Mount Monadnock
mountain in New Hampshire, USA / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mount Monadnock, or Grand Monadnock, is a mountain in the New England state of New Hampshire. Authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau wrote about the mountain, so it is well-known. It is the highest mountain between the White Mountains of New Hampshire and the Massachusetts Berkshires. It is the highest point in Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Monadnock is one of the most popular mountains to climb in the world.[3]
Mount Monadnock | |
---|---|
Grand Monadnock | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 3,165 ft (965 m)[1] |
Prominence | 2,150 ft (660 m)[2] |
Listing | #33 New England Fifty Finest |
Coordinates | 42°51′39″N 72°6′29″W |
Geography | |
Location | Jaffrey / Dublin, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States |
Geology | |
Age of rock | 400 million years |
Mountain type | Littleton formation schist/ quartzite |
Climbing | |
First ascent | 1725 by Captain Samuel Willard |
Easiest route | White Arrow Trail 2.3 mi (3.7 km) |
At 3,165 feet (965 m), Mount Monadnock is nearly 1,000 feet (300 m) higher than any mountain within 30 miles (48 km). It is 2,000 feet (600 m) above the nearby land. Mount Monadnock is in the towns of Jaffrey and Dublin, New Hampshire.[4]
The term "monadnock" is used by American geologists to describe any single mountain formed when erosion removes softer rock and leaves harder rock behind. This is called an inselberg in other parts of the world.
Monadnock's bare, isolated, and rocky summit gives people wide, clear views. The mountain is clear mostly because of fires set by early settlers. The first major fire in 1800 cleared trees the lower parts of the mountain to make pasture for animals. More fires and hurricane damaged the forest more. Between 1810 and 1820, local farmers thought that wolves were living in the forest and set the mountain on fire again. The fire burned hot and powerfully for weeks. It destroyed the topsoil and removed trees and plants mountain above 2,000 feet (610 m).[5]