Wichita Mountains
| Wichita Mountains | |
|---|---|
Elk Mountain, in the eastern Wichita Mountains
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Haley Peak (officially unnamed) |
| Coordinates | 34°50′22″N 98°48′13″W / 34.83944°N 98.80361°WCoordinates: 34°50′22″N 98°48′13″W / 34.83944°N 98.80361°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 60 mi (97 km) northwest-southeast |
| Width | 10 mi (16 km) |
| Geography | |
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| Country | United States |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Geology | |
| Orogeny | Ouachita orogeny |
| Age of rock | Cambrian and Pennsylvanian (geology) |
| Type of rock | granite, rhyolite and gabbro |
The Wichita Mountains are located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. It is the principle relief system in the Southern Oklahoma Aulacogen, being the result of a failed continental rift. The mountains are a northwest-southeast trending series of rocky promontories, many capped by 540 million-year old granite. These were exposed and rounded by weathering during the Permian Period. The eastern end of the mountains offers 1,000 feet (305 m) of topographic relief in a region otherwise dominated by gently rolling grasslands. The mountains are home to numerous working ranches and quarry operations, the state reformatory, recreational homes and campsites, and scenic parklands. Fort Sill, home of the U.S. Army Field Artillery School, occupies a large portion of the southeastern end of the mountains.
The Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, a favorite for hikers and rock climbers in the region, is located adjacent to Cache, Medicine Park, Indiahoma, and historic Meers while just a short drive from Lawton and Walters. Bison, elk and deer are protected on the 59,020-acre (23,880 ha) wildlife refuge. The refuge also manages a herd of longhorn cattle. A scenic highway traversing the park permits leisurely views of these and other fauna. Backcountry camping is available in the Charon Gardens Wilderness area. The park is home to a small number of popular fishing lakes. There are numerous trails for hiking. It is also home to Treasure Lake Job Corps. Additional points of interest are the refuge's visitors center, Holy City of the Wichitas, Quanah Parker Lake & Dam, Lake Jed Johnson, and Lake Lawtonka.
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Wikipedia