Spirit Mountain, also known as Avi Kwa Ame (/əˌviːkwəˈɑːmeɪ/ ə-VEE-kwə-AH-may;[7][8] Mojave: ʔaviː kʷaʔame, "highest mountain", from ʔaviː, "mountain, rock", and ʔamay, "up, above")[9][10] is a mountain within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area near Laughlin, Nevada. It is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places as a sacred place to Native American tribes in Southern Nevada.[11] Spirit Mountain is the highest point in the Spirit Mountain Wilderness[2][12] and is the highest point in the Newberry Mountains with the summit peak at 5,639 feet (1,719 m).
Spirit Mountain | |
---|---|
Avi Kwa' Ame | |
Highest point | |
Elevation | 5,642 ft (1,720 m) NAVD 88[1] |
Prominence | 2,879 ft (878 m)[2] |
Isolation | 25.35 mi (40.80 km)[2] |
Listing |
|
Coordinates | 35°16′30″N 114°43′24″W / 35.274977972°N 114.723384419°W[1] |
Geography | |
Location | |
Parent range | Newberry Mountains |
Topo map | USGS Spirit Mountain |
Spirit Mountain | |
Nearest city | Laughlin, Nevada |
NRHP reference No. | 99001083 |
Added to NRHP | September 8, 1999 |
Environmentalists have sought designation of a significant area to the west of the mountain as a national monument.[13] The Avi Kwa Ame National Monument was established on March 21, 2023, by President Biden[14] and named after the peak as the mountain is visible from almost the entire area.[11]
The mountain was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a Traditional Cultural Property on September 8, 1999.[15][13][16][17]
Spirit Mountain is the center of creation for all Yuman speaking tribes and is considered a sacred area.[11][18] The 506,814-acre national monument (205,100 ha) is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Bureau of Reclamation.[19]
Pronounced Ah-VEE kwa-ah-may.