Green Nature

Santa Catalina Mountains

picture of the Santa Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, AZ


Compared to their neighoring range, the Tucson Mountains to the west, the Santa Catalina Mountains that border northern Tucson clearly show hints of their granite foundation.

Mount Lemmon, the highest point in the range, measures a tad over 9,100 feet tall.

The picture was taken from Sabino Canyon and highlights the banding in the granite and gneiss, a metamorphic rock. The foot hills are dotted with saguaro cacti.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels