Harquahala Mountains

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The Harquahala Mountains are the highest mountain range in southwestern Arizona, USA and are located southwest of the towns of Aguila and Wenden. The name originated from the local Native American people "Aha qua hala" which meant "water there is high up". The high point near the west end rises to 1732 meters. The summit can be reached via a rough, 4-wheel drive road. This high point was used by the U.S. Army in the 1880's as a heliograph station. Then in 1920 a Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory was constructed on this summit and operated for five years before being relocated to Table Mountain, near Wrightwood, California. Its purpose was to study variations in the solar output as a possible factor in climate prediction.

Harquahala Mountains viewed from north side following an unusually wet spring. Bright yellow shrubs are Brittle Bush, Encelia farinosa.

The Harquahala Mountain Wilderness Area lies to the north and east of the summit.

At the southwest end of the mountain range, there are gypsum mines and in the past there were extenive mines for gold and silver.

[edit] External links

Harquahala at wilderness.net

[edit] References

• Burgraaf, Pieter Harqua Hala Leters. Arizona State Office of the Bureau of Land Management, Arizona Cultural Resource Series No. 9.

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