- Santa Rita Mountains
The Santa Rita Mountains, located about 65 km (40 mi) southeast of
Tucson, Arizona , extend 42 km (26 mi) from northwest to southeast. The highest point in the range, and the highest point in theTucson area, isMount Wrightson , with an elevation of 9,453 feet (2,881 m), The range containsMadera Canyon , one of the world's premier birding areas. TheSmithsonian Institution 'sFred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is located on Mount Hopkins. The range is one of theMadrean sky islands .The Santa Rita Mountains are mostly within the
Coronado National Forest . Prior to 1908 they were the principal component ofSanta Rita National Forest , which was combined with other small forest tracts to form Coronado. Much of the range is protected by theMount Wrightson Wilderness . The Santa Rita Mountains were severely burned in July 2005 in the Florida Fire.Other mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley include the
Santa Catalina Mountains , theRincon Mountains , theTucson Mountains , and theTortolita Mountains .External links
* [http://www.friendsofmaderacanyon.org/ Friends of Madera Canyon]
* [http://www.sabo.org/birding/santa.htm Birding hot spots]
* [http://www.cfa.harvard.edu/facilities/flwo/ Whipple Observatory]
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