The Waterman Mountains are a low mountainous landform in Pima County, Arizona, United States.[1] Notable among the tree species is the elephant tree (Bursera microphylla) which species exhibits a contorted multi-furcate architecture;[2] most of these froze in the cold winter of 2011. The Waterman Mountain range is in the Ironwood Forest National Monument.

Waterman Mountains
Highest point
PeakWaterman Peak
Elevation3,808 ft (1,161 m)
Coordinates32°21′34″N 111°28′37″W / 32.359516°N 111.477057°W / 32.359516; -111.477057
Dimensions
Length6 mi (9.7 km)
Width7 mi (11 km)
Geography
Waterman Mountains is located in Arizona
Waterman Mountains
Waterman Mountains
Waterman Mountains in Arizona
CountryUnited States
StateArizona
Region(north)-Sonoran Desert
DistrictPima County, Arizona
SettlementSilver Bell, AZ
Range coordinates32°21′34″N 111°28′37″W / 32.359516°N 111.477057°W / 32.359516; -111.477057
Borders onSilver Bell Mountains-N
Avra ValleyMarana, Arizona-E
Aguirre Valley-SW

The Waterman Mountains are not extensive, and merge into the southern section of the Silver Bell Mountains. The south of the range abuts the northwest of the northwest–southeast trending Roskruge Mountains. The highest point of the range is Waterman Peak at 3,808 feet (1,161 m).[3]

Prehistoric ecology

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The prehistoric ecology and plant community of the Waterman Mountains area of Arizona has been reconstructed to its composition as far back as the last glacial period, the Late Wisconsin glacial period. Dominant trees of that era, based upon pollen records, were Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), single-leaf pinyon (Pinus monophylla), and redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii), along with canotia (Canotia holacantha), and understory plants including Monardella arizonica.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Neal Erskine McClymonds. 1957
  2. ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009
  3. ^ Arizona Atlas & Gazetteer, pp. 66–67.
  4. ^ C. Michael Hogan. 2009

Sources

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