Santa Catalina Mountains
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The Santa Catalina Mountains are located north of Tucson, Arizona, United States. Commonly referred to as the Catalinas, the mountain range is the most prominent in the Tucson area, with the highest average elevation. The highest point in the Catalinas is Mount Lemmon at an elevation of 9,157 feet above sea level and receives 180 inches of snow annually. The Catalinas were named by Italian Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino in honor of St. Catherine in 1697.
The Catalinas are located in the Coronado National Forest and also include the Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area. The mountain range is also considered a prominent range in the Madrean sky islands.
The Catalinas are a significant focus of recreational activity, with areas such as Sabino Canyon providing streams and perennial pools for visitors. Catalina State Park in the western foothills of the Catalinas attracts visitors for its hiking opportunities and permanent pools in Romero Canyon. The village of Summerhaven on Mount Lemmon serves as a popular summer retreat from the heat of Arizona's lower deserts. Mount Lemmon Ski Valley is also notable as it is the southernmost ski destination in the United States.
Other mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley include the Santa Rita Mountains, the Rincon Mountains, the Tucson Mountains, and the Tortolita Mountains.
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[edit] Notable sites and areas
[edit] Mountains and ridges
- Cathedral Rock
- Mount Bigelow
- Mount Kimball
- Mount Lemmon: highest point
- Pusch Ridge: westernmost point
- Rattlesnake Peak
- Table Mountain
- Thimble Peak
[edit] Canyons
- Bear Canyon
- Box Camp Canyon
- Canyon del Oro: north of Mount Lemmon
- Esperero Canyon
- Pima Canyon: southeast of Pusch Ridge
- Romero Canyon: located in Catalina State Park
- Sabino Canyon
- Ventana Canyon
[edit] Other
- Catalina Highway
- Catalina State Park
- Pusch Ridge Wilderness Area
- Redington Pass
- Summerhaven
- Tanque Verde Falls
[edit] Miscellaneous facts
- Contrary to popular perception, Mount Lemmon is not the highest point in the Tucson area. Mount Wrightson in the nearby Santa Rita Mountains has an elevation of 9,453 feet (2,881 m).
- According to maps of Arizona dating back to 1864, the Santa Catalina Mountains were originally called the Santa Catarina Mountains. The name of the range morphed sometime between 1880 and 1912.
