Sagehen Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sagehen Hills |
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 Location in California
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,131 m (6,991 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District | Nevada County |
| Range coordinates | 39°24′35.661″N 120°14′24.724″W / 39.40990583°N 120.24020111°W |
| Topo map | USGS Hobart Mills |
The Sagehen Hills are a group of small mountains in Nevada County, California. They are not very tall, but they are an important part of the local environment. These hills are special because they are used for scientific research.
What are the Sagehen Hills?
The Sagehen Hills are a low mountain range. They are found in the northern part of California. These hills are part of a larger area called the Sagehen Creek watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into one main river or stream. In this case, the water flows into Sagehen Creek.
The highest point in the Sagehen Hills is about 2,131 meters (6,991 feet) above sea level. Even though they are not as famous as bigger mountains, they play a key role in their local ecosystem.
A Place for Science: Sagehen Experimental Forest
The Sagehen Hills are completely inside the Sagehen Experimental Forest. An experimental forest is like a giant outdoor laboratory. Scientists study nature here. They learn about trees, animals, water, and how everything works together.
The Sagehen Creek Field Station was started in 1951. Since then, research has been a very important part of managing the Sagehen area. Scientists come here to study many things. They help us understand how forests grow and how to protect them.
How the Hills Were Formed: Geology
The Sagehen Hills have a unique history. They are mostly made of volcanic material. This means they were formed by ancient volcanoes. Over time, layers of ash and rock built up. This created the hills we see today.
Most of the land around the Sagehen Hills, like the Tahoe-Donner area, was shaped by glaciers. Glaciers are huge sheets of ice that move slowly. They can carve out valleys and scrape away rock. But the Sagehen Hills were not covered by these glaciers. This is why they look different from the nearby areas. They are made of "un-glaciated volcanic overburden." This means they have layers of volcanic rock that were not scraped away by ice.
