Otay Mountain

Otay Mountain is a mountain located in San Diego County, California. It is the highest summit of the San Ysidro Mountains. It contains both the Otay Lakes and the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area.[2] The physical border separating Mexico and the United States (which can be found near Otay Mountain) has received criticism for the harm it allegedly perpetuated to the environment, both in its construction and in its very nature.

Otay Mountain
Otay Mountain as seen from Doghouse Junction
Highest point
Elevation3,566 ft (1,087 m) [1]
Coordinates32°35′41″N 116°50′38″W [1]
Geography
Parent rangeSan Ysidro Mountains

History

The name "Otay" comes from the Kumeyaay word otie, which means "brushy".[2]

On March 16, 1991, a Hawker Siddeley HS-125 airplane carrying seven members of singer Reba McEntire's band, plus her business manager and two pilots, crashed into the side of the mountain after taking off from nearby Brown Field Municipal Airport, killing all ten on board.[3][4]

Otay Mountain has had several wildfire incidents in the past. The plant life in Otay Mountain "burned completely" in 2003, and another wildfire happened later in 2007.[5]

A border fence spanning the Mexico–United States border can be found in the Otay Mountain area in order to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the two countries' border. The border fence has received criticism for its effects on nature and wilderness.[6] In particular, the construction was criticized by author Rob Davis for creating a harsh environment for a species of butterfly due to dust being kicked up by trucks.[7] The fence in the area is estimated to cost approximately $16 million per mile.[8]

Panoramic view atop Otay Mountain.

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Otay Mountain
  2. surgent (2008-10-08). "Otay Mountain". Summitpost. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  3. Granberry, Michael (1991-03-17). "8 Country Band Members Die in S.D. Air Crash". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2009-08-25.
  4. "Accident description - N831LC". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
  5. Nicol, Scott (2009-09-08). "Fires' Scorched Earth Leaves Little Habitat for Rare Bird, Butterfly". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  6. Nicol, Scott (2011-02-27). "Costly fence on US-Mexico border is effective – only in hurting nature". Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  7. Davis, Rob (2009-10-22). "A Barren Promise at the Border". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
  8. Elizondo Griest, Stephanie (2015-04-21). "Art Against the Wall". Oxford American. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
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