Sierra Vieja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sierra Vieja |
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|---|---|
South and North
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Capote Peak |
| Elevation | 6,212 ft (1,893 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 16 mi (26 km) |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Geology | |
| Type of rock | Igneous |
The Sierra Vieja is a small mountain range located in West Texas. It sits about 42 miles northwest of the city of Marfa. This range stretches for 16 miles from north to south. It is found in parts of Jeff Davis County and Presidio County.
Locally, people sometimes call these mountains the Candelaria Rim Rock. The Sierra Vieja are actually the southernmost part of the Southern Rocky Mountains in North America. The name "Sierra Vieja" comes from Spanish and means "old mountains."
Capote Peak is the tallest and most famous mountain in the Sierra Vieja range. It is located about 14 miles northwest of Farm Road 2810. This peak reaches an elevation of 6,212 feet above sea level. Its top rises 1,882 feet above a nearby stream called Capote Creek. The peak is at the southeastern edge of the mountain range.
The name "Capote" means "cloak" or "cape" in Spanish. This might refer to the fog and mist that sometimes cover the peak. Some local stories say the name is linked to a Lipan Apache chief named Capote. He was known to live in this area around the year 1850.
History of the Sierra Vieja
Evidence from old sites shows that people have lived in the Sierra Vieja for a very long time. In 1535, Cabeza de Vaca was the first European to explore the Big Bend area. When he traveled along the Rio Grande, he met many Native American groups.
Many ancient Native American sites have been found along Walker Creek and Capote Creek. This proves that people lived here for thousands of years. Later, the Apache people made the Sierra Vieja their home. The presence of Native Americans in the area made it hard for cattle ranching to start. Ranching only really began in the late 1800s.
The Sierra Vieja mountains have often acted like an unofficial border. West of these mountains, Spanish language and culture were very common. This was true on both sides of the Rio Grande. Today, most of the Sierra Vieja range is still part of several large ranches.
Geology and Plants
The Sierra Vieja mountains were formed by large volcanic eruptions. These eruptions started about 39 million years ago and continued for about four million years. The mountains are made up of different types of igneous rock from this time.
The soil in the Sierra Vieja is shallow and rocky. Despite this, many plants grow here. You can find live oak trees, piñon pine, juniper, and other conifer trees. There are also many types of cacti and grasses.
A special plant called the Hinckley columbine also lives here. It is a type of Aquilegia chrysantha. This plant has delicate, fern-like leaves and bright yellow flowers. It can grow up to three and a half feet tall. The Hinckley columbine is very rare. It only grows in one place: Capote Falls in the Sierra Vieja.
Capote Falls is the tallest waterfall in Texas, dropping 175 feet. It is fed by springs from Capote Creek. Even though it's in one of the driest parts of Texas, the waterfall always flows. This is because it's a main drainage point from the Sierra Vieja to the Rio Grande. The waterfall is located on private land.
