Needle Peak (Presidio County, Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Needle Peak |
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Needle Peak at far right
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,608 ft (1,405 m) |
| Prominence | 821 ft (250 m) |
| Parent peak | The Solitario |
| Geography | |
 Needle Peak
Location in Texas
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| Topo map | USGS The Solitario |
Needle Peak is a mountain found in Presidio County, which is in the southwest part of Texas, U.S.. Its highest point is about 4,608 feet (1,405 m) above sea level. This peak stands tall, rising about 328 ft (100 m) above a canyon called the Lower Shutup, which runs along its east side.
Needle Peak is a special kind of mountain. It was formed when hot, melted rock pushed up from deep inside the Earth a very long time ago. This created a feature called a "domal uplift," which is like a big, round dome in the ground. The mountain is part of a larger area known as the Solitario, which is a huge circular area about nine miles wide with a clear limestone edge.
The area around Needle Peak is a desert mountain landscape. It has lots of basalt, which is a type of dark, volcanic rock. You won't find many trees here. Instead, the plants are mostly tough desert grasses, different kinds of cacti, and small desert bushes. The mountain got its name, Needle Peak, because it looks like a sharp needle pointing up into the sky!
Another Needle Peak?
Sometimes, people get Needle Peak in Presidio County mixed up with another place nearby. There's another spot also called Needle Peak, which is part of the small Sierra Aguja mountain range. This range is about 17 miles southeast of the Needle Peak we're talking about in Presidio County.
The slopes of the Sierra Aguja range are famous for something really cool: they are a source of amazing quartz crystals! You can find different types of beautiful stones there. These include green moss agate, round, bubbly geodes, a special kind of agate called Needle Peak sagenite, and pompon agates. It's like a treasure hunt for rock collectors!
