Everything about The Sutter Buttes totally explained
The
Sutter Buttes, also known as the
Marysville Buttes or
Histum Yani (
Maidu), are a small circular complex of eroded volcanic
lava domes which rise above the flat plains of the
California Central Valley,
USA. The highest peak, South Butte, reaches about above
sea level. The Buttes are located just outside of
Yuba City, California in the
Sacramento Valley, the northern part of Central Valley. They are named for
John Sutter, who received a large land grant from the
Mexican government. The Sutter Buttes also hold the title of being the world's smallest mountain range.
Geography and geology
The mountains are about 10 miles (16 km) across from north to south and east to west, and are the smallest
mountain range in the world. The valley formed in the middle of the Buttes is called the Peace Valley.
The Sutter Buttes were formed over 1.5 million years ago by a now-extinct
volcano. Some geological references suggested that it represents the southernmost of the
Cascade Volcanoes (External Link
), but there are significant differences in age and form compared to the other volcanoes in that range. The questions about their origin and connection to other regional volcanic activity are the subject of ongoing research.
Native American lore
The Sutter Buttes figure prominently in the creation stories and other traditions of the
indigenous Maidu people. Ancient Maidu didn't live in the Sutter Buttes, but they did visit the mountains regularly to gather
acorns and other
foodstuffs or to hunt
game. The Maidu, who lived in their shadow for thousands of years, called them Esto Yamani, which means "the Middle Mountain".
Recent history and access
Public access to the Sutter Buttes is limited. Much of the land is privately held by
cattle and
sheep ranchers, but a number of
naturalists and local organizations, including the
Middle Mountain Foundation, lead hikes through most areas. Since
1929, the State of California had considered purchasing the land for protection and public use.
In
1963, a missile silo complex containing three separate
Titan I ICBM missiles was constructed near the base of the Buttes. The site was only active from 1963 to 1965, and it was decommissioned and mostly dismantled in
1965. The site has been host to many vandals and trespassers since the early 1980s to the present.
In
2003, the California Department of Parks and Recreation purchased a 1,785 acre (7.2 km²) tract in Peace Valley toward the north side of the Buttes with the intent of developing it for public access.
Power lines connecting to
Path 15 and
Path 66 run on the eastern edge of the Sutter Buttes.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Sutter Buttes'.
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