Kofa Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Kofa Mountains is the central mountain range comprising the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
, about 60 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona
in the southwestern part of the state. The equally extensive Castle Dome Mountains
comprise the southern refuge border; the western end of the Tank Mountains
are in the southeast of the wildlife refuge
, and the New Water Wilderness in the New Water Mountains
ends the extension of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to the north. Scenic "King Valley" is south of the Kofa Mountains between the Castle Dome Mountains.
The Kofa Mountains are a northwest-southeast range with an extension northwards meeting the New Water Mountains. There are three major peaks in the high region: two in the west: Signal Peak at 4877 feet (1,487 m) and Squaw Peak at 4416 feet (1,346 m), and Polaris Mountain at 3624 feet (1,105 m) in the south.
The closest community to the Kofa Mountains is Quartzsite
, 30 miles northwest on Interstate 10
. Access roads to the range depart a north-south stretch of US 95, five miles to the west. There are a number of winter homes in King Valley.
The wildlife refuge and the Kofa Mountains are arid and rugged volcanic remnant mountains of Tertiary
age. They are home to one of the larger Desert Bighorn Sheep
ranges. The wildlife refuge and the mountains are some of the hottest areas in the southwest Sonoran Desert
.
Category: Yuma Desert
Kofa National Wildlife Refuge
The Kofa National Wildlife Refuge is located northeast of Yuma, Arizona, southeast of Quartzsite, Arizona, in the southwestern United States. The refuge, established in 1939 to protect Desert Bighorn Sheep, encompasses over of the Yuma Desert region of the Sonoran Desert...
, about 60 miles northeast of Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
in the southwestern part of the state. The equally extensive Castle Dome Mountains
Castle Dome Mountains
The Castle Dome Mountains are a mountain range in Yuma County, Arizona, within the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge. Castle Dome peak, the high point of the range, is a prominent and distinctive landmark. The peak is high, and is located at . Castle Dome was named by American soldiers at old Fort...
comprise the southern refuge border; the western end of the Tank Mountains
Tank Mountains
The Tank Mountains are a mountain range in the Sonoran Desert of southwest Arizona; the range is part of the eastern border of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge....
are in the southeast of the wildlife refuge
Wildlife refuge
A wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
, and the New Water Wilderness in the New Water Mountains
New Water Mountains
The New Water Mountains is a mountain range in southwestern Arizona. The range is on the northern border of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge as well as the northern Kofa Mountains.It is a northwest-southeast trending range, about 20 miles long...
ends the extension of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge to the north. Scenic "King Valley" is south of the Kofa Mountains between the Castle Dome Mountains.
The Kofa Mountains are a northwest-southeast range with an extension northwards meeting the New Water Mountains. There are three major peaks in the high region: two in the west: Signal Peak at 4877 feet (1,487 m) and Squaw Peak at 4416 feet (1,346 m), and Polaris Mountain at 3624 feet (1,105 m) in the south.
The closest community to the Kofa Mountains is Quartzsite
Quartzsite, Arizona
Quartzsite is a town in La Paz County, Arizona, United States. According to Census Bureau estimates, the population of the town was 3,397 in 2006.Interstate 10 runs directly through Quartzsite. It is at the intersection of U.S...
, 30 miles northwest on Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Arizona
In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 10, the major east–west Interstate Highway in the southern United States, runs east from California, enters Arizona and continues through Phoenix and Tucson and exits at the border with New Mexico.-Route description:...
. Access roads to the range depart a north-south stretch of US 95, five miles to the west. There are a number of winter homes in King Valley.
The wildlife refuge and the Kofa Mountains are arid and rugged volcanic remnant mountains of Tertiary
Tertiary
The Tertiary is a deprecated term for a geologic period 65 million to 2.6 million years ago. The Tertiary covered the time span between the superseded Secondary period and the Quaternary...
age. They are home to one of the larger Desert Bighorn Sheep
Desert Bighorn Sheep
The Desert Bighorn Sheep is a subspecies of Bighorn Sheep that occurs in the desert Southwest regions of the United States and in the northern regions of Mexico. The trinomial of this species commemorates the American naturalist Edward William Nelson...
ranges. The wildlife refuge and the mountains are some of the hottest areas in the southwest Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
.
Origin of name
The Kofa Mountains are named for the rich King of Arizona gold mine, discovered in King Valley in 1896. The mine used to stamp its property "K of A" and is commonly known as the Kofa Mine. The old mine and its surroundings are private property. The Kofa, Arizona post office was established June 5, 1900 and was discontinued August 27, 1928. Some of the old buildings are still in use as winter homes.See also
- List of mountain ranges of Yuma County, Arizona
- List of mountain ranges of Arizona
- List of LCRV Wilderness Areas (Colorado River)
Category: Yuma Desert