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Major incorporated suburbs of Tucson include Oro Valley and Marana northwest of the city, Sahuarita south of the city, and South Tucson in an enclave south of downtown. Communities in the vicinity of Tucson (some within or overlapping the city limits) include Casas Adobes, Catalina Foothills, Flowing Wells, Tanque Verde, Tortilita, New Pascua, Sahuarita and Vail. Towns outside the Tucson metro area include Benson to the southeast, Catalina and Oracle to the north, and Green Valley to the south. The Tucson skyline is dominated by mountains in every direction. Close in to the city are the Santa Catalina Mountains to the north, the Rincon Mountains to the east, and the Tucson Mountains, closest of all, on the west side. Farther from the city proper, but still commanding the southern sky are the Santa Rita Mountains. And farthest of all, generally not visible from most of the city, are the Tortolita Mountain Range to the northwest. The highest point in the area is Mount Wrightson found in the Santa Rita Mountains at 9453 ft (2881.3 m) above sea level. Mount Lemmon is popularly thought to be higher, looming much closer over the city, but misses Mt. Wrightson's peak by 297 ft (90.5 m). The English name Tucson derives from the Spanish name of the city, Tucsón -estukˈson, which was borrowed from the O'odham name Cuk Ṣon -azctʃʊk ʂɔːn, meaning "(at the) base of the black [hill]", a reference to an adjacent volcanic mountain. Tucson is sometimes referred to as "The Old Pueblo". |