Chiricahua National Monument
| Chiricahua National Monument | |
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IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
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 The Balanced Rock formation |
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| Location | Cochise County, Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Willcox, AZ |
| Coordinates | 32°00′20″N 109°21′24″W / 32.00569°N 109.35672°WCoordinates: 32°00′20″N 109°21′24″W / 32.00569°N 109.35672°W |
| Area | 11,985 acres (4,850 ha)[1] |
| Created | April 18, 1924 |
| Visitors | 1,253,637 (in 2010)[2] |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Chiricahua National Monument is a unit of the National Park Service located in the Chiricahua Mountains. It is famous for its extensive vertical rock formations. The monument is located approximately 36 miles (58 km) southeast of Willcox, Arizona. It preserves the remains of an immense volcanic eruption that shook the region some 27 million years ago. Called the Turkey Creek Caldera eruption, it eventually laid down two thousand feet of ash and pumice, highly siliceous in nature. This eventually hardened into rhyolite tuffs, and eroded into the natural features visible at the monument today.[3]
The National Monument was created on April 18, 1924. The national monument also preserves the Faraway Ranch, owned at one time by Swedish immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson.[4]
In 2008, the Chiricahua National Monument Historic Designed Landscape, covering roughly 80% of the National Monument, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ "Listing of acreage as of 12/31/2010". Public Use Statistic Office, National Park Service. http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/Acreage/acrebypark10cy.pdf. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ "Five Year Annual Recreation Visits Report". Public Use Statistic Office, National Park Service. http://www.nature.nps.gov/stats/viewReport.cfm?selectedReport=SystemComparisonReport.cfm. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ "Geology Field Notes: Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona". National Park Service. http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/parks/chir/index.cfm. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ "Chiricahua National Monument: Nature & Science". National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/chir/naturescience/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Chiricahua National Monument |
- "Chiricahua National Monument". National Park Service. http://www.nps.gov/chir/index.htm. Retrieved 2011-07-03.
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