- Wallowa Mountains
The Wallowa Mountains are a mountain range located in the
Columbia Plateau of northeasternOregon in theUnited States . The range runs approximately 40 mi (64 km) northwest to southeast in southwestern Wallowa County between the Blue Mountains to the west and theSnake River to the east. The range is sometimes considered to be an eastern spur of the Blue Mountains.Much of the range is designated as the
Eagle Cap Wilderness Area , part of theWallowa-Whitman National Forest . The range is drained by theWallowa River , which flows from the north side of the mountains, and its tributary theMinam River , which flows through the west side of the range. TheImnaha River flows from the east side of the range. Manygeologist s believe the Wallowa Mountains in northeastern Oregon are a displaced fragment of theInsular Belt . [cite web |url=http://www.washington.edu/burkemuseum/geo_history_wa/Coast%20Range%20Episode.htm |title=The Coast Range Episode |accessdate=2008-05-25 |publisher=The Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture |date=2006 ]The highest point in the range is Sacajawea Peak, with an elevation of 9,838 ft (2,999 m). [cite web | title = Elevations of Points Near Eagle Cap Wilderness | publisher = U.S. Forest Service | url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/recreation/wilderness/elevations-ecw.shtml | accessdate = 2007-11-18] Sacajawea is the 6th tallest mountain in Oregon and the tallest mountain in Oregon outside of the Cascade Range.
The Mountains were formed from
granite from amagma upwelling inLate Jurassic andEarly Cretaceous time (between 160 million and 120 million years ago). [cite web | title = America's Volcanic Past - Oregon | publisher = United States Geological Service Cascades Volcano Observatory | url = http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicPast/Places/volcanic_past_oregon.html | accessdate = 2007-11-18]References
External links
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/w-w/ Wallowa-Whitman National Forest] USDA Forest Service
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