Mount Magazine
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Mount Magazine | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 2,753 Feet (840 meters)[1] |
| Location | Arkansas, USA |
| Range | Magazine Mountains |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Blue Mountain |
| Type | Sandstone |
| Age of rock | Precambrian |
| Easiest route | hike |
Mount Magazine is the tallest mountain in the state of Arkansas and is the site of Arkansas's newest state park. The greatest number of peaks over 2,500 feet is actually in Newton County, Arkansas near the Buffalo National River making it a far more mountainous area, whereas Mount Magazine is 2,753 feet (840 m) above sea level.[1] The mountain is a flat-topped plateau with a sandstone cap rimmed by precipitous rock cliffs. Two peaks are situated atop the plateau, Signal Hill, which is often identified as the tallest point in Arkansas, and Mossback Ridge, which reaches 2,700 feet (822 m).
Mount Magazine sits in the midst of the Ozark National Forest in the Arkansas River Valley approximately 17 miles (27 km) south of Paris, Logan County, Arkansas, on Scenic Highway 309 (also known as the Mount Magazine Scenic Byway). The most scenic route to the top is a beautiful 10 mile (16 km) drive north from Havana, Arkansas. Spectacular views of Blue Mountain Lake will be enjoyed throughout the journey.
The park offers 18 campsites, hiking trails, pavilion and picnic area with restrooms, and assorted scenic overlooks. The visitor's center maintains an exhibit gallery and gift shop. Interpretive programs are presented by the park staff on a regular basis. Rock climbing, horseback riding, biking, ATV trail riding, and hang gliding are available activities. A multi-million dollar lodge and 13 cliffside cabins was opened on May 18, 2006. The 66,617 square-foot rustic-style lodge offers 60 guest rooms, a grand lobby, a conference center, a business center, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness center, a gift shop, and panoramic views.[2]
Mount Magazine is the site of the annual "Mount Magazine International Butterfly Festival". The mountain provides habitat for 94 of the 126 butterfly species found throughout Arkansas, including the Diana Fritillary, a rare butterfly found almost exclusively in the river valley area. The mountain is also home to black bear, whitetail deer, bobcat, and coyote as well as other species.
The mountain is often called "the highest point between the Alleghenies and the Rockies" but there are areas in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota with higher elevations.
This is a view from the top of Mount Magazine looking northwest to the valley below.
[edit] See also
- List of U.S. states by elevation
- Mountain peaks of North America
- Mountain peaks of the United States
[edit] References
- ^ a b Elevations and Distances in the United States. U.S Geological Survey (29 April 2005). Retrieved on November 9, 2006.
- ^ Mount Magazine State Park. Mount Magazine State Park (2007). Retrieved on May 15, 2007.
[edit] External links
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