| Killdeer Mountains | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Killdeer Mountain |
| Elevation | 3,281 ft (1,000 m) |
| Coordinates | 47°27′07″N 102°54′34″W / 47.451934°N 102.90945°W / 47.451934; -102.90945 |
| Dimensions | |
| Area | 26 km2 (10 mi2) |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | Named after the local native bird, Killdeer |
| Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | North Dakota |
Region | Dunn County |
The Killdeer Mountains are two large flat-topped buttes1 in Dunn County, North Dakota, United States.2 They consist of North Mountain and South Mountain. The tops consist of Miocene age tuffaceous siltstones, sandstones and carbonates of the Arikaree Formation. Below, are outcrops of the Eocene sandstones and mudstones of the Chadron Formation, and the Golden Valley Formation. Much of their formation was caused by wind, river and lake erosion.
The Killdeer Mountains cover a surface of 26 square kilometers (10 sq mi). The highest peak reaches 3,281 ft (1,000 m), which is the highest point in the county.34
The name comes from the Native Americans, who used the area as a hunting ground for deer.5 The butte was the scene of the Battle of Killdeer Mountain in 1864.
Upland deciduous forest with aspen, oak, birch, ash and poplar covers much of the Killdeer Mountains.6
In 1906, reports of volcanic activity were coming from the mountains.7 However, no geological evidence has proven a confirmed volcano in the area.
References
References
- Bluemle, John. "North Dakota's Mountainous Areas: The Killdeer Mountains and the Turtle Mountains. NDGS - North Dakota Notes #15". www.dmr.nd.gov. Retrieved July 14, 2026.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Killdeer Mountains
- "Killdeer Mountains, North Dakota". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved May 7, 2024.
- Quirke, Terence T. (April 1918). "The Geology of the Killdeer Mountains, North Dakota". The Journal of Geology. 26 (3): 255. doi:10.1086/622588.
- Federal Writers' Project (1938). North Dakota, a Guide to the Northern Prairie State. WPA. p. 321. ISBN 978-1-62376-033-5.
{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help) - https://gf.nd.gov/wildlife/habitats/upland-forest Upland Deciduous Forest North Dakota Fish and Game
- "Killdear Volcano". Williston Herald. Retrieved September 15, 2024.