Table Mountain (Tuolumne County, California)

Table Mountain
Highest point
Elevation 1,919 ft (585 m)  NAVD 88[1]
Coordinates 37°58′59″N 120°26′04″W / 37.98298°N 120.4343621°W / 37.98298; -120.4343621Coordinates: 37°58′59″N 120°26′04″W / 37.98298°N 120.4343621°W / 37.98298; -120.4343621 [1]
Geography
Location Tuolumne County, California, U.S.
Parent range Sierra Nevada
Topo map USGS Tuolumne

Table Mountain is a mountainous landform in Tuolumne County, California. Ten million years ago, high-potassium lava erupted from the east and filled an ancient river bed. Subsequently, the surface around the river eroded, while the hard lava protected the river from erosion. As a result, Table Mountain is an inverted valley: a river valley that is above the surrounding topography, rather than below it.[2]

A variety of flora and fauna are found on Table Mountain; included in these are many wildflowers, among which is the Yellow Mariposa Lily, Calochortus luteus.[3]

References

  1. 1 2 "Table Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. ↑ Romans, Brian (October 2010). "Inverted Martian Topography". Wired Science.
  3. ↑ Hogan, C. Michael (2009). "Yellow Mariposa Lily". Globaltwitcher.com.

See also


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