Klamath Mountains: Difference between revisions
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| ⚫ | The '''Klamath Mountains''' are a [[mountain range]] in northwest [[California]] and southwest [[Oregon]], the highest peaks being [[Mount Eddy]] (9002 [[foot (unit of length)|ft]] / 2744 [[meter|m]]) in [[Siskiyou County, California]], and [[Mount Ashland]] (7,533 ft / 2296 m) in [[Jackson County, Oregon]]. They have a varied [[geology]], with substantial areas of [[serpentine]] and [[marble]], and a [[climate]] characterised by cold [[winter]]s with very heavy [[snow|snowfall]], and warm [[summer]]s with limited rainfall. As a consequence of the geology, they have a unique [[Flora (plants)|flora]], known as the [[Klamath-Siskiyou forests]], which includes several [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] or near-endemic [[trees]], such as [[Port Orford cedar]] (''Chamaecyparis lawsoniana''), [[Foxtail pine]] (''Pinus balfouriana spp, balfourinana''), [[Brewer spruce]] (''Picea breweriana'') and [[Kalmiopsis]] (''Kalmiopsis leachiana''), forming one of the largest collections of different conifers in the world. The northernmost range of the Klamath Mountains are known as the '''[[Siskiyou Mountains]]'''. |
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==Several Wilderness Areas == |
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[[Image:Wpdms shdrlfi020l klamath river.jpg|right|250px|thumb|Klamath River and tributaries]]The largest concentration of diverse coniferous species of trees exists in these mountains. Specifically in the [[Russian Wilderness]] there are more species of coniferous tree in one location than anywhere else on the globe. Other official wilderness areas include the [[Trinity Alps Wilderness]] (second largest in California), the [[Siskiyou Wilderness]], the [[Marble Mountain Wilderness]], the [[Yolla Bolly Middle Eel Wilderness]], the [[Red Buttes Wilderness]], and the [[Kalmiopsis Wilderness]]. There are extensive hiking trail systems, recreation areas and campgrounds both primitive and developed, and the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] passes through these mountains as well. |
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== Major Rivers & Game Fish Species == |
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[[Image:Chinook Salmon.jpeg|thumb|right|250px|A male Chinook/King salmon specimen]]Major rivers include the |
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* the [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]] |
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* the [[Van Duzen River]] |
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* the [[Klamath River]] |
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* the [[Trinity River (California)|Trinity River]] |
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* the [[Mad River (California)|Mad River]] |
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* the [[Smith River (California)|Smith River]] |
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* the [[Salmon River (California)|Salmon River]] |
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* the [[Rogue River (Oregon)|Rogue River]] |
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* the [[Scott River|Scott River]] |
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The many mountains streams and rivers form a major spawning ground for several species of [[trout]] and [[salmon]], yet recently, in the last 50 years, some of the fish stocks have fallen drastically, particularly salmon stocks. The ecoregion's rivers and streams are home to ''nine species'' of native Salmonids. The depletions occur mainly as of the creation of dams, and excessive [[clear cut]] logging on the steep rugged slopes of the area, both contributing to large amounts of silt in the stream beds, which interferes especially with the salmon spawning as they need exposed gravel beds to lay their eggs in. Other notable fish species, besides [[king salmon]] & [[silver salmon]], include [[steelhead]], [[brown trout]], [[rainbow trout]], [[brook trout|eastern brook trout]], large & smallmouth [[bass]]. |
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== Plentiful Wildlife == |
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Animal species include [[mountain lions]], [[black bears]], [[bobcats]], [[lynx]], [[raccoons]], [[martens]], [[fisher (animal)|fishers]], [[beavers]], [[grey fox]], [[red fox]], [[golden eagles]], [[bald eagles]], [[pileated woodpecker]], plentiful deer, several large [[owl]] species including the [[spotted owl]], and an extensive variety of additional species both plant and animal. The area used to have [[grizzly bear]], [[wolves]], and [[Roosevelt elk]], with the latter two being considered for reintroduction. |
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==Wide variety of Trees & Plant Species== |
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The Klamath-Siskiyou forests are a temperate coniferous forest ecoregion of northwestern California and southwestern Oregon. The ecoregion extends across 50,300 square kilometers (19,400 square miles) of the mountainous region known as the Klamath Knot. The ecoregion harbors rich biodiversity, with several distinct plant communities, including temperate rain forests, moist inland forests, oak forests and savannas, high elevation forests, and alpine grasslands. Thirty conifer species inhabit the region, including seven endemic species, making the region one of the richest coniferous forest regions of the world in species diversity. The region also has several edaphic plant communities, adapted to specific soil types, notably serpentine outcrops. |
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Conifer species include Coast Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii subsp. menziesii), Lawson's Cypress (also known as Port Orford Cedar, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa), Sugar Pine (Pinus lambertiana), Mountain Hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana), White Fir (Abies concolor subsp. lowiana), Red Fir (A. magnifica subsp. shastensis), Weeping Spruce (Picea breweriana), Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), and Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia). |
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[edit] |
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[[Category:Mountain ranges of California]] |
[[Category:Mountain ranges of California]] |
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[[nl:Klamath Mountains]] |
[[nl:Klamath Mountains]] |
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==external links== |
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*pics from Mt Eddy [http://arnica.csustan.edu/jacklin/Mt_Eddy_1/index.htm] |
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*link to trinity alps[[http://gorp.away.com/gorp/publishers/westcliffe/ca_trini.htm]] |
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*visitors guide to trinity county[http://www.trinitycounty.com/] |
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{{California-geo-stub}} |
{{California-geo-stub}} |
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{{Oregon-geo-stub}} |
{{Oregon-geo-stub}} |
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Revision as of 23:19, 22 March 2007
The Klamath Mountains are a mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon, the highest peaks being Mount Eddy (9002 ft / 2744 m) in Siskiyou County, California, and Mount Ashland (7,533 ft / 2296 m) in Jackson County, Oregon. They have a varied geology, with substantial areas of serpentine and marble, and a climate characterised by cold winters with very heavy snowfall, and warm summers with limited rainfall. As a consequence of the geology, they have a unique flora, known as the Klamath-Siskiyou forests, which includes several endemic or near-endemic trees, such as Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), Foxtail pine (Pinus balfouriana spp, balfourinana), Brewer spruce (Picea breweriana) and Kalmiopsis (Kalmiopsis leachiana), forming one of the largest collections of different conifers in the world. The northernmost range of the Klamath Mountains are known as the Siskiyou Mountains.
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