Wah Wah Mountains facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wah Wah Mountains |
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A storm hits Wah Wah Valley and the Wah Wah Mountains.
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Wah Wah Mountains High Point |
| Elevation | 9,393 ft (2,863 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 63 mi (101 km) N/S |
| Width | 27 mi (43 km) E/W |
| Area | 924 sq mi (2,390 km2) |
| Geography | |
 Wah Wah Mountains
Location in Utah
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| Country | United States |
| State | Utah |
The Wah Wah Mountains are a mountain range in west-central Utah, in the United States. This range runs from north to south. It is part of a larger area called the Basin and Range Province.
The mountains are surrounded by other natural features. To the west is Pine Valley. To the east is Wah Wah Valley. The Escalante Desert is to the south. The Confusion Range continues the mountain line to the north.
The Wah Wah Mountains are located in Beaver and Millard counties. State Route 21 cuts through the mountains. It crosses over Wah Wah Summit, which is about 6,500 feet (1,980 m) above sea level. The mountains' height ranges from about 6,000 feet (1,800 m) at their base to 9,393 feet (2,863 m) in the southern part.
The name "Wah Wah" comes from Wah Wah Springs. These springs are found on the eastern side of the mountain range. The name "Wah Wah" is said to mean "good clear water."
Protecting the Land
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) takes care of most of the land in the Wah Wah Mountains. The BLM is a government agency that manages public lands. They have set aside two special areas here. These are called wilderness study areas. One is in the northern part of the range, and the other is in the central part. These areas are protected to keep them wild and natural.
Mountain Geology
The Wah Wah Mountains are made of different kinds of rocks. The oldest rocks are sedimentary rocks. These include limestone, dolomite, shale, and sandstone. Some of these have changed into quartzite over time.
Younger volcanic rocks cover these older layers. These volcanic rocks are found on the eastern side of the mountains. They include rocks like basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyolite, and tuff.
Special Features
The mountains are famous for a rare gemstone called red beryl. This red beryl is mined here. It is the only place in the world where this specific type of red beryl is found.
One of the most well-known spots is Crystal Peak. It is in the northern part of the range. Crystal Peak is what's left of an ancient rhyolite tuff rock. This rock has many quartz crystals that are pointed at both ends.
About 30 million years ago, a huge supervolcano erupted here. This eruption was massive. It shot out more than 5,900 cubic kilometers of material. That's a lot of rock and ash!
In Other Media
- The Wah Wah Mountains appear in the science fiction novel EarthCore. This book was written by Scott Sigler.
