Crystal, Gunnison County, Colorado
Physiology
Physiology
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### Climate

The highest average temperature is 68\.1 degrees F (20\.1 degrees C), while the lowest average temperature is 41\.6 degrees F (5\.3 degrees C). In July the average temperature is 56\.8 degrees F (\+13\.8 degrees C), and in January the average temperature is 13\.6 degrees F (\-10\.2 degrees C). The highest recorded temperature in the area was 106 degrees F (41\.1 degrees C) on July 21, 2005\. The lowest recorded temperature was \-23 degrees F (\-30\.6 degrees C) on January 13, 1963\. There are an average of 90 days each year with temperatures above or equal to 90 degrees F (\+32\.2 degrees C), and 140 days a year with recorded temperatures below or equal to 32 degrees F (\-1\.7 degrees C). The average annual rainfall in inches is 10\.63 (27 cm), while yearly annual snowfall in inches is 45 (114\.3 cm).

### Parent Rock

The rock in the Elk Mountain Range in the area surrounding Crystal is composed primarily of (90%) [sedimentary](/wiki/Sedimentary_rock "Sedimentary rock") material, including mostly coarse clastics, [shale](/wiki/Shale "Shale"), and [limestone](/wiki/Limestone "Limestone"). The last 10% is mostly [igneous](/wiki/Igneous_rock "Igneous rock") rock. The [Maroon Mountains](/wiki/Maroon_Bells%E2%80%93Snowmass_Wilderness "Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness") formations (which are the closest notable mountains to the valley town of Crystal) are composed of mostly [sandstone](/wiki/Sandstone "Sandstone") and [siltstone](/wiki/Siltstone "Siltstone"), which are coarse clastic rocks and are exposed for the most part. Fine clastic rocks cover a fifth of Crystal. Glacial remain and out\-wash created the sandy loam material which fill the valleys in the area, including the bottom of the Crystal River which runs through the valley in Crystal and surrounding towns.

### Topography

The elevation of Crystal is centered at 8,950 ft (2,728 m), however the area in and around crystal ranges from 8,500 ft (2,590\.8 m) to peaks of 13,500 ft (4,114\.8 m). The land is well drained, and the rock types, such as limestone, create very steep slopes, common in the Rocky Mountains. The area is described as having classically alpine terrain in characteristics, and the sources of the areas streams are mainly [glacial cirques](/wiki/Cirque "Cirque"). Barren parts of the mountains that are at elevations, low enough to support vegetation growth, are primarily unable to support much vegetation, due to the steep slopes and the large accumulation of shale rocks.


How many days per year have temperatures above or equal to 90 degrees F in Crystal?