White Top Mountain (California)

White Top Mountain is a 7,607-foot-elevation (2,319-meter) summit in Inyo County, California, United States.

White Top Mountain
East aspect
Highest point
Elevation7,607 ft (2,319 m)[1][2]
Prominence687 ft (209 m)[1]
Parent peakPeak 8261[2]
Isolation2.5 mi (4.0 km)[2]
Coordinates36°46′48″N 117°24′46″W / 36.7800807°N 117.4128956°W / 36.7800807; -117.4128956[3]
Geography
White Top Mountain is located in California
White Top Mountain
White Top Mountain
Location in California
White Top Mountain is located in the United States
White Top Mountain
White Top Mountain
White Top Mountain (the United States)
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyInyo
Protected areaDeath Valley National Park
Parent rangePanamint Range[1]
Cottonwood Mountains
Topo mapUSGS White Top Mountain
Geology
Age of rockOrdovician
Mountain typeFault block
Type of rockSedimentary rock

Description

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White Top Mountain is part of the Cottonwood Mountains which are the northern extension of the Panamint Range.[4] It is set within Death Valley National Park and the Mojave Desert. Precipitation runoff from this landform drains to Death Valley via Dry Bone Canyon. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 7,100 feet (2,164 meters) above the valley floor in 7.5 miles (12.1 km). The mountain is composed of Ordovician limestone, a marine sedimentary rock.[5] This mountain's toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.[3]

Climate

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According to the Köppen climate classification system, White Top Mountain has a cold desert climate, with the lower valleys in a hot desert climate zone. Temperatures average between 0 °F to 30 °F in January, and 50 °F to 100 °F in July.[6] Typical of high deserts, summer temperatures can be exceedingly hot, while winter temperatures can be very cold. Snowfall is common, but the snow melts rapidly in the arid and sunny climate. Rainfall is very low, and the evaporation rate classifies the area as desert.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "White Top Mountain, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  2. ^ a b c "White Top Mountain - 7,607' CA". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-09-25.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: White Top Mountain
  4. ^ Historic Resource Study, a History of Mining in Death Valley National Monument,, Volume 1, Linda W. Greene, 1981, p. 12.
  5. ^ Geologic Map of California Death Valley Sheet, Robert Streitz, 1974, State of California Department of Conservation, conservation.ca.gov
  6. ^ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrology and Earth System Sciences. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi:10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007. ISSN 1027-5606. S2CID 9654551.
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