Spanish Peaks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spanish Peaks |
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|---|---|
| Huajatolla | |
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | West Spanish Peak |
| Elevation | 13,631 ft (4,155 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 3,666 ft (1,117 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Area | 28 sq mi (73 km2) |
| Geography | |
 Location in Colorado
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| Location | Huerfano County, Colorado |
| Range coordinates | 37°23′N 104°57′W / 37.38°N 104.95°W |
| Designated: | 1976 |
The Spanish Peaks are two tall mountains in Colorado. You can find them in the southwestern part of Huerfano County. The Comanche people have a special name for them: Huajatolla (say it like wah-hah-TOY-uh). This name means "double mountain," which makes sense because there are two main peaks!
These two peaks are West Spanish Peak (about 13,626 ft (4,153 m)) and East Spanish Peak (about 12,683 ft (3,866 m)). They stand apart from the nearby Sangre de Cristo Mountains. West Spanish Peak is actually the most eastern mountain in the United States that is over 13,000 ft (4,000 m) high. The Spanish Peaks are located about 100 miles (160 km) south of Colorado Springs.
How the Spanish Peaks Were Formed
The Spanish Peaks were created by two separate events deep underground. This happened a very long time ago, during a period called the Late-Oligocene epoch. During this time, hot, melted rock (called magma) pushed up from deep inside the Earth. It didn't reach the surface to erupt like a volcano. Instead, it cooled and hardened underground.
Over millions of years, the softer rock around these hardened magma areas wore away. This process, called erosion, slowly exposed the harder rock that now forms the peaks we see today. West Spanish Peak is made of a type of rock called quartz syenite. East Spanish Peak is made of granodiorite porphyry and granite porphyry.
Important Landmarks
The Spanish Peaks are very special. In 1976, they were named a National Natural Landmark. This means they are one of the best places to see examples of something called igneous dikes. Dikes are like giant walls of rock that formed when magma squeezed into cracks in older rocks and then cooled.
These mountains were also a very important landmark for travelers on the historic Santa Fe Trail. People could see them from far away, helping them find their way. You can still see the Spanish Peaks from places like Colorado Springs (over 102 miles (164 km) away), Alamosa (about 85 miles (137 km) away), and even from Raton, New Mexico (about 65 miles (105 km) away).
Exploring the Wilderness
A large area around the peaks is protected as the Spanish Peaks Wilderness. This wilderness covers about 17,855 acres (28 sq mi; 72 km2). It's a great place for hiking and exploring nature. Many people enjoy walking the trails and seeing the beautiful views from the summits of both Spanish Peaks.
See also
In Spanish: Picos Españoles para niños
