History of Armstrong County, Volume 1 Page: 9

                                
Armstrong County

water conservation has taken place, and the region shows great
improvement as the res; t. It is to be expected that conservati on
will eliminate much of the hazard of erosion bx wind and water.
The climate of this country is excellent. In summer, due to the
altitude and rare atmosphere, the temperature rarely reaches any
great height. When evening approaches, the temperature drops
rapidly; and nights are invariably cool and even chilly. There is
always sufficient breeze to cool the warmest sunshine. Winters are
not severe, although they are cold enough to be invigorating. The
sun shines an average of about tvo hundred four days out of the year.
Average rainfall ranges between twenty and twenty-five inches, and
there are usually about twenty-five inches of snow during winter.
This region, like much of Texas, is subject to "Blue Northers", and
here an occasional blizzard may come in from the north and drop
temperature down below zero. The blizzards, however, are not often
so severe There is usually sleet or snow, and temperature some-
what below freezing. These spells pass in a few hours, and the sun
shines forth once more. The average January temperature for this
region is above freezing, while the average yearly temperature is 56.8.
Some unique features of the Flains country are of great surprise to
the new comer. Although frequently thought of as a "high", "dry"
country, one can scarcely travel more than a few miles without seeing
some of the thousands of surface lakes which are common. These
lakes range in size from a few acres to several hundred acres. Some
reach a depth of more than twenty feet during wet seasons. They are
favorite haunts of water fowls, and in the  all, great flocks of
geese and ducks frequent them while on their migratoryy flights.
There is scarcely a season so droughty as to dry up all these lakes.
Some of them have been known since Indian times as dependable water
holes.
rages are another interesting feature. The most corron of these
is the illusion that water is standing perhaps a quarter of a mile
away. Frequently on clear days, the buildings in town will appear
to be standin: in a lake. So realistic is the illusion that the
water apparently waves in the wind. The most rare and most beautiful
mirages are sometimes seen just before surup, at which time a town
or other large view will be seen reflected up side down as in a
large mirir i4gainst the sky. Rare atmosphere is responsible for
these bewildering and beautiful phenomena.
The geology of the Panhandle country is outstandirg both as to its
interest to the layman and the scientist. There is an unusual
subsurface structure known as the Amarillo Buried  ountain. This
vast granite ridge is buried several thousand feet beneath sediments,
and extends in a northwesterly southeasterly direction across the
Panhandle for a distance of one hundred twenty miles, beginning, in
northwestern Moore county and going through Wheeler courty. A few
miles east in iOklahoma this granite is near the surface and is
quarried for monument stone. At different geological times, this
mountain has been emergent from pre-historic seas. It was originally
higher in the southeast portion, near the Wichita  ountains of which
it is a part, but was later tilted, becoming Li hes r in the north-

west portion. Within the vicinity of this mountain is found the