Otay Mountain
{{Short description|Mountain in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{Infobox mountain
| name = Otay Mountain
| photo = Otay Mountain.jpg
| photo_caption = Otay Mountain as seen from Doghouse Junction
| map = USA California San Diego County#USA California
| map_caption = none
| map_size = 200
| label_position = top
| elevation_ft = 3568
| elevation_ref = {{NAVD88}}{{navd88}}{{cite ngs |pid=DC2046 |name=Otay |accessdate=2021-09-19}}
| prominence_ft = 2086
| prominence_ref = {{cite peakbagger |pid=16809 |name=Otay Mountain, California |accessdate=2021-09-19}}
| isolation_mi =
| isolation_ref =
| parent_peak =
| listing =
| location = San Diego County, California
| range = San Ysidro Mountains
| coordinates = {{coord|32.594567222|N|116.844671506|W|type:mountain_region:US-CA|format=dms|display=title,inline}}
| topo = USGS Otay Mountain
| easiest_route = Trail hike (Class 1)
}}
Otay Mountain is a mountain in San Diego County, California. It is the highest summit of the San Ysidro Mountains. The mountain is located in the Otay Mountain Wilderness area.{{cite summitpost |title=Otay Mountain |id=451212 |access-date=April 23, 2015}}
The Mexico-United States border runs along the south face of the mountain.
History
The name "Otay" comes from the Kumeyaay word otai, which means "brushy".
On March 16, 1991, a Hawker Siddeley HS-125 airplane carrying seven members of singer Reba McEntire's band, plus her business manager and two pilots, crashed into the side of the mountain after taking off from nearby Brown Field Municipal Airport, killing all ten on board.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-03-17-mn-698-story.html|title=8 Country Band Members Die in S.D. Air Crash|last=Granberry|first=Michael|date=March 17, 1991|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=August 25, 2009}}{{cite web |title=Accident description - N831LC |url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19910316-1 |website=aviation-safety.net |accessdate=November 28, 2015}}
Otay Mountain has had several wildfire incidents in the past. The plant life in Otay Mountain "burned completely" in 2003, and another wildfire happened later in 2007.{{cite web |title=Fires' Scorched Earth Leaves Little Habitat for Rare Bird, Butterfly |url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/all-narratives/environment/fires-scorched-earth-leaves-little-habitat-for-rare-bird-butterfly/ |last=Nicol |first=Scott |work=Voice of San Diego |date=September 8, 2009 |accessdate=April 23, 2015 }}
A border fence spanning the Mexico–United States border runs along the south face of Otay mountain in order to prevent illegal immigrants from crossing the national border. The border fence has received criticism for its effects on nature and wilderness.{{cite web | url=http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0227/Costly-fence-on-US-Mexico-border-is-effective-only-in-hurting-nature | title=Costly fence on US-Mexico border is effective – only in hurting nature |last=Nicol |first=Scott |date=February 27, 2011 |access-date=April 23, 2015 }} In particular, the construction was criticized by author Rob Davis for creating a harsh environment for a species of butterfly due to dust being kicked up by trucks.{{cite web |title=A Barren Promise at the Border |url=http://www.voiceofsandiego.org/all-narratives/environment/a-barren-promise-at-the-border/ |last=Davis |first=Rob |work=Voice of San Diego |date=October 22, 2009 |accessdate=April 23, 2015 }} The fence in the area is estimated to cost approximately $16 million per mile.{{cite web |url=http://www.oxfordamerican.org/magazine/item/558-art-against-the-wall |title=Art Against the Wall |last=Elizondo Griest |first=Stephanie |work=Oxford American |date=April 21, 2015 |accessdate=April 23, 2015 }}
File:Otay Mountain Panoramic.jpg
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