Arabia Mountain
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| Arabia Mountain | |
|---|---|
| Elevation | 940 feet (287 m) |
| Location | Georgia, USA |
| Coordinates | |
| Type | Monadnock |
| First ascent | unknown |
| Easiest route | hike |
Arabia Mountain is a monadnock in DeKalb County, Georgia. The peak is 940 feet (287m) above sea level, rising 180 feet (55m) above Arabia Lake reservoir. Once designated a state park, it is now part of the Davidson-Arabia Mountain Nature Preserve, a DeKalb County park. On October 12, 2006 the mountain and adjoining features were designated Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area.[1] Guided hikes are available to Arabia Mountain from Panola Mountain, 3 miles 5 furlongs (5.9km) to the southwest. While designated as one peak on USGS maps, the Arabia Alliance considers the rock formation to be two peaks: Arabia Mountain to the northeast, and Bradley Mountain to the southeast.
Arabia Mountain appears to be composed of granite, like other nearby peaks such as Stone Mountain and Panola Mountain. Although made of metamorphic rock, the mountain is actually composed of migmatite, metamorphosed at higher temperatures than gneiss but not sufficiently melted to become granite.
Like Panola and Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain was quarried for decades before the property was turned over to the DeKalb park system. Structures and excavations from the quarry operations can be seen throughout the park. Parts of the mountain were used to film the Stephen King film "Pet Sematary II."
Arabia Mountain is one of a very small number of locations in the southeastern United States where Small's stonecrop (Diamorpha smallii), an endangered species protected by Georgia and federal law, thrives. When granite and similar stone outcrops are exposed to erosion, over time, small depressions form where weaker rock wears away faster than surrounding rock (often assisted by lichen). Over time, these depressions fill with sand washed down from higher locations, which accumulates a small amount of organic content from decaying leaves and other detritus, as well as rain water. Small's stonecrop then takes hold in these sandy hollows.
[edit] References
- ^ Government Printing Office. Public Law 109-338. Retrieved on May 23, 2007.
[edit] External links
- Arabia Mountain Heritage Area
- Small's stonecrop
- Trails around Arabia Mountain
- Photos of the mountain
- Arabia Mountain is at coordinates Coordinates:
