Capitol Dome (Utah)

Capitol Dome is a 6,120-foot-elevation (1,870 m) summit located in Capitol Reef National Park, in Wayne County, Utah, United States. This iconic landmark is situated 2.5 miles (4.0 km) east of the park's visitor center, and 0.85 mi (1.37 km) southeast of Navajo Dome. Precipitation runoff from this feature is drained by tributaries of the Fremont River, which in turn is within the Colorado River drainage basin. It towers 800 feet (240 m) above the Fremont River and State Route 24. This geological feature's dome-like shape reminded early explorers and settlers of capitol buildings, and lent the park its name.[3]

Capitol Dome
West aspect, from State Route 24
Highest point
Elevation6,120 ft (1,870 m)[1]
Prominence320 ft (98 m)[2]
Parent peakNavajo Dome (6,485 ft)[2]
Isolation0.54 mi (0.87 km)[2]
Coordinates38°17′21″N 111°13′05″W[2]
Geography
Capitol Dome
Location in Utah
Capitol Dome
Capitol Dome (the United States)
LocationCapitol Reef National Park
Wayne County, Utah, United States
Parent rangeColorado Plateau
Topo mapUSGS Fruita
Geology
Age of rockJurassic
Type of rockNavajo Sandstone
Climbing
Easiest routeclass 5.x climbing[2]

Geology

Capitol Dome is composed of Navajo Sandstone, which is believed to have formed about 180 million years ago as a giant sand sea, the largest in Earth's history.[4] In a hot, dry climate, wind blew over sand dunes, creating large, sweeping crossbeds which date to the Jurassic. Long after the sedimentary rocks were deposited, the Colorado Plateau was uplifted relatively evenly, keeping the layers roughly horizontal, but Capitol Reef is an exception because of the Waterpocket Fold, a classic monocline, which formed between 50 and 70 million years ago during the Laramide Orogeny.[3]

Climate

Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to visit Capitol Dome. According to the Köppen climate classification system, it is located in a Cold semi-arid climate zone, which is defined by the coldest month having an average mean temperature below 32 °F (0 °C), and at least 50% of the total annual precipitation being received during the spring and summer. This desert climate receives less than 10 inches (250 millimeters) of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.

Climate data for Capitol Reef Visitor Center, elevation 5,653 ft (1,723 m), 1981-2010 normals, extremes 1981-2019
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 58.6
(14.8)
68.3
(20.2)
78.3
(25.7)
84.4
(29.1)
94.6
(34.8)
100.2
(37.9)
100.8
(38.2)
97.9
(36.6)
95.4
(35.2)
86.1
(30.1)
70.4
(21.3)
61.5
(16.4)
100.8
(38.2)
Average high °F (°C) 40.6
(4.8)
46.4
(8.0)
54.7
(12.6)
65.0
(18.3)
74.5
(23.6)
85.3
(29.6)
90.4
(32.4)
87.9
(31.1)
80.2
(26.8)
66.1
(18.9)
51.3
(10.7)
40.6
(4.8)
65.3
(18.5)
Average low °F (°C) 17.8
(−7.9)
22.7
(−5.2)
30.2
(−1.0)
36.2
(2.3)
44.7
(7.1)
53.1
(11.7)
60.4
(15.8)
58.5
(14.7)
50.4
(10.2)
39.0
(3.9)
27.6
(−2.4)
18.2
(−7.7)
38.3
(3.5)
Record low °F (°C) −4.2
(−20.1)
−11.8
(−24.3)
9.1
(−12.7)
18.1
(−7.7)
27.2
(−2.7)
34.6
(1.4)
42.4
(5.8)
45.1
(7.3)
29.9
(−1.2)
11.7
(−11.3)
8.0
(−13.3)
−7.5
(−21.9)
−11.8
(−24.3)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 0.52
(13)
0.34
(8.6)
0.53
(13)
0.47
(12)
0.59
(15)
0.47
(12)
0.91
(23)
1.20
(30)
0.80
(20)
0.98
(25)
0.49
(12)
0.32
(8.1)
7.62
(194)
Average dew point °F (°C) 17.3
(−8.2)
20.8
(−6.2)
23.0
(−5.0)
24.5
(−4.2)
29.1
(−1.6)
32.0
(0.0)
40.0
(4.4)
41.8
(5.4)
34.8
(1.6)
28.2
(−2.1)
21.9
(−5.6)
17.5
(−8.1)
27.6
(−2.4)
Source: PRISM[5]

See also

References

  1. "Capitol Dome, Utah". Peakbagger.com.
  2. "'Capitol Dome' - 6,140' UT". listsofjohn.com. Retrieved 2020-10-24.
  3. "Capitol Reef Geology". National Park Service.
  4. "Capitol Reef National Park" (PDF). National Park Service.
  5. "PRISM Climate Group". Oregon State University. Retrieved February 19, 2019.
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