Luxor Peak


Luxor Peak is a summit located in Pershing County, Nevada, United States.

Description

Luxor Peak is the second-highest peak of the Selenite Range which is a subset of the Great Basin Ranges. This peak is set on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. It is situated south of Selenite Peak, north of line parent Kumiva Peak, and south-southeast of the town of Empire. Topographic relief is significant as the west slope rises in one-half mile. The large Empire gypsum quarry lies below the west slope of Luxor Peak. The Selenite Range was named for deposits of selenite, a variety of gypsum. This landform's toponym has been officially adopted by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.

Climate

Luxor Peak is set at the southern edge of the Black Rock Desert which has hot summers and cold winters. The desert is an example of a cold desert climate as the desert's elevation makes temperatures cooler than lower elevation deserts. Due to the high elevation and aridity, temperatures drop sharply after sunset. Summer nights are comfortably cool. Winter highs are generally above freezing, and winter nights are bitterly cold, with temperatures often dropping well below freezing.