West Silver Bell Mountains
Encyclopedia
The West Silver Bell Mountains are a small 10 mile (16 km) long mountain range of south-central Arizona
, United States
. The range lies in the north-central arid Sonoran Desert
; the Madrean Sky Islands
region of southeast Arizona, around Tucson
is adjacent to the southeast.
The range lies 25 mi west of Marana
, and 25 mi south of Eloy
–Casa Grande
, all cities on Interstate 10 in Arizona
. Casa Grande also begins the west route of Interstate 8 to Yuma
and San Diego
.
. Lower elevation regions west or southwest are even more arid, as the Sonoran Desert gets closer to northwest Mexico's Gran Desierto de Altar
.
The West Silver Bell Mountains are northwest-southeast trending, and merge in the southeast with a mostlly north-south Silver Bell Mountains
, also low elevation and arid. Both mountain ranges are named for the townsite of Silver Bell, and the Silver Bell Mine at the southern region of the Silver Bell Mountains.
The West & Silver Bell Mountains both lie in the northeast of the Aguirre Valley, a 35 mile (56 km) long, northwest-by-southeast trending valley bordered by five regional, low-elevation mountain ranges; the valley is Basin and Range
oriented, and the north merges into the floodplain region near the confluence of the northwest-flowing section of the Santa Cruz River (Arizona) with the Gila River
. The community of Saguaro, Arizona lies at the southeast end foothills of the West Silver Bell Mountains, and is also bordered east by the main Silver Bell range foothills.
The high point of the range is Solo Peak, 2749 feet (838 m), at 32.503401 °N 111.673734°W. At the southeast end of the range, and slightly offset northeast is the Malpais Hill, 2682 feet (817 m); Malpais Hill is also connected to the northwest part of the Silver Bell Mountains.
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, United States
Southwestern United States
The Southwestern United States is a region defined in different ways by different sources. Broad definitions include nearly a quarter of the United States, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah...
. The range lies in the north-central arid Sonoran Desert
Sonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
; 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...
region of southeast Arizona, around Tucson
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
is adjacent to the southeast.
The range lies 25 mi west of Marana
Marana, Arizona
Marana is a town in Pima County, Arizona, located northwest of Tucson, with a small portion in Pinal County. According to the 2010 census, the population of the town is 34,961...
, and 25 mi south of Eloy
Eloy, Arizona
Eloy is a city in Pinal County, Arizona, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 10,855.-Geography:...
–Casa Grande
Casa Grande, Arizona
Casa Grande is a city in Pinal County, approximately halfway between Phoenix and Tucson in the U.S. state of Arizona. According to 2010 Census, the population of the city is 48,571...
, all cities on Interstate 10 in Arizona
Interstate 10 in Arizona
In the U.S. state of Arizona, Interstate 10, the major east–west Interstate Highway in the southern United States, runs east from California, enters Arizona and continues through Phoenix and Tucson and exits at the border with New Mexico.-Route description:...
. Casa Grande also begins the west route of Interstate 8 to Yuma
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
and San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
.
Description
The West Silver Bell Mountains are a small, low elevation range, in eastern regions of Arizona's Sonoran DesertSonoran Desert
The Sonoran Desert is a North American desert which straddles part of the United States-Mexico border and covers large parts of the U.S. states of Arizona and California and the northwest Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur. It is one of the largest and hottest...
. Lower elevation regions west or southwest are even more arid, as the Sonoran Desert gets closer to northwest Mexico's Gran Desierto de Altar
Gran Desierto de Altar
The Gran Desierto de Altar is one of the major portions of the Sonoran Desert of Mexico, including the only active erg dune region in North America. It extends across much of the northern border of the Gulf of California, reaching more than 100 kilometers east to west, and over 50 km north to...
.
The West Silver Bell Mountains are northwest-southeast trending, and merge in the southeast with a mostlly north-south Silver Bell Mountains
Silver Bell Mountains
The Silver Bell Mountains are an arid north-northwest x southeast trending small mountain range in north-central Pima County, Arizona. The range lies west of Marana, Arizona, located on Interstate-10, northwest of Tucson....
, also low elevation and arid. Both mountain ranges are named for the townsite of Silver Bell, and the Silver Bell Mine at the southern region of the Silver Bell Mountains.
The West & Silver Bell Mountains both lie in the northeast of the Aguirre Valley, a 35 mile (56 km) long, northwest-by-southeast trending valley bordered by five regional, low-elevation mountain ranges; the valley is Basin and Range
Basin and Range
The Basin and Range Province is a vast physiographic region defined by a unique topographic expression. Basin and Range topography is characterized by abrupt changes in elevation, alternating between narrow faulted mountain chains and flat arid valleys or basins...
oriented, and the north merges into the floodplain region near the confluence of the northwest-flowing section of the Santa Cruz River (Arizona) with the Gila River
Gila River
The Gila River is a tributary of the Colorado River, 650 miles long, in the southwestern states of New Mexico and Arizona.-Description:...
. The community of Saguaro, Arizona lies at the southeast end foothills of the West Silver Bell Mountains, and is also bordered east by the main Silver Bell range foothills.
The high point of the range is Solo Peak, 2749 feet (838 m), at 32.503401 °N 111.673734°W. At the southeast end of the range, and slightly offset northeast is the Malpais Hill, 2682 feet (817 m); Malpais Hill is also connected to the northwest part of the Silver Bell Mountains.