King-on-his-Throne is a 6,165-foot-elevation (1,879-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.[1]

King-on-his-Throne
North aspect
Highest point
Elevation6,165 ft (1,879 m)[1]
Prominence200 ft (61 m)[2]
Parent peakBrighams Tomb (6,739 ft)[2]
Isolation0.4 mi (0.64 km)[2]
Coordinates37°02′24″N 110°04′44″W / 37.0398989°N 110.0790021°W / 37.0398989; -110.0790021[1]
Geography
King-on-his-Throne is located in Utah
King-on-his-Throne
King-on-his-Throne
Location in Utah
King-on-his-Throne is located in the United States
King-on-his-Throne
King-on-his-Throne
King-on-his-Throne (the United States)
LocationMonument Valley
San Juan County, Utah, U.S.
Parent rangeColorado Plateau[3]
Topo mapUSGS Monument Pass
Geology
Age of rockPermian
Mountain typeButte
Type of rockSandstone
Climbing
First ascent1967

Description

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King-on-his-Throne is situated 4.4 miles (7.1 km) north-northeast of the Monument Valley Tribal Park Visitor Center, on Navajo Nation land. It is an iconic landform of Monument Valley and can be seen from Highway 163. Precipitation runoff from this landform's slopes drains into the San Juan River drainage basin.[3] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 565 feet (172 meters) above the surrounding terrain in 0.2 mile (0.32 km). This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[1] It is so named because the butte resembles a king sitting on a throne looking south to the valley.[4] The first ascent of the summit was made in 1967 by Fred Beckey, Marlene Dalluge, Joe Brown, and Don Liska.[5]

Geology

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King-on-his-Throne is composed of two principal strata. The bottom layer is slope-forming Organ Rock Shale and the upper stratum is cliff-forming De Chelly Sandstone. The rock was deposited during the Permian period. The buttes and mesas of Monument Valley are the result of the Organ Rock Shale being more easily eroded than the overlaying sandstone.[6]

Climate

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Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit King-on-his-Throne. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers. Summers average 54 days above 90 °F (32 °C) annually, and highs rarely exceed 100 °F (38 °C). Summer nights are comfortably cool, and temperatures drop quickly after sunset. Winters are cold, but daytime highs are usually above freezing. Winter temperatures below 0 °F (−18 °C) are uncommon, though possible. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.[7]

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "King-on-his-Throne". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  2. ^ a b c "King-on-his-Throne - 6,180' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  3. ^ a b "King-on-his-Throne, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  4. ^ Monument Valley, City of Aztec, aztecnm.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  5. ^ First Ascent Timeline, deserttowersbook.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  6. ^ Monument Valley, Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  7. ^ Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona
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