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Hesperus Mountain (Colorado)

Coordinates: 37°26′42″N 108°05′20″W / 37.4449971°N 108.0889642°W / 37.4449971; -108.0889642
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This article is about the peak in Colorado. For the peak in Alaska, see Mount Hesperus (Alaska).
Hesperus Mountain
Dibé Ntsaa (in Navajo)
Hesperus Mountain
Highest point
Elevation13,237 ft (4,035 m)[1][2]
Prominence2,852 ft (869 m)[2]
Isolation24.53 mi (39.48 km)[2]
Listing
Coordinates37°26′42″N 108°05′20″W / 37.4449971°N 108.0889642°W / 37.4449971; -108.0889642[3]
Geography
Hesperus Mountain is located in Colorado
Hesperus Mountain
Hesperus Mountain
LocationHigh point of Montezuma County, Colorado, United States[2]
Parent rangeHighest summit of the
La Plata Mountains[2]
Topo map(s)USGS 7.5' topographic map
La Plata, Colorado[3]
Climbing
Easiest routeScramble

Hesperus Mountain (Navajo: Dibé Ntsaa meaning "Big Mountain Sheep"[4]) is the highest summit of the La Plata Mountains range of the Rocky Mountains of North America. The prominent 13,237-foot (4,035 m) thirteener is located in San Juan National Forest, 13.2 miles (21.2 km) northeast by east (bearing 59°) of the Town of Mancos in Montezuma County, Colorado, United States. The summit of Hesperus Mountain is the highest point in Montezuma County.[1][2][3]

Mountain

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Though not of particularly high elevation for the region, Hesperus Mountain is visually quite prominent, as it is near the southern edge of the San Juan Mountains and rises over 7,000 ft (2,100 m) above the area.

Hesperus is notable as the Navajo People's Sacred Mountain of the North, Dibé Ntsaa, which marks the northern boundary of the Dinetah, their traditional homeland. It is associated with the color black, and is said to be impregnated with jet. When First Man created the mountain as a replica of mountains in the Fourth World, he fastened it to the ground with a rainbow and covered it in darkness.[5]

The San Juan Mountains have been the traditional homeland of the Ute People. http://www.dargnet.org http://uintahbasintah.org/maps/ubsw.jpg

Along with Ute the La Plata Mountain Range has also been the early homeland of the Navajo People who had settled on and near this mountain and the La Plata Mountain Range.

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  • Aerial view of the mountain
    Aerial view of the mountain
  • Hesperus seen from Centennial Peak
    Hesperus seen from Centennial Peak
  • Aerial from west: Hesperus, Lavender, Moss
    Aerial from west: Hesperus, Lavender, Moss
  • Hesperus Mountain (left) and Mount Moss (center) from the west at sunset
    Hesperus Mountain (left) and Mount Moss (center) from the west at sunset
  • Hesperus Mountain in Spring
    Hesperus Mountain in Spring

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b The elevation of Hesperus Mountain includes an adjustment of +1.650 m (+5.41 ft) from NGVD 29 to NAVD 88.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Hesperus Mountain, Colorado". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c "Hesperus Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 20, 2014.
  4. ^ Carey, Harold. "Mount Hesperus – Navajo Sacred Mountain". Navajo People.
  5. ^ Robert S. McPherson, Sacred Land, Sacred View: Navajo perceptions of the Four Corners Region, Brigham Young University, ISBN 1-56085-008-6.
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