Stillwater Range
Encyclopedia
The Stillwater Range is a mountain range
located in western Nevada
in the United States
. It is a SSW-NNE running ridge, approximately 70 miles (112.7 km) long. It cuts across the center of Churchill County
and extends partway into Pershing County
.
The Stillwater Range separates the Carson Sink
(to the west) from Dixie Valley (to the east). To the north, a low pass separates it from the East Range
. To the south, the Sand Springs Pass separates it from the Sand Springs Range
. Nestled against the south end of the range is Sand Mountain, an enormous 600 feet (182.9 m) tall sand dune
which draws off-road vehicle enthusiasts from across Nevada and California
.
A series of earthquake
s measuring 6.6-7.1 on the Richter Scale
, centered beneath or near the Stillwater Range, occurred between July and December 1954. As the area was then (and still is) sparsely populated, no fatalities and little property damage resulted. Extensive surface rupturing can be seen on the east slope of the range.
The principal peaks of the Stillwater Range include Table Mountain (8330 feet (2,539 m)), Mount Lincoln (8450 feet (2,575.6 m)) and Job Peak (8790 feet (2,679.2 m)).
Mountain range
A mountain range is a single, large mass consisting of a succession of mountains or narrowly spaced mountain ridges, with or without peaks, closely related in position, direction, formation, and age; a component part of a mountain system or of a mountain chain...
located in western Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a SSW-NNE running ridge, approximately 70 miles (112.7 km) long. It cuts across the center of Churchill County
Churchill County, Nevada
Churchill County is a county located in the western U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 23,982. As of July 1, 2007, the population of Churchill County was estimated at 27,190. The county, named after Mexican-American War hero brevet Brigadier General Sylvester Churchill,...
and extends partway into Pershing County
Pershing County, Nevada
Pershing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2000 census, the population was 6,693. Its county seat is Lovelock. The county was named after army general John J. Pershing . It was formed from Humboldt County in 1919, and the last county to be established in...
.
The Stillwater Range separates the Carson Sink
Carson Sink
Carson Sink is a playa in the northeastern portion of the Carson Desert that was formerly the terminus of the Carson River. The sink is currently fed by drainage canals of the Truckee-Carson Irrigation District...
(to the west) from Dixie Valley (to the east). To the north, a low pass separates it from the East Range
East Range
The East Range is a mountain range in the Great Basin region, located in Pershing County, Nevada ....
. To the south, the Sand Springs Pass separates it from the Sand Springs Range
Sand Springs Range
The Sand Springs Range is a short mountain range located in western Nevada in the United States within the Great Basin. It is approximately long and is in Churchill County. It separates Salt Wells from Fairview Valley . To the north, it is separated from the Stillwater Range by Sand Springs Pass...
. Nestled against the south end of the range is Sand Mountain, an enormous 600 feet (182.9 m) tall sand dune
Dune
In physical geography, a dune is a hill of sand built by wind. Dunes occur in different forms and sizes, formed by interaction with the wind. Most kinds of dunes are longer on the windward side where the sand is pushed up the dune and have a shorter "slip face" in the lee of the wind...
which draws off-road vehicle enthusiasts from across Nevada and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
A series of earthquake
Earthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
s measuring 6.6-7.1 on the Richter Scale
Richter magnitude scale
The expression Richter magnitude scale refers to a number of ways to assign a single number to quantify the energy contained in an earthquake....
, centered beneath or near the Stillwater Range, occurred between July and December 1954. As the area was then (and still is) sparsely populated, no fatalities and little property damage resulted. Extensive surface rupturing can be seen on the east slope of the range.
The principal peaks of the Stillwater Range include Table Mountain (8330 feet (2,539 m)), Mount Lincoln (8450 feet (2,575.6 m)) and Job Peak (8790 feet (2,679.2 m)).