, is a famous landmark in San Diego, California, United States. This mountain top is well-known for the Mount Soledad Cross that stands there. It's a great spot to see amazing views of the Pacific Ocean and the city.
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Discover Mount Soledad
Mount Soledad is a mountain that stands 823 feet (about 251 meters) tall. It is located in La Jolla, a community in San Diego. To its east is Interstate 5, a major highway. To its west is the vast Pacific Ocean.
Where is Mount Soledad Located?
Most of Mount Soledad is within the beautiful community of La Jolla. The northern and eastern sides of the mountain have a steep slope. This slope is part of the Rose Canyon Fault, a crack in the Earth's crust. The community of Pacific Beach is on the mountain's gentler southern side.
Several radio and television stations have their transmitters on the very top of Mount Soledad. These include KFMB-TV and KGTV, which are local TV channels. Airplanes flying into San Diego International Airport from places like Los Angeles often use Mount Soledad as a guide.
What Happened on Mount Soledad?
On October 3, 2007, a landslide occurred on Soledad Mountain. This event sadly destroyed two homes and damaged several others. It also tore up more than 100 yards of a street. Over 20 houses had to be evacuated for safety. The City of San Diego had noticed some water and gas leaks, along with cracks in the pavement, in the months before the landslide.
The Legend of Munchkinland
There's a fun urban legend about Mount Soledad. It says that in the 1930s, a group of little people came to San Diego. These were actors who appeared in Hollywood films, like The Wizard of Oz. The legend claims they built tiny houses on Mount Soledad.
This story became popular because some houses were built on very steep slopes. When people looked down at them, the angle made the doors and other parts of the houses look smaller than they really were. Most of these "Munchkin Houses" have been changed over time, so the special effect is no longer there.
Dr. Seuss's Last Home
Mount Soledad was the last home of the famous children's author, Dr. Seuss. His wife, Audrey Geisel, lived there until she passed away in 2018. Their beautiful home included a special observation tower. Locals often called it the Seuss house.
Cycling Adventures
Mount Soledad is a very popular place for cycling. It offers many routes with long, steady climbs. Most of these routes have light traffic and provide amazing views. Cyclists can choose from different paths. Some are more gradual, like the 3.5-mile (5.6 km) climb up Soledad Mountain Road. Others are very steep and short, such as the 1.25-mile (2 km) Hidden Valley Road to Via Capri route.
The Mount Soledad Cross
On top of Mount Soledad stands a large concrete Christian cross. The first cross was built in 1913. It has been rebuilt twice since then. The current cross was put up in 1954. It was first called the Mount Soledad Easter Cross, but the word "Easter" was removed in the 1980s.
Later, the cross was made into a Korean War memorial. For many years, there was a discussion about whether a religious symbol should be on government land. In 2011, a court ruled that it was not allowed on public property. The Supreme Court of the United States decided not to hear an appeal in 2012, which meant the earlier ruling stood.
However, in July 2015, a group called the Mt. Soledad Memorial Association bought the land under the cross. They purchased the half-acre from the Department of Defense for $1.4 million. This meant the cross was no longer on government land. In September 2016, a court officially closed the case. Both sides agreed that this decision finally ended the long discussion.
See also
