Meridian Tower | |
Elevation Ft: | 7340 |
Elevation Ref: | [1] |
Prominence Ft: | 180 |
Isolation Mi: | 0.34 |
Parent Peak: | Point 7455 (7,455 ft) |
Part Type: | Protected area |
Country: | United States |
Region Type: | County |
Map: | Utah#USA |
Map Size: | 230 |
Label Position: | top |
Coordinates: | 37.2311°N -113.0013°W |
Topo: | USGS Springdale West |
First Ascent: | 2016, Stih and Mower |
Easiest Route: | climbing |
Meridian Tower is a 7340feet Navajo Sandstone mountain in Zion National Park in Washington County, Utah, United States, that is part of the Towers of the Virgin
Meridian Tower is situated 2miles northwest of Zion's park headquarters, towering 3350feet above the floor of Zion Canyon and the Virgin River which drains precipitation runoff from this mountain. Its neighbors include The West Temple, The Sundial, The Witch Head, Altar of Sacrifice, Bee Hive, and The Sentinel. This feature was so named by the park's third superintendent, Preston P. Patraw, because its flat top is crossed by the 113th meridian. Meridian Tower's name was officially adopted in 1934 by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. The first ascent of Meridian Tower was not made until March 2016 by Dan Stih and Matt Mower.[2]
Spring and fall are the most favorable seasons to view Meridian Tower. 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 10abbr=offNaNabbr=off of annual rainfall, and snowfall is generally light during the winter.[3]