Riverside Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Riverside Mountains |
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(view to south)
Aerial view of Riverside Mountains at center right-(the West Riversides are just to right (out of view) but attached to the south of the Riversides). The Big Maria Mountains are above at right (on horizon) to the south. The small mountain range across the Colorado River in Arizona (to the east) is the Mesquite Mountains. |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,252 ft (686 m) |
| Geography | |
 Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| Municipality | Vidal Junction |
| Range coordinates | 34°1′23.058″N 114°32′28.851″W / 34.02307167°N 114.54134750°W |
| Topo map | USGS Vidal |
The Riverside Mountains are a mountain range in Riverside County, California. These mountains are a cool place to explore in the desert! The small town of Vidal, California is also found nearby.
Contents
Exploring the Riverside Mountains
The Riverside Mountains are located in the Colorado Desert. This area is part of the Lower Colorado River Valley region. The mountains are southeast of the Turtle Mountains. They are also north of the Big Maria Mountains. The Colorado River runs along the eastern side of the mountains. The highest point in the range is about 2,252 feet (686 m) tall.
Riverside Mountains Wilderness Area
The Riverside Mountains Wilderness is a special protected area. It was created in 1994. The Bureau of Land Management helps take care of it. This wilderness area covers 24,004 acres. The Colorado River runs right next to its eastern edge.
What the Wilderness Looks Like
The land in the wilderness area changes a lot. You can find gently sloping areas called bajadas. These are like wide, flat plains made of rock and sand. There are also steep, rocky parts inside the mountains. Deep canyons have washes (dry riverbeds) that cut through the bajadas. Many peaks in the Riverside Mountains make this small range look rugged and rocky.
Plants and Animals of the Wilderness
The Riverside Mountains are home to some unique plants. You can find the foxtail cactus and the California barrel cactus here. These plants are important to the desert ecosystem. A small group of Burro deer also lives in the Riverside range. These deer are a type of mule deer that has adapted to desert life.
How the Mountains Were Formed
The Riverside Mountains are part of a larger area called the Maria Fold and Thrust Belt. This area has a special geological history.
Rocks of the Riverside Mountains
The Riverside Mountains have different kinds of rocks. Some rocks are very old, from a time called the Precambrian era. Other rocks formed more recently, during the Jurassic and Mesozoic periods. There are also younger rocks from the Tertiary period. These rocks include volcanic rocks and conglomerates, which are rocks made of many different pebbles and stones.
