In other words, they talk to the air and the clouds and ask for rain. This calling down of rain creates the springs and rivers and fills the rock tanks. This mountain-called rain, when combined with the vertical shifts in climate derived from the elevation of the mountains, creates what are called Sky Islands . The mountains call down water for countless species of plants and animals, thus supporting the most complex biodiversity in the desert. Is it any wonder that all mountains are sacred and they are the primary focus of seasonal and annual ceremonial activities.
Mountains have protuberances .
These are often volcanic in origin and dramatically rugged in profile. Frequently caves and minerals are found in these places. Visible for miles, these protuberances tend to further focus the ceremonial attention that is being paid to the mountains themselves. The protuberances are culturally important to the Tohono O odham people, but derive their significance mostly from being a part of a mountain range. This tends to be a non-Indian kind of question and would normally not be discussed at all nor be explained in the following way by the Tohono O odham people.