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Split Mountain (Utah)

Coordinates: 40°29′00″N 109°13′12″W / 40.4832897°N 109.2199848°W / 40.4832897; -109.2199848
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Split Mountain
East aspect, viewed from Ruple Point
Highest point
Elevation7,657 ft (2,334 m)[1][2]
Prominence1,980 ft (604 m)[1]
Parent peakLimber Flag (9,510 ft)[1]
Isolation4.24 mi (6.82 km)[1]
Coordinates40°29′00″N 109°13′12″W / 40.4832897°N 109.2199848°W / 40.4832897; -109.2199848[3]
Geography
Split Mountain is located in Utah
Split Mountain
Split Mountain
Location in Utah
Split Mountain is located in the United States
Split Mountain
Split Mountain
Split Mountain (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateUtah
CountyUintah
Protected areaDinosaur National Monument
Parent rangeUinta Mountains[2]
Topo mapUSGS Split Mountain
Geology
Rock agePermian-Pennsylvanian
Rock typeWeber Sandstone
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2 hiking[1]

Split Mountain is a 7,657-foot-elevation (2,334-meter) summit in Uintah County, Utah, United States.

Description

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Split Mountain is located 13 miles (21 km) east of Vernal, Utah, in Dinosaur National Monument and the eastern Uinta Mountains. Precipitation runoff from this double summit mountain drains into the Green River. Topographic relief is significant as the west summit rises 2,800 feet (853 meters) above the river in 1.3 miles (2.1 km). The lower east summit reaches an elevation of 7,519 feet (2,292 m).[4] Split Mountain is composed of Permian-Pennsylvanian cliff-forming Weber Sandstone with Permian slope-forming Park City Formation around the lower base.[5] The reason that the older Weber Sandstone is seemingly above the younger Park City Formation is because Split Mountain is a nearly symmetrical anticline.[6] This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[3] It is named in association with Split Mountain Canyon, in turn named by John Wesley Powell in 1869 as his expedition passed through this mountain which the Green River split via erosion.[7]

Climate

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Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Split Mountain. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a semi-arid climate zone, with temperatures averaging between 0 °F to 30 °F in January, and 50 °F to 100 °F in July.[8] Typical of high deserts, summer temperatures can be exceedingly hot, while winter temperatures can be very cold. Snowfall is common, but the snow melts rapidly in the arid and sunny climate. Rainfall is very low, and the evaporation rate classifies the area as desert, even though the rainfall exceeds 10 inches.

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Split Mountain, West - 7,657' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  2. ^ a b "Split Mountain, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Split Mountain
  4. ^ "Split Mountain - East Peak, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  5. ^ Geologic Map of Dinosaur National Monument, National Park Service, Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  6. ^ The Geologic Story of the Uinta Mountains, Wallace R. Hansen, U.S. Geological Survey, 1969, p. 37.
  7. ^ Major John Wesley Powell's 1869 Journey Down the Green and Colorado Rivers of Utah, Thomas C. Chidsey Jr., Utah Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-09-21.
  8. ^ Weather Dinosaur National Monument. National Park Service.gov
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