Rich Mountain (Watauga County, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rich Mountain |
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 Rich Mountain
Location in North Carolina
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,741 ft (1,445 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Watauga County, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Parent range | Blue Ridge Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Boone |
Rich Mountain is a mountain located in the North Carolina High Country. It is found northwest of the town of Boone. This mountain stands tall at about 4,741 feet (1,445 meters) above sea level.
Rich Mountain is sometimes confused with Howard Knob, which is just to its east. Another mountain, Snakeden Mountain, shares the same ridge to the west. The very top of Rich Mountain is private property.
Weather and Snowfall on Rich Mountain
The top of Rich Mountain has temperatures all year long that are similar to nearby Beech Mountain. Even though Beech Mountain is about 800 feet taller, Rich Mountain gets very cold winters. Special winds blow through a valley north of Rich Mountain. These winds can make the winter temperatures on Rich Mountain as cold as, or even colder than, those on Beech Mountain.
The summit and the upper north side of Rich Mountain get a lot more snow than Boone. They can receive 50-90% more snow each winter. For example, during the 2017-2018 winter, 68 inches of snow fell. This included three different snowfalls that lasted until the end of April.
Water Sources from Rich Mountain
Rich Mountain is an important source of water for several streams. These streams then flow into larger rivers. Some streams from Rich Mountain feed into the South Fork New River through a smaller stream called Doe Fork. Other streams flow into the Watauga River through Laurel Fork. This shows how mountains help supply water to the surrounding areas.
