Red Mountain (Ouray County, Colorado) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red Mountain Number 3 |
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Red Mountain Number 3
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,896 ft (3,931 m) |
| Geography | |
 Red Mountain Number 3
Location in Colorado
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| Location | Ouray and San Juan counties, Colorado, U.S. |
| Parent range | San Juan Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS 7.5' topographic map Ironton, Colorado |
| Red Mountain Number 1 | |
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Red Mountain Number 1
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,598 ft (3,840 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Ouray and San Juan counties, Colorado, U.S. |
| Red Mountain Number 2 | |
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Red Mountain Number 2
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 12,225 ft (3,726 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Ouray County, Colorado, U.S. |
Red Mountain is a group of three mountain peaks in the San Juan Mountains of western Colorado, in the United States. These mountains are located about 5 miles south of the town of Ouray.
The mountains get their name because of the reddish rocks that cover their surface. These rocks are colored by iron ore. You might find other peaks in the San Juan Mountains that also look reddish because of iron ore, and some of them are also called "Red Mountain."
The nearby Red Mountain Pass is named after these mountains. Also, a ghost town called Red Mountain Town, which was once a mining camp, is located around Red Mountain.
Exploring Red Mountain Town
In the 1870s, people started settling in the Red Mountain area. Soon after, permanent mining towns were built in what became known as the Red Mountain Mining District.
A Silver Discovery
One of these towns was Red Mountain Town. It was founded after people discovered silver there in 1882. This discovery brought many miners and settlers to the area.
Connecting Mining Towns
Other communities nearby included Ironton and Guston. These towns were eventually connected to larger towns like Silverton and Ouray. This connection happened thanks to the Silverton Railroad and later the famous Million Dollar Highway. These routes helped transport the valuable minerals found in the mountains.
Images for kids
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West side of Red Mountain, seen from Imogene Pass
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Red Mountain Number 3 with the old ghost town of Red Mountain below.
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Red Mountain's reflection in Crystal Lake.
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