Landsat 8 Image of the Henry Mountains in Utah

Landsat 8 image of the Henry Mountains in southeastern Utah. 

Published on social media on November 7, 2024.

Mosaic of two different Landsat 8 images:
Image date: June 16, 2024
Path 37, Row 33 and Path 37, Row 34

The Henry Mountains, a remote and rugged range in southeastern Utah situated between Capitol Reef National Park and Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, hold a unique distinction in American history. They were one of the last mountain ranges in the lower 48 states to be named, explored, and mapped. John Wesley Powell made note of the landform in 1869 during one of his expeditions and referred to them as the “Unknown” Mountains. It wasn’t until 1872 that the range was named after Joseph Henry, a great American scientist and the first Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Even then, no surveys were made until 1875 and 1876, when geologist Grove Karl Gilbert and topographer Walter Graves visited them for that purpose. 

The Henry Mountains are composed of about a half dozen high peaks, with the most prominent ones being Mount Ellen (11,524 feet), Mount Pennell (11,413 feet), and Mount Hillers (10,741 feet).

Report on the Geology of the Henry Mountains (1877): https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70039916

The Colorado River Region and John Wesley Powell (1969): https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/pp669