Owyhee Mountains facts for kids
The Owyhee Mountains are a cool mountain range found in the western United States. They stretch across parts of Owyhee County, Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon. These mountains are known for their rugged beauty, interesting history, and unique volcanic features. They are a special part of the Great Basin region.
Quick facts for kids Owyhee Mountains |
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Hayden Peak (Owyhee County, Idaho) |
| Elevation | 2,561 m (8,402 ft) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 40 mi (64 km) NNW-SSE |
| Geography | |
 Location in Idaho
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| Country | United States |
| State | Idaho, and Oregon |
| District | Owyhee County, Idaho and Malheur County, Oregon |
| Range coordinates | 42°58′51″N 116°39′31″W / 42.98083°N 116.65861°W |
| Parent range | Owyhee Mountain Range |
| Topo map | USGS Cinnabar Mountain |
Contents
Discovering the Owyhee Mountains
The Owyhee Mountains are a large natural area. They cover parts of two states, Idaho and Oregon. This mountain range is about 40 miles (64 km) long. It runs from the northwest to the southeast. The highest point in the range is Hayden Peak. It stands tall at 2,561 meters (8,402 feet) above sea level. This peak is located in Owyhee County, Idaho.
Volcanic Wonders of the Owyhees
The Owyhee Mountains have some amazing volcanic features. One important area is the Lake Owyhee volcanic field. This field includes Mahogany Mountain and several old volcanic craters. These are found in the Oregon part of the Owyhee Mountains. They are just east of the Owyhee Reservoir. The reservoir itself is on the Owyhee River. These features show that the area was once very active with volcanoes. Over time, these volcanoes became quiet.
Exploring the Silver City Range
The southeastern part of the Owyhee Mountains is known as the Silver City Range. This area is famous for its old mining history. West of Silver City is where a lot of mining activity happened.
The Ghost Town of De Lamar
About 8.3 kilometers (5.2 miles) west of Silver City, you can find the De Lamar ghost town. A ghost town is a place where people used to live and work, but now it's mostly empty. De Lamar is located in Jordan Creek. It sits below the old mine workings on De Lamar Mountain.
A History of Mining
The De Lamar area was very busy in the late 1880s. Miners were looking for valuable metals. They mostly searched for silver and gold. In the 1970s, mining started again. New open pit mines were developed on De Lamar Mountain. These mines dug large holes in the ground to get to the silver and gold. The Owyhee Mountains continue to be a place of natural beauty and historical interest.
