King-on-his-Throne

Last updated
King-on-his-Throne
King-on-his-Throne, n.jpg
North aspect
Highest point
Elevation 6,165 ft (1,879 m) [1]
Prominence 200 ft (61 m) [2]
Parent peak Brighams Tomb (6,739 ft) [2]
Isolation 0.4 mi (0.64 km) [2]
Coordinates 37°02′24″N110°04′44″W / 37.0398989°N 110.0790021°W / 37.0398989; -110.0790021 [1]
Geography
USA Utah relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
King-on-his-Throne
Location in Utah
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
King-on-his-Throne
King-on-his-Throne (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
Climbing
First ascent 1967

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

Contents

Description

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

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

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]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "King-on-his-Throne". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  2. 1 2 3 "King-on-his-Throne - 6,180' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-30.
  3. 1 2 "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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