Davis Mountains

For the Texas wine region around the Davis Mountains, see Texas Davis Mountains AVA.
Davis Mountains
Limpia Mountains

Image taken in the Davis Mountains. The picture is taken from a relatively high elevation and shows a view across a broad valley toward a mountain with a much larger mountain behind. The valley and mountain in the foreground are covered in grasslands with stands of junipers while the higher mountain in the background is mostly wooded.

Davis Mountains
Highest point
Peak Baldy Peak atop Mount Livermore
Elevation 8,378 ft (2,554 m)
Coordinates 30°38′N 104°10′W / 30.633°N 104.167°W / 30.633; -104.167Coordinates: 30°38′N 104°10′W / 30.633°N 104.167°W / 30.633; -104.167
Geography
Country United States
State Texas
Geology
Age of rock Paleogene
Type of rock Igneous

The Davis Mountains, originally known as Limpia Mountains, are a range of mountains in West Texas, located near Fort Davis, after which they are named. They are a popular site for camping and hiking and the region includes Fort Davis National Historic Site and Davis Mountains State Park. The historical and architectural value of the fort, along with the rugged natural beauty of the park are a significant destination for tourism in Texas.

Summit of Mount Locke

Origin, geology and vegetation

The mountains are of volcanic origin composed of strata associated with eruptions of the Trans-Pecos Texas volcanic field 35 million years ago.[1] The highest peak in the Davis Mountains is Mount Livermore at 8,382 feet, and is the fourth highest peak in Texas.

Vegetation in the mountain range is similar to some other sky island ranges in west Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and northern Mexico, and includes montane grasslands, pine-oak woodlands and isolated stands of ponderosa pine forest at higher elevations.[2]

Conservation

Since 1996, The Nature Conservancy has acquired 33,000 acres (130 km²) in the mountain range, along with conservation easements on 70,000 acres (280 km²) more. This parcel is open to the public at specified times.[2]

Facilities

McDonald Observatory is accessed by Spur 78 from State Highway 118. Spur 78 is the highest state maintained road in Texas at 6,791 feet near the summit of Mt. Locke where the older telescopes of the observatory are located. Spur 77 branches off from Spur 78 providing access to the newer research equipment atop Mt. Fowlkes.

Rolling hills in the Davis Mountains

Texas Separatist Standoff

The Texas separatist organization known as the Republic of Texas has its origins in the Davis Mountains. On April 27, 1996, the leader of the group, Rick McLaren, staged an attack on his neighbor's house and demanded that he cede his property to the Republic of Texas. This led to 300 state troopers surrounding his house with him, his five followers, his wife, and the victims of the attack inside for close to a week. Ultimately, one follower was shot in the standoff and McLaren was arrested and imprisoned for the equivalent of a life sentence. [3]

Climate

Climate data for Mount Locke weather station, Texas. (Elevation 6,150ft)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 80
(27)		 79
(26)		 88
(31)		 94
(34)		 96
(36)		 104
(40)		 100
(38)		 104
(40)		 96
(36)		 94
(34)		 82
(28)		 80
(27)		 104
(40)
Average high °F (°C) 53.5
(11.9)		 56.9
(13.8)		 63.7
(17.6)		 71.4
(21.9)		 78.6
(25.9)		 84.5
(29.2)		 82.7
(28.2)		 81.3
(27.4)		 76.6
(24.8)		 70.5
(21.4)		 61.2
(16.2)		 54.4
(12.4)		 69.6
(20.9)
Average low °F (°C) 32.0
(0)		 33.9
(1.1)		 38.2
(3.4)		 45.2
(7.3)		 52.4
(11.3)		 58.2
(14.6)		 58.9
(14.9)		 58.4
(14.7)		 54.4
(12.4)		 48.0
(8.9)		 38.7
(3.7)		 33.6
(0.9)		 46.0
(7.8)
Record low °F (°C) −10
(−23)		 −6
(−21)		 4
(−16)		 11
(−12)		 26
(−3)		 36
(2)		 40
(4)		 40
(4)		 29
(−2)		 13
(−11)		 8
(−13)		 −2
(−19)		 −10
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.68
(17.3)		 0.49
(12.4)		 0.40
(10.2)		 0.50
(12.7)		 1.63
(41.4)		 2.49
(63.2)		 3.83
(97.3)		 3.69
(93.7)		 2.95
(74.9)		 1.61
(40.9)		 0.61
(15.5)		 0.60
(15.2)		 19.46
(494.3)
Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[4]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Davis Mountains.

References

  1. ↑ "40Ar/39Ar chronology and volcanology of silicic volcanism in the Davis Mountains, Trans-Pecos Texas", doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1994)106<1359:AACAVO>2.3.CO;2 Geological Society of America Bulletin November 1994 v. 106 no. 11 p. 1359-1376, accessed September 13, 2010
  2. 1 2 "Davis Mountains Preserve". The Nature Conservancy http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/texas/placesweprotect/davis-mountains-preserve.xml. External link in |website= (help);
  3. ↑ Branson, Hailey. "Today in Texas History: Long live Republic of Texas! Separatist group standoff in mountains begins". Houston Chronicle.
  4. ↑ "Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information". Western Regional Climate Center. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
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