Santiago Peak is a 6,522-foot-elevation (1,988-meter) summit in Brewster County, Texas, United States.

Santiago Peak
East-northeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation6,522 ft (1,988 m)[1]
Prominence2,440 ft (744 m)[1]
Parent peakMount Ord (6,803 ft)[2]
Isolation24.34 mi (39.17 km)[2]
Coordinates29°50′07″N 103°24′59″W / 29.8351774°N 103.4162792°W / 29.8351774; -103.4162792[3]
Geography
Santiago Peak is located in Texas
Santiago Peak
Santiago Peak
Location of Santiago Peak in Texas
Santiago Peak is located in the United States
Santiago Peak
Santiago Peak
Santiago Peak (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountyBrewster
Parent rangeSantiago Mountains[1]
Topo mapUSGS Santiago Peak
Geology
Rock age35 Ma (Eocene)
Mountain typeVolcanic plug
Rock typeIgneous rock (Syenite)[4]
Volcanic arcTrans-Pecos Volcanic Field
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 2+[2]

Description

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Santiago Peak is the highest point in the Santiago Mountains and it ranks eighth in topographic prominence in the state of Texas.[1] It is set in the Chihuahuan Desert where it is a landmark seen for many miles from Highway 118. Although modest in elevation, topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,500 feet (762 m) above the surrounding terrain in 1.25 mile (2 km). The lofty summit served as a lookout for Apache, with remnants of their campsite still found there.[5] The mountain is composed of syenite, a 35 million-year-old igneous rock that intruded Cretaceous sedimentary rock, mostly limestones.[6][7] Based on the Köppen climate classification, Santiago Peak is located in a hot arid climate zone with hot summers and mild winters.[8] This desert climate supports scrub brush, creosote bush, cacti, grasses, live oak, and mesquite growing on the slopes.[6] Any scant precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains to the Rio Grande via Chalk Draw, Nine Point Draw, and Maravillas Creek. The mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names,[3] and has been reported in publications since at least 1902.[9] Legend has it that the mountain was named after Santiago, an Indian fighter from Presidio del Norte who was killed by Apache at the base of this peak.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Santiago Peak, Texas". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  2. ^ a b c "Santiago Peak - 6,524' TX". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  3. ^ a b "Santiago Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  4. ^ Western Texas and Carlsbad Caverns, Nelson Horatio Darton, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1932, p. 12.
  5. ^ "Santiago Peak". Encyclopædia Britannica. 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ a b Santiago Peak, Texas State Historical Association, Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  7. ^ Geology of the Santiago Peak quadrangle, Texas, G.K. Eifler, Jr., October 1, 1943, Geoscienceworld.org, Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  8. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L.; McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11. ISSN 1027-5606.
  9. ^ The Terlingua Quicksilver Deposits, Brewster County, Benj. F. Hill, University of Texas Mineral Survey, October 1902, p. 13.
  10. ^ Lonn Taylor, Turning the Pages of Texas, Texas A&M University Press, 2019, ISBN 9780875657202.
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