Big Indian (Utah)

Big Indian
West aspect
Highest point
Elevation	6,120 ft (1,865 m) [1]
Prominence	580 ft (177 m) [1]
Parent peak	Brighams Tomb (6,739 ft) [1]
Isolation	0.93 mi (1.50 km) [1]
Coordinates	37°01′13″N110°05′31″W / 37.0203836°N 110.0919079°W / 37.0203836; -110.0919079 [2]
Geography
Big Indian Location in Utah Show map of Utah Big Indian Big Indian (the United States) Show map of the United States
Location	Monument Valley San Juan County, Utah, U.S.
Parent range	Colorado Plateau [3]
Topo map	USGS Monument Pass
Geology
Rock age	Permian
Mountain type	Butte
Rock type	Sandstone

Big Indian is a 6,120-foot-elevation (1,865-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States. ^[2]

Description

Big Indian is situated three miles (4.8 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 700 feet (213 meters) above the surrounding terrain in 0.25 mile (0.4 km). The nearest higher summit is Sentinel Mesa, 0.62 miles (1.00 km) to the southwest. ^[3] This landform's toponym was officially adopted in 1964 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. ^[2] It is so named because the butte resembles the face of a native American looking south-southeast into the valley. ^[4] "Big Chief" and "Big Indian Butte" were alternate names that were ultimately rejected. ^[5]

Geology

Big Indian is composed of two principal strata. The bottom layer is slope-forming Organ Rock Shale underlaying 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

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Big Indian. 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]

Gallery

• 
  Brighams Tomb (left), Castle Rock (center), Big Indian (right)
• 
• 
  Big Indian to right, Castle Rock to left
• 
  South aspect
• 
  Big Indian to right
• 
  West aspect with dusting of autumn snow

See also

• List of appearances of Monument Valley in the media

References

1. "Big Indian - 6,120' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
2. "Big Indian". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2024-08-28.
3. "Big Indian, Utah". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
4. Monument Valley, City of Aztec, aztecnm.com, Retrieved 2024-08-28.
5. United States Board on Geographic Names, Decisions on Geographic Names in the United States, Decision List No. 6403, 1965, page 45.
6. Monument Valley, Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-08-24.
7. Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona

External links

• Weather: Big Indian