Glass Mountains, Mountain range in Major County, Oklahoma, US
Glass Mountains is a mountain range in Oklahoma made up of flat-topped mesas and buttes that stand above the surrounding plains. The formations reach about 1,600 feet in elevation and have established hiking trails leading to their tops.
Early American explorers called these formations the Shining Mountains in the early 1800s. The name Glass Mountains came about later through errors and changes in how the place was recorded on maps.
Botanist George Walter Stevens conducted extensive research in 1891, collecting over 4,500 plant specimens that are now preserved at the University of Oklahoma Bebb Herbarium.
The area is easy to reach from the parking area and has clearly marked trails of varying lengths. Visitors should wear flat shoes and bring enough water, especially on warm days.
The rock contains selenite crystals, a form of gypsum that shines when hit by sunlight and gives the mountains their glass-like glow. This natural effect was what inspired explorers to name them.
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