Loma Prieta, Mountain summit in Santa Clara County, California, United States
Loma Prieta is a mountain summit in the Santa Cruz Mountains of Northern California, standing at approximately 1,155 meters and serving as the highest point of this range. The peak sits on private property and remains closed to public access.
A magnitude 6.9 earthquake occurred near the mountain in 1989, causing extensive damage throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. This event established the location as significant in California's earthquake history.
The name comes from Spanish words meaning 'dark hill', a remnant of early Spanish settlement in Northern California. This naming reflects how the landscape was described based on what people saw.
The mountain stands on private land and requires special permission to access the summit. Visitors should check in advance since regular hiking is not permitted.
The south slope was used by astronomer Donald Machholz for comet observations between 1976 and 1990, leading to multiple celestial discoveries. This overlooked aspect connects the peak to significant astronomical work from that era.
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