Pah Rah Range
Encyclopedia
The Pah Rah Range is a mountain range
located in western Nevada
in the United States
. It is a north-south running ridge, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long, and is wholly in Washoe County
. It is bounded to the south and east by the Truckee River
, to which its surface runoff
from south and east slopes flow, and to the west by Palomino Valley (which is the northernmost suburb
of Reno
). To the north a low pass separates the Pah Rah Range from the Virginia Mountains
.
The principal peaks (in order from south to north) are Pond Peak (elevation 8035 feet), Virginia Peak (elevation 8367 feet) and Pah Rah Peak (elevation 8249 feet). Both Pond Peak and Virginia Peak host several radio
towers. Virginia Peak is also the site of a doppler radar
station.
"Pah Rah" is a Paiute
term which translates roughly to "Lake Mountain". This term applies to the Virginia Mountains better. This apparent mix-up is likely due to confusion on the part of the early surveyors of the region.
, is famous for producing specimen gold.
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
located in western 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a north-south running ridge, approximately 20 miles (32.2 km) long, and is wholly in Washoe County
Washoe County, Nevada
Washoe County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. The population was 421,407 at the 2010 census. Its county seat is Reno. Washoe County includes the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area.-History:...
. It is bounded to the south and east by the Truckee River
Truckee River
The Truckee River is a stream in the U.S. states of California and Nevada. The river is about long. Its endorheic drainage basin is about , of which about are in Nevada. The Truckee is the sole outlet of Lake Tahoe and drains part of the high Sierra Nevada, emptying into Pyramid Lake in the Great...
, to which its surface runoff
Surface runoff
Surface runoff is the water flow that occurs when soil is infiltrated to full capacity and excess water from rain, meltwater, or other sources flows over the land. This is a major component of the water cycle. Runoff that occurs on surfaces before reaching a channel is also called a nonpoint source...
from south and east slopes flow, and to the west by Palomino Valley (which is the northernmost suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
of Reno
Reno, Nevada
Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area...
). To the north a low pass separates the Pah Rah Range from the Virginia Mountains
Virginia Mountains
The Virginia Mountains is an irregular mountain range entirely in Washoe County, Nevada, that generally extends north-northwest to south-southeast for ~20 miles....
.
The principal peaks (in order from south to north) are Pond Peak (elevation 8035 feet), Virginia Peak (elevation 8367 feet) and Pah Rah Peak (elevation 8249 feet). Both Pond Peak and Virginia Peak host several radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
towers. Virginia Peak is also the site of a doppler radar
NEXRAD
NEXRAD or Nexrad is a network of 159 high-resolution Doppler weather radars operated by the National Weather Service, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of Commerce...
station.
"Pah Rah" is a Paiute
Paiute
Paiute refers to three closely related groups of Native Americans — the Northern Paiute of California, Idaho, Nevada and Oregon; the Owens Valley Paiute of California and Nevada; and the Southern Paiute of Arizona, southeastern California and Nevada, and Utah.-Origin of name:The origin of...
term which translates roughly to "Lake Mountain". This term applies to the Virginia Mountains better. This apparent mix-up is likely due to confusion on the part of the early surveyors of the region.
Olinghouse Gold District
This mining district, located in the eastern foothills about 5 miles NW of Wadsworth, NevadaWadsworth, Nevada
Wadsworth is a census-designated place in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The population was 881 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Reno–Sparks Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was named for General James S. Wadsworth, a Civil War general killed at the battle of the...
, is famous for producing specimen gold.