Spruce Mountain (Nevada) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spruce Mountain |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 10,267 ft (3,129 m) NAVD 88 |
| Prominence | 3,930 ft (1,198 m) |
| Geography | |
 Spruce Mountain
Location in Nevada
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| Location | Elko County, Nevada |
| Parent range | Pequop Mountains |
| Topo map | USGS Spruce Mountain, NV |
| Climbing | |
| Easiest route | A four-wheel drive road ascends directly to the summit |
Spruce Mountain is a cool mountain located in Elko County, Nevada, in the United States. It got its name because of the spruce trees that grow near its top. Spruce Mountain is one of the tallest and most noticeable peaks in Nevada. It ranks as the twenty-fifth most "topographically prominent" mountain in the state. This means it sticks out a lot from the land around it.
The very top of Spruce Mountain is about 10,267 feet (3,129 meters) high! The mountain is part of a long ridge that runs from northeast to southwest. There's also a parallel ridge called Spruce Ridge nearby. To the east, some lower hills connect Spruce Mountain to the Pequop Mountains. A main road, US Route 93, passes by the southwest side of the mountain. Since the mountain is on public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, anyone can visit it.
Contents
History of Spruce Mountain
The western side of Spruce Mountain was a busy place long ago. People mined for valuable metals like copper, silver, and lead there in the late 1800s.
Sprucemont: A Mining Town
To support all the mining activity, a small town called Sprucemont grew up on the western slope of the mountain. This town existed from 1868 until around 1900. After the mines closed, most people left, and now Sprucemont is a ghost town.
Famous People from Sprucemont
Even though it was a small mining town, a famous person was born in Sprucemont. Ralph Hartley, an important electronics researcher, was born there in 1888. He later made big contributions to how we understand and use radio and communication.
Summit Views
From the top of Spruce Mountain, you can see amazing views all around! It's like being on top of the world, with a full 360-degree panorama of the Nevada landscape.
