Castle Rock (Kansas)
| Castle Rock | |
|---|---|
 Castle Rock in 2005 | |
| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 2,434 ft (742 m)[1] |
| Prominence | 70 ft (21 m) |
| Coordinates | 38°51′40″N 100°10′11″W / 38.8611219°N 100.1698516°W[1] |
| Geography | |
  Castle Rock Location within Kansas  Castle Rock Location within the United States | |
| Geology | |
| Rock age | Cretaceous |
| Erosional remnant | |
Castle Rock is a 70-ft-tall (21 m) chalk pillar landmark in Gove County, Kansas, United States. The formation and the nearby badlands are located in the Smoky Hills region of Kansas, which is about 11 mi (18 km) south of I-70 near Quinter, Kansas.
Description
Castle Rock was a landmark on the Butterfield Overland Despatch route (Overland Trail). The chalk was deposited in the area by an ancient inland sea.[2] The formation was carved by the weathering of the chalk by wind and water. It received its name because it is said to look like a castle rising above the prairie.
Weathering of the rock formation is increasing due to visitors climbing on the rocks. In 2001, following a thunderstorm, the tallest spire fell.[3]
On January 29, 2008, Castle Rock and Monument Rocks 31 miles to the west were jointly named as one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas.
Images
.jpg)
Castle Rock, 1867
Castle Rock, 2009
See also
References
- 1 2 "Castle Rock". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
- ↑ "Believe it or not: dry western Kansas is the place to study prehistoric oceans". National Public Radio. August 16, 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
- ↑ "Castle Rock". Kansas Geological Survey. Retrieved 2022-10-04.
Further reading
External links
