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Thunder Mountain (Amador County, California)

Coordinates: 38°40′27″N 120°05′27″W / 38.6740752°N 120.090742°W / 38.6740752; -120.090742
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Thunder Mountain
Southwest aspect, with Silver Lake
Highest point
Elevation9,414 ft (2,869 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence330 ft (101 m)[1]
ListingCalifornia county high points 16th
Coordinates38°40′27″N 120°05′27″W / 38.6740752°N 120.090742°W / 38.6740752; -120.090742[2]
Geography
Thunder Mountain is located in California
Thunder Mountain
Thunder Mountain
Location in California
Thunder Mountain is located in the United States
Thunder Mountain
Thunder Mountain
Thunder Mountain (the United States)
LocationAmador County, California, U.S.
Parent rangeSierra Nevada
Topo mapUSGS Caples Lake

Thunder Mountain in the Sierra Nevada of California is located east of Silver Lake and west of Kirkwood Mountain Resort[3] in the Eldorado National Forest. The mountain has two peaks, the 9,414-foot (2,869 m) main peak[1] and a 9,412-foot (2,869 m) sub-peak west of the main peak.[4] The main summit is the highest point in Amador County.[1] Due to the high elevation, most precipitation that falls on Thunder Mountain consists of snow.[5]

The peak was named by United States Forest Service personnel because "thunderstorms appear to build up in that area."[6]

Climate

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According to the Köppen climate classification system, Thunder Mountain is located in an alpine climate zone.[7] Most weather fronts originate in the Pacific Ocean and travel east toward the Sierra Nevada mountains. As fronts approach, they are forced upward by the peaks (orographic lift), causing them to drop their moisture in the form of rain or snowfall onto the range.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Thunder Mountain, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  2. ^ "Thunder Mountain". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  3. ^ Caples Lake quadrangle, California (Map). 1:24000. 7.5 Minute Topographic. USGS. Retrieved 2009-12-09.
  4. ^ "Thunder Mountain-West Peak, California". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  5. ^ "Subsection M261Ek - Glaciated Batholith and Volcanic Flows". USDA, Forest Service. Archived from the original on 2007-08-13. Retrieved 2007-12-03.
  6. ^ Browning, Peter (1986). Place Names of the Sierra Nevada. Berkeley: Wilderness Press. p. 216. ISBN 0899971199.
  7. ^ "Climate of the Sierra Nevada". Encyclopædia Britannica.
Thunder Mountain's west peak
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