Patagonia Mountains
Encyclopedia
The Patagonia Mountains is a 15 mile long mountain range south of the Santa Rita Mountains
. Sonoita Creek
flows in the valley north of the Patagonias. Both ranges are east of the Santa Cruz River Valley. Nogales, Arizona
and Nogales, Sonora
lie to the southwest of the Patagonias; the continuation of the Patagonia Mountains extends southwards into Mexico
and are named Sierra San Antonio
, a mountain range of about 10 miles but tapering into lower elevations. The Canelo Hills
and the San Rafael Valley
lie to the east of the Patagonias.
These three connected ranges are part of the Madrean Sky Islands
, sky island
mountain ranges bordering Mexico's Sierra Madre Occidental
, the major cordillera
of western Northern Mexico
Arizona State Route 82 winds through the Sonoita Creek valley between the Santa Ritas and the Patagonias; Patagonia Lake
and Patagonia
are located in the valley. The old mining camps or ghost towns of Harshaw
, Mowry, Washington Camp, and Duquesne lie within or adjacent to the range.
Santa Rita Mountains
The Santa Rita Mountains, located about 65 km southeast of Tucson, Arizona, extend 42 km from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into the Patagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast...
. Sonoita Creek
Sonoita Creek
Sonoita Creek is a stream in Santa Cruz County, Arizona. It originates near and takes its name from the abandoned Pima mission in the high valley near Sonoita...
flows in the valley north of the Patagonias. Both ranges are east of the Santa Cruz River Valley. Nogales, Arizona
Nogales, Arizona
Nogales is a city in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. The population was 21,017 at the 2010 census. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,833. The city is the county seat of Santa Cruz County....
and Nogales, Sonora
Nogales, Sonora
Heroica Nogales , more commonly known as Nogales, is a city and its surrounding municipality on the northern border of the Mexican State of Sonora. The municipality covers an area of 1,675 km², and borders to the north the city of Nogales, Arizona, United States, across the U.S.-Mexico border...
lie to the southwest of the Patagonias; the continuation of the Patagonia Mountains extends southwards into 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...
and are named Sierra San Antonio
Sierra San Antonio
The Sierra San Antonio range is a 10?-8 mile long mountain range joining the Patagonia Mountains at the U.S.-Mexico border and descending into lower elevations due south; the Sierra Madre Occidental cordillera is the continuation of this mountainous region southward.The range is named after a...
, a mountain range of about 10 miles but tapering into lower elevations. The Canelo Hills
Canelo Hills
The Canelo Hills Cienega Reserve, is a nature preserve southeast of Sonoita, Arizona on the east side of the Canelo Hills. The area's are a mix of rare cienega wetland and Black Oak and Arizona Fescue fields. The preserve is notable for the extremely rare Canelo Ladies Tresses Orchid and the...
and the San Rafael Valley
San Rafael Valley
The San Rafael Valley is a high intermontane grass valley in eastern Santa Cruz County, Arizona. The valley is bounded to the west by the Patagonia Mountains, to the north and northeast by the Canelo Hills and to the east by the Huachuca Mountains in Cochise County...
lie to the east of the Patagonias.
These three connected ranges are part of the Madrean Sky Islands
Madrean sky islands
The Madrean Sky Islands are enclaves of Madrean pine-oak woodlands, found at higher elevations in a complex of small mountain ranges in southern and southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northwestern Mexico. The sky islands are surrounded at lower elevations by the Sonoran and...
, sky island
Sky island
Sky islands are mountains that are isolated by surrounding lowlands of a dramatically different environment, a situation which, in combination with the altitudinal zonation of ecosystems, has significant implications for natural habitats. Endemism, vertical migration, and relict populations are...
mountain ranges bordering Mexico's Sierra Madre Occidental
Sierra Madre Occidental
The Sierra Madre Occidental is a mountain range in western Mexico.-Setting:The range runs north to south, from just south of the Sonora–Arizona border southeast through eastern Sonora, western Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Zacatecas, Nayarit, Jalisco, Aguascalientes to Guanajuato, where it joins...
, the major cordillera
Cordillera
A cordillera is an extensive chain of mountains or mountain ranges, that runs along a coastline . It comes from the Spanish word cordilla, which is a diminutive of cuerda, or "cord"...
of western Northern Mexico
Arizona State Route 82 winds through the Sonoita Creek valley between the Santa Ritas and the Patagonias; Patagonia Lake
Patagonia Lake
Patagonia Lake is located south of Patagonia, Arizona, and northeast of Nogales. The lake was created by damming Sonoita Creek. Facilities are maintained by Arizona State Parks.-Fish species:*Rainbow Trout*Largemouth Bass*Crappie*Sunfish*Channel Catfish...
and Patagonia
Patagonia, Arizona
Patagonia is a town in Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States. As of 2010 Patagonia had a population of 913. Patagonia was formerly a supply center for nearby mines and ranches. Currently, it is a tourist destination, retirement community and arts & crafts center. The Nature Conservancy's...
are located in the valley. The old mining camps or ghost towns of Harshaw
Harshaw, Arizona
Harshaw is a ghost town in Santa Cruz County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Arizona. The town was settled in the 1870s, in what was then the Arizona Territory. Founded as a mining community, Harshaw is named after the cattleman-turned-prospector David Tecumseh Harshaw, who first...
, Mowry, Washington Camp, and Duquesne lie within or adjacent to the range.
See also
- List of Madrean Sky Island mountain ranges - Sonoran - Chihuahuan Deserts
- List of mountain ranges of Arizona