Rooster Rock (Arizona)

Last updated
Rooster Rock
Monument Valley 05.jpg
West aspect
Highest point
Elevation 5,985 ft (1,824 m) [1] [2]
Prominence 575 ft (175 m) [1]
Parent peak Meridian Butte (6,430 ft) [1]
Isolation 1.05 mi (1.69 km) [1]
Coordinates 36°54′56″N109°59′08″W / 36.9155892°N 109.9854513°W / 36.9155892; -109.9854513 [3]
Geography
USA Arizona relief location map.svg
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Rooster Rock
Location in Arizona
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Rooster Rock
Rooster Rock (the United States)
Location Navajo Nation
Apache County, Arizona, U.S.
Parent range Colorado Plateau [2]
Topo map USGS Rooster Rock
Geology
Rock age Permian
Mountain type Butte
Rock type Sandstone

Rooster Rock is a 5,985-foot-elevation (1,824-meter) summit in Apache County, Arizona, United States.

Contents

Description

Rooster Rock is situated 8.25 miles (13.28 km) southeast of the Monument Valley visitor center on Navajo Nation land. Precipitation runoff from this butte's slopes drains into Gypsum Creek, which is a tributary of the San Juan River. Topographic relief is significant, as the summit rises nearly 900 feet (274 meters) above the surrounding terrain in 0.25 mile (0.4 km). The nearest higher neighbor is Meridian Butte, 1.06 miles (1.71 km) to the south-southwest. [2] The landform's descriptive toponym has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. [3]

Geology

Rooster Rock is a butte 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. [4]

Rooster Rock (distant left), Totem Pole (right) Totem Pole, Monument Valley.jpg
Rooster Rock (distant left), Totem Pole (right)

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Rooster Rock. 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. [5]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Rooster Rock - 5,985' AZ". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  2. 1 2 3 "Rooster Rock, Arizona". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  3. 1 2 "Rooster Rock". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  4. ↑ Monument Valley, Arizona, Arizona Geological Survey, Retrieved 2024-08-24.
  5. ↑ Climate Summary for Kayenta, Arizona
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