Coconino National Forest
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The Coconino National Forest is a National Forest around the cities of Flagstaff and Sedona in northern Arizona.
Geography
The altitude ranges from 800 m at the Verde River and 3,851 at Humphrey's Peak. A large part of the area is high plateau with the 2,100 m in height, bounded on the south by the Mongollon Rim. The National Forest is powered by four other National Forests limited ( Kaibab in the west, in the southwest of Prescott, Tonto Apache - Sitgreaves in the south and in the southeast ) and consists of four different districts.
Peaks District
The Peaks District includes the San Francisco Peaks the highest mountain in Arizona, including Humphreys Peak at 3,851 m. They are part of the 4700 km ² large San Francisco volcanic field, from which there is a majority in the National Forest. The volcanic field includes various geological formations such as cinder cones and lava tubes ( Lava River Cave ). Within the Peaks District are the three National Monuments Sunset Crater, Walnut Canyon and Wupatki, the latter at the northeast boundary of the District.
Red Rock District
The Red Rock District includes the area around Sedona resort with its Härtlingen, mesas and canyons, such as the Sycamore Canyon. Sedona is in conjunction with the Oak Creek Canyon and the nearby neighborhood of Frankfurt Slide Rock State Park is a popular destination and thus of tourist importance. This area is slightly lower than the rest of the National Forests, why increase more in the summer the temperatures.
Mormon Lake District
The Mormon Lake District is located south of Flagstaff, next to the eponymous Mormon Lake also includes other lakes, such as the Ashurst Lake or the Marshall Lake. Furthermore, the Anderson Mesa Station of the Lowell Observatory is located nearby. In the southwest of the area are the two narrow reservoirs Upper Lake Mary and Lower Lake Mary. While the former is still filled in the summer months with water, the latter is transformed in the summer months to a wet meadow.
Mogollon Rim District
The Mogollon Rim District is similar in its geographical circumstances the Mormon Lake District. It also includes many small lakes and streams that flow through the large ponderosa pine forests. To the south of the District is the Tonto National Forest.
History
1898 an area under the name of San Francisco Mountain Forest Reserve was placed under protection by the then U.S. President William McKinley. This measure was seen in the area not over friendly. In 1908 the present Coconino National Forest from parts of the Black Mesa, Grand Canyon, San Francisco Mountains and Tonto National Forests was created.
Flora
Due to the dry climate only a few deciduous trees occurs disseminated are evergreen trees such as conifers. In addition, especially ponderosa pines occur. The vegetation is different due to the altitude. At the deepest parts of the National Forests only shrubs and sagebrush occur. On the next step height 1400-2000 m of alligator and Utah juniper are the dominant tree species. There are also Agave parryi, Arizona cypress, various types of bearberry and cacti, yuccas and pinyon pines. This landscape is called Juniper - Pinyon Woodlands. In 2000-2400 m also American aspen, Gambel Oak and Rocky Mountain juniper are occurring in addition to the ponderosa pines. In the area of the San Francisco Peaks next conifers come Engelmann spruce and holly also Douglas firs, subalpine fir, bristlecone pine, and Pinus flexilis. Very few are American aspens encountered. At over 3,400 m the vegetation decreases noticeably, individual bristlecone pines still occur below the tree line. Above the tree line grow only varying grass and lichen and wildflowers.
Forest fires
The forest fire danger is very high in the Coconino National Forest, because especially in the spring and summer rainfall is very low, the prevailing temperatures very high and strong winds. Because of this very high risk of forest fires, the forests in the months of May and July can be completely blocked for entering. For the prevention of forest fires, even the forest at each location has been controlled burned and thinned.
Wilder Esses
In or partially in the Coconino National Forest are the following ten Wilderness Areas:
- Fossil Springs Wilderness
- Kachina Peaks Wilderness
- Kendrick Mountain Wilderness
- Mazatzal Mountain Wilderness
- Munds Mountain Wilderness
- Red Rock - Secret Mountain Wilderness
- Strawberry Crater Wilderness
- Sycamore Canyon Wilderness
- West Clear Creek Wilderness
- Wet Beaver Wilderness
Weblink
- Official Website
- National Forest (United States)
- Geography (Arizona )
- Coconino County
- Gila County
- Yavapai County