Atascosa Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Atascosa Mountains are a small mountain range of western Santa Cruz County, Arizona
. It is sandwiched between the larger Tumacacori Mountains to the north, and a small east-west border range to the south, the Pajarito Mountains; the Pajaritos are on the U.S.-Mexico border and abut the Sierra La Esmeralda
range in northern Sonora
.
The Pajarito and Atascosa Mountains are the central ranges in the Tumacacori Highlands.
The highest peak is Atascosa Peak at 6440 feet (1,963 m); adjacent to the northeast is Ramanote Peak, 6047 feet (1,843 m). Pena Blanca Lake
on Ruby Road, arising from the lowest elevations of Calabasas Canyon-(tributary to the Santa Cruz River) are part of the Atascosa's southern border. Ruby Road continues beyond the west of the Atascosa's and Peck Canyon Road borders the north, but accesses highest elevations in the ranges' center and north.
County, Arizona. The Highlands are northwest of Nogales
and are bordered on the east by the Santa Cruz River Valley, that is traversed north-south by I-19
. Across the valley eastwards are the tall Santa Rita Mountains
in the northeast, and the smaller San Cayetano Mountains, east and adjacent to Nogales's northeast. The sequence of the north-to-south Tumacacori Highlands is as follows:
North to south:
A Santa Cruz county-border "bootheel" extends southwest; the bootheel contains Cobre Ridge, and it is connected northwest to a small range, the San Luis Mountains
which are in the southeast of the Altar Valley
, and borders the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
.
Historical mission communities, at Tumacacori National Historical Park
, in Tumacacori, Arizona, lie at the southeast foothills of the Tumacacori Mountains.
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. It is sandwiched between the larger Tumacacori Mountains to the north, and a small east-west border range to the south, the Pajarito Mountains; the Pajaritos are on the U.S.-Mexico border and abut the Sierra La Esmeralda
Sierra La Esmeralda
The Sierra La Esmeralda range, are a mountain range in northern Sonora, Mexico at the northern region of the Sierra Madre Occidental cordillera...
range in northern Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
.
The Pajarito and Atascosa Mountains are the central ranges in the Tumacacori Highlands.
The highest peak is Atascosa Peak at 6440 feet (1,963 m); adjacent to the northeast is Ramanote Peak, 6047 feet (1,843 m). Pena Blanca Lake
Peña Blanca Lake
Peña Blanca Lake is a reservoir in Arizona, United States, located northwest of Nogales. The facilities are maintained by the Coronado National Forest division of the USDA Forest Service....
on Ruby Road, arising from the lowest elevations of Calabasas Canyon-(tributary to the Santa Cruz River) are part of the Atascosa's southern border. Ruby Road continues beyond the west of the Atascosa's and Peck Canyon Road borders the north, but accesses highest elevations in the ranges' center and north.
Tumacacori Highlands
The Tumacacori Highlands is a series of connected mountain ranges in western Santa CruzSanta Cruz County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.5% White*0.4% Black*0.7% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.0% Two or more races*22.9% Other races*82.8% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
County, Arizona. The Highlands are northwest of Nogales
Nogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
and are bordered on the east by the Santa Cruz River Valley, that is traversed north-south by I-19
Interstate 19
Interstate 19 is an intrastate Interstate Highway located entirely within the state of Arizona. I-19 runs from Nogales, roughly 1,500 feet from the Mexican border, to Tucson, at Interstate 10...
. Across the valley eastwards are the tall Santa Rita Mountains
Santa Rita Mountains
The Santa Rita Mountains, located about 65 km southeast of Tucson, Arizona, extend 42 km from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into the Patagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast...
in the northeast, and the smaller San Cayetano Mountains, east and adjacent to Nogales's northeast. The sequence of the north-to-south Tumacacori Highlands is as follows:
North to south:
-
- –Tumacacori Mountains
- –Peck Canyon–(Peck Canyon Road)
- –Atascosa Mountains - (6 mi × 9 mi)
- –Ruby Road-(to Ruby, ArizonaRuby, ArizonaRuby is a ghost town in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. It was founded as a mining town in Bear Valley, originally named Montana Camp, so named because the miners were mining at the foot of Montana Peak.-History:...
); Pena Blanca LakePeña Blanca LakePeña Blanca Lake is a reservoir in Arizona, United States, located northwest of Nogales. The facilities are maintained by the Coronado National Forest division of the USDA Forest Service.... - –Pajarito MountainsPajarito MountainsThe Pajarito Mountains are a small mountain range of western Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The range is adjacent the Atascosa Mountains at its north, with both ranges in the center of a north-south sequence of ranges called the Tumacacori Highlands...
- –Mexico-Arizona border
- –Sierra La EsmeraldaSierra La EsmeraldaThe Sierra La Esmeralda range, are a mountain range in northern Sonora, Mexico at the northern region of the Sierra Madre Occidental cordillera...
-(the Emerald Mountains)
A Santa Cruz county-border "bootheel" extends southwest; the bootheel contains Cobre Ridge, and it is connected northwest to a small range, the San Luis Mountains
San Luis Mountains
The San Luis Mountains are a small, lower elevation mountain range of central-southern Pima County Arizona adjacent the U.S.-Mexico border, northeast of Sasabe, Arizona–Sasabe, Sonora....
which are in the southeast of the Altar Valley
Altar Valley
The Altar Valley is a 45-mile long north-south valley, trending slightly northeast from Sasabe, Arizona on the Mexico border to the Avra Valley, Arizona west of the Tucson Mountains...
, and borders the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge provides of habitat for threatened and endangered plants and animals. The refuge was established in 1985.-Natural history:...
.
Historical mission communities, at Tumacacori National Historical Park
Tumacácori National Historical Park
Tumacácori National Historical Park is located in the upper Santa Cruz River Valley of southern Arizona. The park protects the ruins of three Spanish mission communities, two of which are National Historic Landmark sites, and it also contains the Tumacácori Museum, a historic landmark building...
, in Tumacacori, Arizona, lie at the southeast foothills of the Tumacacori Mountains.