Whites Butte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Whites Butte |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 4,860 ft (1,480 m) |
| Prominence | 360 ft (110 m) |
| Parent peak | Vesta Temple (South Rim) |
| Geography | |
 Whites.Butte
Location in Arizona
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| Location | Grand Canyon Coconino County, Arizona. U.S. |
| Topo map | USPS Grand Canyon |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Pennsylvanian down to Early Paleoproterozoic |
| Mountain type | sedimentary rock: sandstone siltstone mudstone limestone shale sandstone |
| Type of rock | Supai Group (4-units) 2-Manakacha Formation-(cliff-remainder prominence, (unit no. 2 of 4) 1-Watahomigi Formation, (massif)-Redwall Limestone Tonto Group (3 of 3) _3-Muav Limestone _2-Bright Angel Shale _1-Tapeats Sandstone Vishnu Basement Rocks |
Whites Butte is a 4,860-foot (1,480 m) prominence adjacent the course of the Colorado River near the beginning of the Western Grand Canyon, (west terminus of the South Rim). The butte lies at the terminus of Travertine Canyon, the adjacent canyon west of Hermit Canyon. The Boucher Trail which begins at Upper Hermit Canyon, courses the east base of Whites Butte to reach the Tonto Trail-(west), on the Tonto Platform, south side of the Colorado River.
Geology & Biology
The top of Whites Butte is a large platform of the cliff-forming Redwall Limestone, with vegetation growth. The east flank of the Redwall is slightly arcuate, and the prominence, upon the Redwall Limestone, is also arcuate, with a peak remainder of a pyramid-shaped, sloped Supai Group (4 of 4 geological units). The prominence is a minuscule cliff of Supai Group (unit 2), Manakacha Formation. Slope-forming slopes of Watahomigi Formation are below the high point of cliffs of Manachaka, which protect the slopes, and help form the pyramidal shape of the prominence.
