| Santa Rita Mountains | |
|---|---|
 View of the northern end of the Santa Ritas from theSanta Rita Experimental Range | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Wrightson |
| Elevation | 9,453 ft (2,881 m) |
| Coordinates | 31°43′23″N110°52′49″W / 31.72306°N 110.88028°W /31.72306; -110.88028 |
| Geography | |
  Santa Rita Mountains | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Arizona |
| Region | Sonoran Desert |
| District | Tucson, AZ |
| Topo map(s) | USGS Helvetia, AZ |
TheSanta Rita Mountains (O'odham:To:wa Kuswo Doʼag), located about 40 miles (60 km) southeast ofTucson, Arizona, extend 26 miles (42 km) from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into thePatagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast. The highest point in the range, and the highest point in the Tucson 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 onMount Hopkins. The range is one of theMadrean sky islands.
The Santa Rita Mountains are mostly within theCoronado 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 lies within theMt. Wrightson Wilderness, managed by the Coronado National Forest. The Santa Rita Mountains were severely burned in July 2005 in the Florida Fire.
On the western side of the northern Santa Rita Mountains, a large cliff face of white marble is visible from the Green Valley and Sahuarita areas. This "white scar" reminded early Spanish missionaries of SaintRita of Cascia (1381–1457), an Italian nun, who is often depicted with a small wound on her forehead. The mountain range was consequently named after her.[1]
Other mountain ranges surrounding the Tucson valley include theSanta Catalina Mountains, theRincon Mountains, theTucson Mountains, and theTortolita Mountains.
A largeporphyry copper deposit has been identified near the oldHelvetia mining district on the north flank of the range. The proposedRosemont Copper mine would be an open pit operation located in the Santa Ritas about 2 miles (3 km) west of mile marker 44 onArizona State Route 83.[2]
The Santa Rita Mountains were the temporary home range of "El Jefe," an adult male jaguar first identified in 2011. He has not been seen in the Santa Rita Mountains since 2015.[3] El Jefe was recently identified by his distinctive markings in Mexico.[4]
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| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
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