Palomar Mountain Range
Encyclopedia
The Palomar Mountain Range is a high Peninsular mountain range
in northern San Diego County of Southern California
. The name, which means pigeon roost
in Spanish
, was given to it due to the prevalence of Band-tailed Pigeon
s.
The peaks are about 3000 to 6000 ft (914.4 to 1,828.8 m) above sea level, and include:
in its foothills, with California black oak
s, quaking aspens, closed-cone pine
s, firs, and other California oak
s and conifers in the higher altitudes. This is due to the upper regions receiving considerably more moisture than the coastal lowlands, with 30–60 in (76.2–152.4 cm) of precipitation falling on the higher elevations. The upper mountain areas can receive snowfall during winter storms.
The high elevation of the range allows for excellent astronomy and star viewing, which lead to the establishment on Palomar Mountain
of the Palomar Observatory
in 1936.
Palomar Mountain State Park
The Palomar Mountain State Park protects much of the native plant
and animal habitat
of the range on Palomar Mountain
. It also provides recreation activities, such as hiking and camping. The higher areas in the park serve as a cooler natural retreat from the hot summers of Southern California.
Peninsular Ranges
The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula; they are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska...
in northern San Diego County of Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. The name, which means pigeon roost
Dovecote
A dovecote or dovecot is a structure intended to house pigeons or doves. Dovecotes may be square or circular free-standing structures or built into the end of a house or barn. They generally contain pigeonholes for the birds to nest. Pigeons and doves were an important food source historically in...
in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
, was given to it due to the prevalence of Band-tailed Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
The Band-tailed Pigeon, Patagioenas fasciata, is a medium-sized bird of the Americas. Its closest relatives are the Chilean Pigeon and the Ring-tailed Pigeon, which form a clade of Patagioenas with a terminal tail band and iridescent plumage on their necks.It ranges from British Columbia, Utah, and...
s.
The peaks are about 3000 to 6000 ft (914.4 to 1,828.8 m) above sea level, and include:
- 'High PointHigh PointHigh Point, in the northwestern part of New Jersey in Montague, Sussex County in the Skylands Region of New Jersey, is the highest elevation in the state at 1,803 feet . It is southeast of Port Jervis, New York. High Point is the highest peak of the Kittatinny Mountains.At the peak is the High...
' being the pinnacle of the range at 6140 feet (1,871 m). - Birch Hill (5710 ft (1,740 m))
- Boucher Hill (5436 ft (1,657 m)).
Natural history
The upper Palomar Mountain range has a marked contrast to the surrounding xeric chaparral and woodlandsCalifornia montane chaparral and woodlands
The California montane chaparral and woodlands ecoregion covers , including the mountains of the Transverse, Peninsular, and Santa Lucia Ranges of California. It is part of the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub biome, with cool, wet winters and hot, dry summers...
in its foothills, with California black oak
California Black Oak
Quercus kelloggii, the California Black Oak, also known as simply Black Oak, or Kellogg Oak, is an oak in the red oak section , native to western North America...
s, quaking aspens, closed-cone pine
Pine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
s, firs, and other California oak
California oak woodland
California oak woodland is a plant community found throughout the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion of California in the United States and northwestern Baja California in Mexico...
s and conifers in the higher altitudes. This is due to the upper regions receiving considerably more moisture than the coastal lowlands, with 30–60 in (76.2–152.4 cm) of precipitation falling on the higher elevations. The upper mountain areas can receive snowfall during winter storms.
Features
Palomar ObservatoryThe high elevation of the range allows for excellent astronomy and star viewing, which lead to the establishment on Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is a mountain in the Peninsular Ranges in northern San Diego County. It is famous as the location of the Palomar Observatory and Hale Telescope, and known for the Palomar Mountain State Park.-History:...
of the Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory
Palomar Observatory is a privately owned observatory located in San Diego County, California, southeast of Pasadena's Mount Wilson Observatory, in the Palomar Mountain Range. At approximately elevation, it is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology...
in 1936.
Palomar Mountain State Park
The Palomar Mountain State Park protects much of the native plant
California native plants
California native plants are plants that existed in California prior to the arrival of European explorers and colonists in the late 18th century...
and animal habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
of the range on Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain
Palomar Mountain is a mountain in the Peninsular Ranges in northern San Diego County. It is famous as the location of the Palomar Observatory and Hale Telescope, and known for the Palomar Mountain State Park.-History:...
. It also provides recreation activities, such as hiking and camping. The higher areas in the park serve as a cooler natural retreat from the hot summers of Southern California.