Pyramid Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Pyramid Mountains are a 30 mi (48 km) long, mountain range
in central-east Hidalgo County
, New Mexico
. The city of Lordsburg
is at its northern border, where the range causes Interstate 10
to traverse northeast, then southeast around the range.
The range anchors the northeast corner of the extensive north-south Animas Valley
. The Continental Divide of the Americas anchors the southern end of the range, and turns due south to traverse the Animas
and San Luis Mountains before the continental divide enters northern Chihuahua state, Mexico
.
The Chihuahuan Desert
has its northwest extension into the foothills regions of the Pyramid Mountains.
The Pyramid Mountains are about 30 mi long, and about 12 mi at its widest. Various peaks and hills form the range as the water divide
of the continental divide forms its southeast and south. But the water divide of the Animas Valley continues north 20 mi and then crosses to the north side of Lordsburg.
Various semi-arid canyons, draws, and washes also are found in this linear range.
The highest peak in the range, Pyramid Peak, 6008 feet (1,831 m), is just south and adjacent to Lordsburg; Pyramid Peak is located at 32.237861°N 108.718943°W
. It passes from the southern Little Burro Mountains
, crosses the Big Burro
's, then on a circuitous route after skirting the northeast of the Cedar Mountain Range
, it passes across the water divide
of the north Playas Valley
, west of Hachita. It finally enters a series of north-south ranges, including the Animas Mountains
, and traverses south into northwest Chihuahua, Mexico.
It turns from due-west to due-south at South Pyramid Peak, at the southern perimeter region of the Pyramid Mountains. Pinkey Wright Mountain lies 3 mi south on the divide.
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Peaks
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Pyramid Mountains
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
in central-east Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*85.3% White*0.6% Black*0.8% Native American*0.5% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.8% Two or more races*11.0% Other races*56.6% Hispanic or Latino...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
. The city of Lordsburg
Lordsburg, New Mexico
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,379 people, 1,220 households, and 854 families residing in the city. The population density was 403.1 people per square mile . There were 1,414 housing units at an average density of 168.7 per square mile...
is at its northern border, where the range causes Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in New Mexico
Interstate 10 in the U.S. state of New Mexico is long main route of the Interstate Highway System. I-10 traverses Southern New Mexico through Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, and Doña Ana counties. The Interstate travels west–east between the Arizona state line and the interchange with I-25 in Las...
to traverse northeast, then southeast around the range.
The range anchors the northeast corner of the extensive north-south Animas Valley
Animas Valley
The Animas Valley is a lengthy and narrow, north-south 85 mi long, valley located in western Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua, in the northwest of the Chihuahuan Desert, the large desert region of the north-central Mexican...
. The Continental Divide of the Americas anchors the southern end of the range, and turns due south to traverse the Animas
Animas Mountains
The Animas Mountains are a small mountain range in Hidalgo County, within the "Boot-Heel" region of far southwestern New Mexico, in the United States. They extend north-south for about 30 miles along the Continental Divide, from near the town of Animas to a few miles north of the border with...
and San Luis Mountains before the continental divide enters northern Chihuahua state, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
The Chihuahuan Desert
Chihuahuan Desert
The Chihuahuan Desert is a desert, and an ecoregion designation, that straddles the U.S.-Mexico border in the central and northern portions of the Mexican Plateau, bordered on the west by the extensive Sierra Madre Occidental range, and overlaying northern portions of the east range, the Sierra...
has its northwest extension into the foothills regions of the Pyramid Mountains.
Description
The Pyramid Mountains are a moderate altitude, north-south trending mountain range at the north of two valleys that also are north-south, and extensive, as the Continental Divide traverses due south through the ridgeline to enter northwest Chihuahua state, Mexico. The Animas Valley lies west; the Playas Valley lies east of this mountain-series ridgeline.The Pyramid Mountains are about 30 mi long, and about 12 mi at its widest. Various peaks and hills form the range as the water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
of the continental divide forms its southeast and south. But the water divide of the Animas Valley continues north 20 mi and then crosses to the north side of Lordsburg.
Various semi-arid canyons, draws, and washes also are found in this linear range.
List of peaks and hills
From north to south, a list of peaks.- Pyramid Peak, 6008 feet (1,831 m) (highpoint)
- Fourmile Hill, 4438
- Leitendorf HIlls
- Swallow Fork Peak, 4956 (west)
- Cedar Mountain, 5154 (east)
- Cedar Knob, 4906 (east)
- Lightning Dock Mountain, 5527 (west)
- Russel Hills (east)
- Kink Peak, 5361 (west)
- South Pyramid Peak, 5910 feet (1,801 m), (continental divide)
- Pinkey Wright Mountain, 5538 feet (1,688 m), (continental divide)
The highest peak in the range, Pyramid Peak, 6008 feet (1,831 m), is just south and adjacent to Lordsburg; Pyramid Peak is located at 32.237861°N 108.718943°W
Continental Divide
The Continental Divide starts to leave the forested mountain regions as it goes southwest from Silver CitySilver City, New Mexico
Silver City is a town in Grant County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 10,545. It is the county seat of Grant County. The city is the home of Western New Mexico University.-History:...
. It passes from the southern Little Burro Mountains
Little Burro Mountains
The Little Burro Mountains are a short 15 mi long, mountain range located in Grant County, New Mexico. The range lies adjacent to the southeast border of the larger Big Burro Mountains. The Little Burro Mountains are located 8 mi southwest of Silver City...
, crosses the Big Burro
Big Burro Mountains
The Big Burro Mountains are a moderate length 35 mile long, mountain range located in central Grant County, New Mexico. The range's northwest-southeast 'ridgeline' is located 15 mi southwest of Silver City....
's, then on a circuitous route after skirting the northeast of the Cedar Mountain Range
Cedar Mountain Range
The Cedar Mountain Range is a short 20 mi long, mountain range in southwest Luna County, New Mexico just north of the Mexico-United States border with Chihuahua....
, it passes across the water divide
Water divide
A drainage divide, water divide, divide or watershed is the line separating neighbouring drainage basins...
of the north Playas Valley
Playas Valley
The Playas Valley is a lengthy and narrow 60-mi long, valley located in Hidalgo County, New Mexico in the Bootheel Region; the extreme south of the valley lies in Chihuahua. Playas, NM is located in the northeast...
, west of Hachita. It finally enters a series of north-south ranges, including the Animas Mountains
Animas Mountains
The Animas Mountains are a small mountain range in Hidalgo County, within the "Boot-Heel" region of far southwestern New Mexico, in the United States. They extend north-south for about 30 miles along the Continental Divide, from near the town of Animas to a few miles north of the border with...
, and traverses south into northwest Chihuahua, Mexico.
It turns from due-west to due-south at South Pyramid Peak, at the southern perimeter region of the Pyramid Mountains. Pinkey Wright Mountain lies 3 mi south on the divide.
External links
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Peaks
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Pyramid Mountains