White Tank Mountains

The White Tank Mountains are a mountain range in Maricopa County, Arizona. The mountains are on the western periphery of the Phoenix metropolitan area, primarily flanked by the suburban cities of Buckeye to the southwest, and Surprise to the northeast. The mountain range is home to the White Tank Mountain Regional Park and is a regional recreation hub.

White Tank Mountains
Petroglyphs in the White Tank Mountains
Highest point
Elevation	4,083 ft (1,244 m)
Coordinates	33°34′31″N 112°34′44″W
Geography
White Tank Mountains Location in Arizona Show map of Arizona White Tank Mountains Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Topo map	USGS White Tank Mountains (AZ)
Geology
Rock age	35 Ma
Mountain type	Metamorphic

The range, often referred to simply as the White Tanks, is a moderate-sized mountain range whose peaks rise to an elevation around 4,000 feet (1,219 m).^[1] The range consists of a series of numerous ridges and canyons, and as such, lacks a single, prominent peak. The highest point in the range, at an elevation of 4,083 feet (1,244 m), is Barry Goldwater Peak.^[2]

The mountain range was formed through tectonic activities as part of a detachment fault sometime in the mid-Tertiary period, about 30 million years ago.^[1] Fairly young in geologic terms, it has not been subject to the forces of erosion for long and retains an extremely rugged topography composed of rocky fault ridges and deep canyons. During seasonal heavy rainfall, accumulated water tends to rush rapidly through the steep canyons, over time scouring out a number of depressions or "tanks" in the white granite near the base of the mountains. These white tanks are the source of the mountains' name.^[3]

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  Granite "white tank" in the White Tank Mountains
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  The White Tanks waterfall runs only immediately after rainfall
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  Web-like petroglyph on the White Tank Mountain Regional Park Waterfall Trail
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  Chipping petroglyph on the White Tank Mountain Regional Park Waterfall Trail
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  Petroglyph covered boulders