Dead Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Dead Mountains are a mountain range in the southeastern Mojave Desert
, in San Bernardino County
, California
. The range borders the tri-state intersection of Nevada
, Arizona
and California
, and the Mohave Valley
, with the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
bordering the range foothills on the east and northeast, in the three states.
. They border the Colorado River
on the east, and the Piute Wash
of the Piute Valley
on the west. Piute wash drains south, then turns east for 8 mi at the south of the range to meet the Colorado River.
Mount Manchester
is the highest point at 3598 feet (1,097 m).
. They are maintained by the Bureau of Land Management
. The vegetation is mostly creosote bush and desert wash scrub. The California Desert Conservation Area is located within the wilderness and Smoke trees are found there.
The wildlife found on the mountains includes coyote
, a small herd of bighorn sheep
, rattlesnakes, falcon
s, hawks, eagle
s. A portion of the wilderness is critical habitat for the endangered Desert Tortoise
.
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
, in San Bernardino County
San Bernardino County, California
San Bernardino County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, the population was 2,035,210, up from 1,709,434 as of the 2000 census...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The range borders the tri-state intersection of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, and the Mohave Valley
Mohave Valley
The Mohave Valley is a small valley, mostly on the east shore of the south-flowing Colorado River in northwest Arizona; the valley borders southeast California's San Bernardino County; also, the north of the valley borders extreme southeast Clark County, Nevada...
, with the Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
Fort Mojave Indian Reservation
The Fort Mojave Indian Reservation is an Indian reservation along the Colorado River, currently encompassing 23,669 acres in Arizona, 12,633 acres in California, and 5,582 acres in Nevada. The reservation was originally established in 1870 and is now home to approximately 1,100 members of the...
bordering the range foothills on the east and northeast, in the three states.
Geography
The Dead Mountains are 12 miles (19 km) northwest of Needles, CaliforniaNeedles, California
Needles is a city located in the Mojave Desert on the western banks of the Colorado River in San Bernardino County, California. It is located in the Mohave Valley, which straddles the California–Arizona border. The city is accessible via Interstate 40 and U.S. Route 95...
. They border the Colorado River
Colorado River
The Colorado River , is a river in the Southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately long, draining a part of the arid regions on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains. The watershed of the Colorado River covers in parts of seven U.S. states and two Mexican states...
on the east, and the Piute Wash
Piute Wash
The Piute Wash of extreme southeastern Nevada and northeast San Bernardino County California is the south-flowing drainage of the Piute Valley. The wash and valley are located northwest of Needles, California....
of the Piute Valley
Piute Valley
The Piute Valley is a long north-south valley southeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, and northwest of Needles. The north of the valley is at Searchlight, with some of the valley extending northwest from Searchlight. At the center-north lies Cal-Nev-Ari, Nevada....
on the west. Piute wash drains south, then turns east for 8 mi at the south of the range to meet the Colorado River.
Mount Manchester
Mount Manchester
Mount Manchester is the highest peak in the Dead Mountains of extreme northeastern San Bernardino County, California, in the Mojave Desert.-Dead Mountains Wilderness:...
is the highest point at 3598 feet (1,097 m).
Dead Mountains Wilderness
The rust colored mountains, which cover forty six thousand seven hundred fifty eight acres were designated the Dead Mountains Wilderness in 1994 by the United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. They are maintained by the Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
. The vegetation is mostly creosote bush and desert wash scrub. The California Desert Conservation Area is located within the wilderness and Smoke trees are found there.
The wildlife found on the mountains includes coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
, a small herd of bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, rattlesnakes, falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
s, hawks, eagle
Eagle
Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...
s. A portion of the wilderness is critical habitat for the endangered Desert Tortoise
Desert Tortoise
The desert tortoise is a species of tortoise native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. They can be located in western Arizona, southeastern California, southern Nevada, and southwestern Utah. The species name agassizii is in honor of...
.
See also
- Category: Flora of the California desert regions
- Category: Mountain ranges of the Mojave Desert
- Category: Protected areas of the Mojave Desert