Queen Victoria Rock

Last updated
Queen Victoria Rock
Queen Victoria Rock.jpg
West aspect
Highest point
Elevation 4,780 ft (1,457 m) [1]
Prominence 120 ft (37 m) [2]
Isolation 0.39 mi (0.63 km) [2]
Coordinates 38°37′39″N109°35′56″W / 38.62750°N 109.5990°W / 38.62750; -109.5990 [1]
Naming
Etymology Queen Victoria
Geography
USA Utah relief location map.svg
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Queen Victoria Rock
Location in Utah
Usa edcp relief location map.png
Red triangle with thick white border.svg
Queen Victoria Rock
Queen Victoria Rock (the United States)
CountryUnited States
State Utah
County Grand
Protected area Arches National Park
Parent range Colorado Plateau
Topo map USGS The Windows Section
Geology
Age of rock Jurassic
Type of rock Entrada Sandstone
Climbing
First ascent 1986

Queen Victoria Rock is a 4,780-foot-elevation (1,457-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah, United States.

Contents

Description

Queen Victoria Rock is located within Arches National Park and like many of the rock formations in the park, it is composed of Entrada Sandstone, specifically the Slick Rock Member overlaying the Dewey Bridge Member. [3] Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 400 feet (122 meters) above the Park Avenue Trail in 250 feet (76 meters) laterally. Precipitation runoff from Queen Victoria Rock drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, [1] and is so named because the feature resembles the profile of Queen Victoria sitting on a chair, although it may look more like Whistler's Mother . [4] The first ascent of the summit was made in November 1986 by Charlie Fowler and Dan Grandusky via Dusty Shadows rock-climbing route (III, A-2+). [5] Charlie Fowler and Alison Sheets also climbed the route, Queen For A Day, rated (I, A-2). [6]

Climate

According to the Köppen climate classification system, Queen Victoria Rock is located in a cold semi-arid climate zone with cold winters and hot summers. [7] Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to experience Arches National Park, when highs average 60 to 80 °F (15 to 25 °C) and lows average 30 to 50 °F (0 to 10 °C). Summer temperatures often exceed 100 °F (40 °C). Winters are cold, with highs averaging 30 to 50 °F (0 to 10 °C), and lows averaging 0 to 20 °F (−20 to −5 °C). As part of a high desert region, it can experience wide daily temperature fluctuations. The park receives an average of less than 10 inches (25 cm) of rain annually.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monster Tower</span>

Monster Tower is a 600-foot (180-meter) tall sandstone tower located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathedral Mountain (Zion National Park)</span> Mountain in the state of Utah

Cathedral Mountain is a 6,930-foot (2,110 m) elevation Navajo Sandstone summit located in Zion National Park, in Washington County of southwest Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washer Woman</span> Sandstone arch and tower in Utah, US

Washer Woman is a 500-foot (150-meter) tall sandstone arch and tower located in the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands National Park, in San Juan County, Utah. It is situated 300 feet northwest of the slightly higher Monster Tower. Washer Woman is so named because the feature gives the appearance of a washerwoman bent over a washtub. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1986 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names after previously having similar names such as Washer-Woman Arch and The Washer Woman. Washer Woman and Monster Tower are an eroded fin composed of Wingate Sandstone, which is the remains of wind-borne sand dunes deposited approximately 200 million years ago in the Late Triassic. Airport Tower is set 1.6 mi (2.6 km) to the east, and Mesa Arch is situated 1.5 mi (2.4 km) to the west. A short hike to Mesa Arch provides the easiest view of Washer Woman. Access to this formation is via the four-wheel drive White Rim Road, which is the other option to see it. The top of this geological formation rises 1,300 feet above the road in approximately one mile. Precipitation runoff from Washer Woman drains southeast into the nearby Colorado River via Buck Canyon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owl Rock</span> Landform in Navajo County, Arizona

Owl Rock is a 6,547-foot elevation sandstone summit located south of Monument Valley, in northeast Arizona. It is situated 7 miles (11 km) north of Kayenta on Navajo Nation land, and can be seen from Highway 163 perched on the east edge of Tyende Mesa, where it towers 1,000 feet above the surrounding terrain. Its nearest higher neighbor is Agathla Peak, 1.4 miles (2.3 km) to the east-northeast, on the opposite side of this highway. Precipitation runoff from this feature drains into El Capitan Wash, which is part of the San Juan River drainage basin. The first ascent of Owl Rock was made in April 1966 by Fred Beckey and Harvey Carter by climbing cracks on the west face, and then bolting up a smooth south nose to the summit. They employed 20 pitons and 14 bolts on this route called Warpath. The descriptive name stems from its uncanny resemblance to an owl when viewed from the east. This feature is known as Bee 'Adizí in Navajo language meaning "spindle", and this sacred place is considered to be a spindle left behind by the Holy People. A newer name for it is Tsé Ts'óózí, meaning "Slim Rock".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridger Jack Butte</span> Rock formation in Utah, United States

Bridger Jack Butte is a sandstone butte located in Bears Ears National Monument, in San Juan County, Utah, United States. Set at the northern tip of Bridger Jack Mesa and above the confluence of Indian and Lavender Creeks, the summit rises to an elevation of 5,890 feet, and towers over 700 feet above the surrounding terrain and floor of Lavender Canyon to its west. This landmark is situated four miles southeast of the Sixshooter Peaks, and is visible from State Route 211 between Newspaper Rock and the Needles District of Canyonlands National Park. "Bridger Jack" was a Paiute medicine man.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kissing Couple</span>

Kissing Couple is a 5,815-foot-elevation (1,772-meter) sandstone pillar located in Colorado National Monument, in Mesa County of western Colorado, United States. This iconic 400-foot-high tower is situated on the west side of Monument Canyon, 1.5 mile southeast of the monument's visitor center, and nine miles (14 km) west of the community of Grand Junction. It is also a half-mile south-southeast of another popular climbing destination, Independence Monument, and both can be seen from viewpoints along Rim Rock Drive. It is so named because it resembles an embracing couple. This geographical feature's name was officially adopted in 1982 by the United States Board on Geographic Names. Older USGS maps have the feature's name misplaced by about one-half mile to the southeast. The first ascent of the summit was made May 4, 1960, by Layton Kor, Harvey Carter, and John Auld via the five pitch, class 5.11a route named Long Dong Wall. The first free ascent was made in 1977 by Andy Petefish, Tom Stubbs, and Jim Pearson. Some climbers alternatively refer to Kissing Couple as "Bell Tower."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Gossips</span> Natural rock formation in Utah, US

The Three Gossips is a 4,700-foot-elevation (1,433-meter) sandstone pillar in Grand County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Castle Butte (Valley of the Gods)</span>

Castle Butte is a 5,700-foot-elevation (1,737-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rooster Butte</span>

Rooster Butte is a 5,145-foot-elevation (1,568-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">De Gaulle and His Troops</span>

De Gaulle and His Troops is a 5,540-foot-elevation (1,689-meter) summit in San Juan County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Argon Tower</span>

Argon Tower is a 4,750-foot-elevation (1,448-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah. It is located within Arches National Park and like many of the rock formations in the park, Argon Tower is composed of Entrada Sandstone. The tower is 260 feet tall, and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 450 feet vertically above the Park Avenue Trail in 400 feet laterally. Precipitation runoff from Argon Tower drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. This landform was shown briefly in the opening scene credits of the 1989 American action-adventure film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Three Penguins</span>

Three Penguins is a 4,488-foot-elevation (1,368-meter) summit in Grand County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tower of Babel (Utah)</span>

Tower of Babel is a 4,655-foot-elevation (1,419-meter) summit in Grand County, Utah. It is located within Arches National Park and like many of the rock formations in the park, it is composed of Entrada Sandstone. The tower is 500 feet tall, and topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 500 feet vertically above the main park road in approximately 200 feet laterally. Precipitation runoff from Tower of Babel drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names. This landform was shown briefly in the opening scene of the 1989 American action-adventure film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Organ (Arches National Park)</span>

The Organ is a 4,735-foot-elevation (1,443-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah, United States

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Queen Nefertiti Rock</span>

Queen Nefertiti Rock is a 4,741-foot-elevation (1,445-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah. The feature is located within Arches National Park and like many of the rock formations in the park, Queen Nefertiti Rock is composed of Entrada Sandstone. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 400 feet above the Park Avenue Trail in 0.1 mile. Precipitation runoff from Queen Nefertiti Rock drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names, and is so named because the feature resembles the head of Queen Nefertiti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheep Rock (Arches National Park)</span>

Sheep Rock is a 4,564-foot-elevation (1,391-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah. It is located within Arches National Park and like many of the rock formations in the park, it is composed of Entrada Sandstone, specifically the Slick Rock Member overlaying the Dewey Bridge Member. The tower is 440 feet tall, and is approximately 0.15 mile from the main park road. Sheep Rock is believed to be a remnant abutment of an ancient fallen arch. Precipitation runoff from Sheep Rock drains to the nearby Colorado River via Courthouse Wash. This landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the United States Board on Geographic Names.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jello Tower</span>

Jello Tower is a 4,510-foot-elevation (1,375-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Candelabrum</span>

The Candelabrum is a 4,700-foot-elevation (1,433-meter) pillar in Grand County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mars Hotel (Arches National Park)</span>

Mars Hotel is a 4,635-foot-elevation (1,413-meter) summit in Grand County, Utah, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Butte</span>

Family Butte is a 7,405-foot-elevation (2,257-meter) summit in Emery County, Utah, United States.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Queen Victoria Rock". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2024-10-08.
  2. 1 2 "Queen Victoria Rock - 4,820' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  3. ↑ Stanley William Lohman, The Geologic Story of Arches National Park, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975, p. 63.
  4. ↑ Secrets of the National Parks: The Experts' Guide to the Best Experiences Beyond the Tourist Trail, Mel White, National Geographic Society (U. S.), National Geographic Books, 2013, ISBN   9781426210150, p. 113.
  5. ↑ First Ascent Timeline, deserttowersbook.com, Retrieved 2024-09-14.
  6. ↑ Desert Climbing, Eric Bjørnstad, American Alpine Journal, 1987, americanalpineclub.org
  7. ↑ Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11 (5): 1633–1644. Bibcode:2007HESS...11.1633P. doi: 10.5194/hess-11-1633-2007 . ISSN   1027-5606. S2CID   9654551.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.