View source for Geography of California

{{Short description|none}} <!-- "none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]] -->
[[File:California Topography and Geomorphic.gif|thumb|upright=1.5|Map of California topography and geomorphic provinces]]
[[File:California Mountain Ranges.gif|thumb|upright=1.5|California's major mountain ranges]]
[[California]] is a [[U.S. state]] on the western coast of [[North America]]. Covering an area of {{convert|163696|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, California is among the most geographically diverse states. The [[Sierra Nevada]], the fertile farmlands of the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], and the arid [[Mojave Desert]] of the south are some of the geographic features of this [[U.S. state]]. It is home to some of the world's most exceptional trees: the tallest ([[coast redwood]]), most massive ([[Giant Sequoia]]), and oldest ([[bristlecone pine]]). It is also home to both the highest ([[Mount Whitney]]) and lowest ([[Death Valley]]) points in the [[Continental United States|48 contiguous states]].

The state is generally divided into [[Northern California|Northern]] and [[Southern California]], although the boundary between the two is not well defined. San Francisco is decidedly a Northern California city and Los Angeles is a Southern California one but areas in between do not often share their confidence in geographic identity. The [[United States Geological Survey|US Geological Survey]] defines the geographic center of California about 7.1 miles (11.4&nbsp;km) driving distance from the [[United States Forest Service]] office in the community of [[North Fork, California|North Fork]]. Earth scientists typically divide the state into eleven geomorphic provinces with clearly defined boundaries. They are, from north to south, the [[Klamath Mountains]], the [[Cascade Range]], the [[Modoc Plateau]], the [[Basin and Range Province|Basin and Range]], the [[Coast Ranges]], the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], the [[Sierra Nevada]], the [[Transverse Ranges]], the [[Mojave Desert]], the [[Peninsular Ranges]], and the [[Colorado Desert]].

==State boundaries==
The boundaries of California were defined by Spanish claims of [[Mexico]], as part of the province of [[Alta California]]. The northern boundary of Spanish claims was set at 42 degrees latitude by the [[Adams–Onis Treaty]] of 1819.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-05-19-mn-9232-story.html|title=California–Oregon Dispute : Border Fight Has Townfolk on Edge|date=May 19, 1985|first=Jeff|last=Barnard|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> The states of Nevada and Utah, also originally part of Alta California, also use that line for their northern boundaries. The southern boundary, between California and Mexico, was established by the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] that ended the [[Mexican–American War]] in 1848. The line is about {{Convert|30|mi}} north of the former Alta California southern boundary. The eastern boundary consists of two straight lines: a north–south line from the northern border to the middle of [[Lake Tahoe]], and a second line angling southeast to the [[Colorado River]]. From that point, {{Convert|14|mi}} south-southwest of [[Davis Dam]] on [[Lake Mohave]], the southeast boundary follows the [[Colorado River]] to the international border west of [[Yuma, Arizona]]. The eastern and south-eastern boundaries were decided upon during the debates of the [[Constitutional Convention (California)|California Constitutional Convention]] in 1849.

==Northern California==
{{Main|Northern California}}
[[File:Mtshasta-large.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Mount Shasta from [[Interstate 5]]]]

Northern California usually refers to the state's northernmost 48 counties.

The main population centers of Northern California include [[San Francisco Bay Area]] (which includes the cities of [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], and the largest city of the region, [[San Jose, California|San Jose]]), and [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] (the state capital) as well as [[Greater Sacramento|its metropolitan area]]. It also contains [[Sequoia sempervirens|redwood]] forests, along with the [[Sierra Nevada]] including [[Yosemite Valley]] and [[Lake Tahoe]], [[Mount Shasta]] (the second-highest peak in the [[Cascade Range]] after [[Mount Rainier]] in [[Washington state|Washington]]), and the northern half of the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. The climate can be generally characterized by its [[Oceanic climate|marine]] to warm [[Mediterranean climate]]s along the coast, to a somewhat continental Mediterranean climate in the valley to alpine climate zones in the high mountains.  Apart from the [[San Francisco Bay Area]] and [[Sacramento metropolitan area]]s (and some other cities in the Central Valley), it is a region of relatively low population density. Northern California's economy is noted for being the de facto world leader in industries such as high technology (both software and [[semiconductor]]), as well as being known for [[Environmental engineering|clean power]], biomedical, government, and finance.

===Klamath Mountains===
[[File:Canyon Creek Lakes (3618410685).jpg|thumb|upright|Alpine tarn in the [[Trinity Alps]]]]

The [[Klamath Mountains]] are a [[mountain range|range]] in northwest California and southwest Oregon, the highest peak being [[Mount Eddy]] in [[Trinity County, California]], at {{convert|9037|ft|m}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.peakbagger.com/range.aspx?rid=1223|title=Klamath Mountains|work=Peakbagger|access-date=2015-12-16}}</ref> The range has a varied geology, with substantial areas of [[Serpentine group|serpentine]] and [[marble]]. The climate is characterized by moderately cold winters with heavy snowfall and warm, very dry summers with limited rainfall.<ref>{{cite book|year=2006|first1=C.N.|last1=Skinner|first2=A.H.|last2=Taylor|first3=J.K.|last3=Agee|chapter=Klamath Mountains bioregion|title=Fire in California's Ecosystems|editor1-first=N.G.|editor1-last=Sugihara|editor2-first=J.W.|editor2-last=van Wagtendonk|editor3-first=J.|editor3-last=Fites-Kaufman|editor-first4=K.E.|editor4-last=Shaffer|editor-first5=A.E.|editor-last5=Thode|publisher=University of California Press|location=Berkeley, CA|pages=170–194}}</ref> As a consequence of the geology, the mountains have a unique flora, including several endemic or near-endemic species, such as [[Lawson's Cypress]] (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) and [[Foxtail Pine]] (Pinus balfouriana). [[Brewer's Spruce]] ''(Picea breweriana)'' and [[Kalmiopsis]] ''(Kalmiopsis leachiana)'' are relict species, remaining since the [[Wisconsin glaciation|last ice age]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://botany.si.edu/projects/cpd/na/na16c.htm|title=KLAMATH-SISKIYOU REGION, California and Oregon, U.S.A.|work=North America Regional Centre of Endemism|publisher=Smithsonian Institution|access-date=2011-11-26|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606112322/http://botany.si.edu/projects/cpd/na/na16c.htm|archive-date=2011-06-06}}</ref>

===Cascade Range===
The [[Cascade Range]] is a mountainous region stretching from the [[Fraser River]] in [[British Columbia]], Canada down to south of [[Lassen Peak]], California.<ref>{{cite book|title=Cascade Alpine Guide: Columbia River to Stevens Pass|page=11|first=Fred W.|last=Beckey|year=2000|publisher=Mountaineers Press}}</ref> The Cascades (as they are called for short) are part of the Pacific [[Ring of Fire]], the ring of volcanoes around the Pacific Ocean.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers |first1=Pratap |last1=Singh |first2=Umesh Kumar |last2=Haritashya|page=111|publisher=Springer|year=2011}}</ref> All of the known historic eruptions in the contiguous United States have been from either Cascade volcanoes or near [[Mono Lake]].<ref name=firemountains>{{cite book|last=Harris|first=Stephen L.|year=2005|title=Fire Mountains of the West: The Cascade and Mono Lake Volcanoes|url=https://archive.org/details/firemountainsofw00harr|url-access=registration|edition=3rd|publisher=Mountain Press Publishing Company|isbn=978-0-87842-220-3}}</ref>{{rp|7}} Lassen Peak was the last Cascade volcano to erupt in California, from 1914 to 1921. Lassen is the most southerly active volcano of the Cascade chain.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1998/fs173-98/ |title=Eruptions of Lassen Peak |id=Fact Sheet 173-98|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2011-11-26}}</ref>

This region is located in the northeastern section of the state bordering [[Oregon]] and [[Nevada]], mostly north of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada mountain range. The area is centered on [[Mount Shasta]], near the [[Trinity Alps]]. Mount Shasta is a dormant volcano, but there is some evidence that it erupted in the 18th century.<ref name=firemountains/>{{rp|99}}

===Modoc Plateau===
In the northeast corner of the state lies the [[Modoc Plateau]], an expanse of [[lava]] flows that formed a million years ago and now lie at an altitude of {{convert|4000|to|5000|ft|m}}.<ref name=ModocWAP/> The plateau has many [[cinder cone]]s, [[juniper]] flats, [[pine]] forests, and seasonal lakes.<ref>{{cite book|title=Fire in California's ecosystems|first=Neil G.|last=Sugihara|page=225|publisher=University of California Press|year=2006}}</ref> The plateau lies between the Cascade Range to the west and the [[Warner Mountains]] to the east.<ref name=ModocWAP>{{cite web|url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/WAP/docs/report/ch12-modoc.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090502233858/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/WAP/docs/report/ch12-modoc.pdf|archive-date=2009-05-02|title=Modoc Plateau Region|work=California Wildlife Action Plan|publisher=California Department of Fish and Game|year=2007}}</ref> The [[Lost River (California)|Lost River]] watershed drains the north part of the plateau, while southern watersheds either collect in basin reservoirs or flow into [[Big Sage Reservoir]] and thence to the [[Pit River]].

Nine percent of the plateau is protected as reserves or wilderness areas,<ref name=ModocWAP/> such as the [[Modoc National Wildlife Refuge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fws.gov/modoc/|title=Modoc National Wildlife Refuge |publisher=US Fish and Wildlife Service}}</ref> The plateau supports large herds of [[mule deer]] (''Odocoileus hemionus''), [[Rocky Mountain Elk]] (''Cervus canadensis''), and [[pronghorn]] (''Antilocapra americana'').<ref name=ModocWAP/> Herds of wild horses and livestock grazing have altered the original high desert ecosystem of the plateau.<ref name=ModocWAP/>

===Basin and Range===
[[File:Mono Lake from Mount Dana (1).jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|Mono Lake]]

To the east of the Sierra is the [[Basin and Range Province|Basin and Range geological province]], which extends into [[Nevada]]. The Basin and Range is a series of mountains and valleys (specifically [[Horst (geology)|horst]]s and [[graben]]s), caused by the extension of the Earth's crust.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/province/basinrange.html|title=Basin and Range Province|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2012-01-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090125163038/http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/province/basinrange.html|archive-date=2009-01-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> One notable feature of the Basin and Range is [[Mono Lake]], which is the oldest lake in [[North America]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Harris|first=S.L.|year=2005|title=Fire Mountains of the West: The Cascade and Mono Lake Volcanoes|publisher=Mountain Press|isbn=978-0-87842-511-2|page=61}}</ref> The Basin and Range also contains the [[Owens Valley]], the deepest valley in North America (more than 10,000 feet (3&nbsp;km) deep, as measured from the top of Mount Whitney).<ref>{{cite book|last1=Smith|first1=Genny|first2=Jeff|last2=Putnam|year=1976|title=Deepest Valley: a Guide to Owens Valley, its roadsides and mountain trails|edition=2nd|publisher=Genny Smith books|isbn=0-931378-14-1}}</ref>

In the eastern part of the state, below the Sierra Nevada, there is a series of dry lake beds that were filled with water during the last ice age (fed by ice melt from [[glacier|alpine glacier]]s but never directly affected by [[glaciation]]; see [[pluvial]]).<ref>{{cite web|publisher=United States Geological Survey|title=Shoreline Butte: Ice age Death Valley|url=http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/deva/ftsho1.html|work=Death Valley Geology Field Trip Shoreline Butte|date=30 June 2000|access-date=2009-09-10|archive-date=2015-04-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150430063530/http://www.nature.nps.gov/geology/usgsnps/deva/ftsho1.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many of these lakes have extensive [[evaporite|evaporite deposit]]s that contain a variety of different [[salt (chemistry)|salt]]s. In fact, the salt sediments of many of these lake beds have been [[mining|mined]] for many years for various salts, most notably [[borax]] (this is most famously true for [[Owens Lake]] and [[Death Valley]]).

In this province reside the [[White Mountains (California)|White Mountains]], which are home to the oldest living organism in the world, the [[bristlecone pine]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/methuselah/explore.html|title=Explore the Methuselah Grove|work=NOVA Online: Methuselah Tree|publisher=PBS|last=Bain|first=G. Donald|year=2001}}</ref>

===Coast Ranges===
[[File:San Francisco Bay Area Skyline Blvd.jpg|thumb|upright=1.6|Skyline Boulevard, along the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains]]

To the west of the Central Valley lies the [[Coast Ranges (California)|Coast Ranges]], including the [[Diablo Range]], just east of [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]], and the [[Santa Cruz Mountains]], to the south of San Francisco.  The Coast Ranges north of San Francisco become increasingly foggy and rainy. These mountains are noted for their [[coast redwood]]s, the [[List of tallest trees|tallest trees]] on earth, which live within the range of the coastal [[fog]].

===Central Valley===
California's geography is largely defined by its central feature—the [[California Central Valley|Central Valley]], a huge, fertile [[valley]] between the coastal mountain ranges and the [[Sierra Nevada]]. The northern part of the Central Valley is called the [[Sacramento Valley]], after its main river, and the southern part is called the [[San Joaquin Valley]] {{IPAc-en|ˌ|s|æ|n|_|w|ɑː|ˈ|k|iː|n}}, after its main river.  The whole Central Valley is watered by mountain-fed rivers (notably the [[San Joaquin River|San Joaquin]], [[Kings River (California)|Kings]], and [[Sacramento River|Sacramento]]) that drain to the [[San Francisco Bay]] system. The rivers are sufficiently large and deep that several inland cities, notably [[Stockton, California|Stockton]], and [[Sacramento]] are seaports.

The southern tip of the valley has interior drainage and thus is not technically part of the valley at all. [[Tulare Lake]], with an area of {{convert|570|mi2|km2|0}}, once filled much of the area. In modern times, it is usually a [[dry lake]] and partially covered with agricultural fields. The lake reappears during unusually high levels of rainfall or snow melt such as the winter of 2022 and early spring of 2023.

===Sierra Nevada===
[[File:Little Lakes Valley.jpg|thumb|[[Rock Creek (Owens River)|Little Lakes Valley]] in the eastern Sierra Nevada]]
In the east of the state lies the [[Sierra Nevada]], which runs north–south for {{convert|400|mi|km}}. The highest peak in the contiguous United States, [[Mount Whitney]] at 14,505 feet (4.42&nbsp;km), lies within the Sierra Nevada. The topography of the Sierra is shaped by uplift and glacial action.

The Sierra has 200–250 sunny days each year, warm summers, fierce winters, and varied terrain, a rare combination of rugged variety and pleasant weather.  The famous [[Yosemite Valley]] lies in the Central Sierra. The large, deep freshwater [[Lake Tahoe]] lies to the North of Yosemite. The Sierra is also home to the [[Giant Sequoia]], the most massive trees on Earth.

The most famous hiking and horse-packing trail in the Sierra is the [[John Muir Trail]], which goes from the top of Mt. Whitney to Yosemite valley. This is part of the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] that goes from [[Mexico]] to [[Canada]]. The three major national parks in this province are [[Yosemite National Park]], [[Kings Canyon National Park]], and [[Sequoia National Park]].

{{clear left}}

==Southern California==
{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | total_width = 320
 | image1 =Southern California counties in red noshade.png
 | alt1 = Southern California counties
 | caption1 = The ten southernmost counties<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbssocal.org/redefine/that-feud-between-norcal-and-socal-time-to-get-over-it |title=That Feud Between NorCal and SoCal? Time to Get Over It |last=Clarke |first=Chris |date=November 23, 2015 |website=PBS SoCal |access-date=November 16, 2025}}</ref>
 | image2 = California's mountain barrier.png
 | alt2 = Geographic division of California by mountain peaks
 | caption2 = California's mountain barrier<ref name=Berg/>
 | footer = Southern California may be defined by latitude or by significant mountain barriers.
 | footer_background = #FDE6CE
}}
{{Main|Southern California|Geography of southern California}}
The term Southern California usually refers to the ten southernmost counties which closely match the lower one-third of California's span of latitude. This definition coincides neatly with the county lines at 35° 47′ 28″ north latitude, which form the northern borders of [[San Luis Obispo County, California|San Luis Obispo]], [[Kern County, California|Kern]], and [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]] counties. Geographically, Southern California is separated from the north by the [[Transverse Ranges]] and the [[Sierra Nevada]] range, creating a significant biological barrier. Historically, this barrier also limited human movement and commerce.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Thomas |date=2023-04-23 |title=Where Does Southern California Stop and Northern California Start? |url=https://bayareatelegraph.com/2023/04/23/where-does-southern-california-stop-and-northern-california-start/ |access-date=2023-04-25 |work=Bay Area Telegraph |language=en-US |archive-date=April 25, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230425141209/https://bayareatelegraph.com/2023/04/23/where-does-southern-california-stop-and-northern-california-start/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Berg>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dF4KBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA265 |page=265 |editor1=Cheryll Glotfelty |editor2=Eve Quesnel |title=The Biosphere and the Bioregion: Essential Writings of Peter Berg |author=Peter Berg |date=2014 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781134504091 |access-date=October 9, 2023 |archive-date=October 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023205057/https://books.google.com/books?id=dF4KBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA265 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xhG8AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA172 |page=172 |last=Wheeler |first=George |author-link=George Wheeler (explorer) |date=1876 |title=Annual Report Upon the Geographical Surveys West of the One-hundredth Meridian |publisher=US Government Printing Office }}</ref>

Southern California consists of a heavily developed [[Urban area|urban]] environment, home to some of the largest [[List of urbanized areas in California (by population)|urban areas]] in the state, along with vast areas that have been left undeveloped. With over 22 million people, roughly 60% of California's population resides in Southern California. It is the second-largest urbanized region in the United States, second only to the [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]]/[[Philadelphia]]/[[New York City|New York]]/[[Boston]] [[Northeast megalopolis|Northeastern Megalopolis]].  Where these cities are dense, with major downtown populations and significant rail and transit systems, much of Southern California is famous for its large, spread-out, [[suburb]]an communities and use of automobiles and highways. The dominant areas are [[Los Angeles]], [[Orange County, California|Orange County]], [[San Diego]], and [[Riverside, California|Riverside]]-[[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], each of which is the center of its respective metropolitan area, composed of numerous smaller cities and communities. The urban area is also host to an international metropolitan region in the form of [[San Diego–Tijuana]], created by the urban area spilling over into Baja California.

Southern California is noted for industries including the film industry, residential construction, entertainment industry, and military aerospace.  Other industries include software, automotive, ports, finance, tourism, biomedical, and regional logistics.

===Transverse Ranges===
[[File:San Gorgonio Mountain.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mount San Gorgonio]], the highest mountain in Southern California]]
[[File:Sb 2004 dt snowskyline 003a.jpg|right|thumb|Even after the snow melts in [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]], the [[San Bernardino Mountains]] in the background retain the snow.]]

[[Southern California]] is separated from the rest of the state by the east–west trending [[Transverse Ranges]].  The Transverse Ranges include a series of east–west trending mountain ranges that extend from [[Point Conception]], at the western tip of [[Santa Barbara County]], eastward (and a bit south) to the east end of the [[San Jacinto Mountains]] in western [[Riverside County]].

The [[Santa Ynez Mountains]] make up the westernmost ranges, extending from Point Conception to the [[Ventura River]] just west-northwest of [[Ojai]] in [[Ventura County]]. [[Pine Mountain (San Bernardino County, California)|Pine Mountain]] Ridge, Nordhoff Ridge–[[Topatopa Mountains]], Rincon Peak–Red Mountain, Sulphur Mountain, Santa Paula Ridge, South Mountain–[[Oat Mountain (California)|Oat Mountain]]–[[Santa Susana Mountains]], [[Simi Hills]], [[Conejo Mountain]]s–[[Santa Monica Mountains]] are all part of the Western Transverse Ranges in Ventura and western Los Angeles counties.  The Transverse Ranges also include the [[Tehachapi Mountains]], which separate the Central Valley from the [[Mojave Desert]].

The [[Sierra Pelona|Liebre Mountains]] occupy the northwest corner of [[Los Angeles County]], and represent a northwestern extension of the [[San Gabriel Mountains]], both on the [[Pacific plate]] side of the [[San Andreas Fault]].  The fault divides the San Gabriel Mountains from the [[San Bernardino Mountains]] further to the east in [[San Bernardino County]].

Urban Southern California occupies the valleys between the [[Santa Susana Mountains]], [[Santa Monica Mountains]] and [[San Gabriel Mountains]], which range from the Pacific Coast, eastward over {{convert|100|mi|km}}, to the [[San Bernardino Mountains]], north of [[San Bernardino, California|San Bernardino]].  The highest point of the range is [[Mount San Gorgonio]] at {{convert|11499|ft}}.  The San Gabriel Mountains have [[Mount Wilson observatory]], where the [[redshift]] was discovered in the 1920s.

It is possible to [[Surfing|surf]] in the [[Pacific Ocean]] and [[ski]] on a mountain during the same winter day in [[Southern California]].

===Mojave Desert===
[[File:Badwater Basin from Dantes View-800px.JPG|thumb|right|Badwater Basin: the lowest point in North America at {{convert|-279|ft}}.]]

There are harsh [[desert]]s in the Southeast of California. These deserts are caused by a combination of the cold offshore current, which limits evaporation, and the [[rain shadow]] of the mountains. The prevailing winds blow from the ocean inland.  When the air passes over the mountains, [[adiabatic lapse rate|adiabatic cooling]] causes most water in the air to rain on the mountains.  When the air returns to sea level on the other side of the mountains, it recompresses, warms and dries, parching the deserts.  When the wind blows from inland, the resulting hot dry [[katabatic wind]]s are called the [[Santa Ana winds|Santa Ana Winds]].

The [[Mojave Desert]] is bounded by the peninsular Tehachapi Mountains on the Northwest, together with the San Gabriel and the San Bernardino Mountains on the Southwest. These Western boundaries are quite distinct, forming the dominant pie-slice shaped [[Antelope Valley, California|Antelope Valley]] in Southern California. The outlines of this valley are caused by the two largest faults in California: the [[San Andreas Fault|San Andreas]] and the [[Garlock Fault|Garlock]]. The Mojave Desert extends Eastward into the State of [[Nevada]]. The Mojave Desert receives less than 6&nbsp;inches (150&nbsp;mm) of rain a year and is generally between 3,000 and 6,000 feet (1,000 and 2,000 m) of elevation. Areas such as the Antelope Valley desert which is a high desert received snow each year, in the past it could snow 2–3 times a year; however, recently snow level has declined significantly to once a year or less. Most of the towns and cities in the California portion of the Mojave are relatively small, except for [[Palmdale, California|Palmdale]] and [[Lancaster, California|Lancaster]]. However, some are quite famous like [[Barstow, California|Barstow]], a popular stop on the famous [[U.S. Route 66 in California|U.S. Route&nbsp;66]]. The Mojave Desert also contains the lowest, hottest place in the [[Americas]]: [[Death Valley National Park|Death Valley]], where temperature normally approaches 120&nbsp;°F (49&nbsp;°C), in late July and early August.

===Peninsular Ranges===
The southernmost mountains of California are the [[Peninsular Ranges]], which are east of [[San Diego]] and continue into [[Baja California]] ([[Mexico]]) in the [[Sierra San Pedro Martir]]. The Peninsular Ranges contain the [[Laguna Mountains]], the [[San Jacinto Mountains]], the [[Santa Rosa Mountains (California)|Santa Rosa Mountains]], the [[Santa Ana Mountains]] and the [[Palomar Mountain Range]], notable for its famous [[Mount Palomar Observatory|Palomar observatory]]. [[San Jacinto Peak]]'s eastern shoulder has a cable tram that runs from the desert floor to nearly the top of the mountain where riders can set off [[hiking]] or go [[cross-country skiing]].

===Colorado Desert===
[[File:CoachellaValleyPreserve.jpg|thumb|The Coachella Valley Preserve]]
To the east of the peninsular ranges lie the [[Colorado Desert|Colorado]] and [[Sonoran Desert]]s, which extend into [[Arizona]] and Mexico.

The ground elevation is generally lower and in some areas was compressed downward, therefore the eastern [[Coachella Valley|Coachella]] and [[Imperial Valley]]s north of the [[U.S.-Mexican border]] are below sea level. The lowest community in the U.S. is [[Calipatria, California]], at {{convert|180|ft|m}} below sea level.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edits.nationalmap.gov/apps/gaz-domestic/public/summary/1652681|title=Geographic Names Information System}}</ref>

One feature of the desert is the [[Salton Sea]], an inland lake that was formed in 1905 when a swollen [[Colorado River (U.S.)|Colorado River]] breached a [[Alamo Canal|canal]] near the [[U.S.-Mexico border]] and flowed into the [[Salton Sink]] (Salton Basin) for almost two years.  Today, the Salton Sea, a new version of historic [[Lake Cahuilla]], remains as California's largest lake.

==Pacific Ocean==
The [[Pacific Ocean]] lies to the west of California. Owing to the long length of the state, Sea temperatures generally range from 50&nbsp;°F (10&nbsp;°C) in the northernmost parts during winter to 70&nbsp;°F (21&nbsp;°C) in the south coast during summer. The lower seasonal temperature variance compared to the waters of the East Coast is because of [[upwelling|up-welling]] deep waters with dissolved nutrients. Therefore, sea life in and around California has examples of both Arctic and tropical, [[biotope]]s, leaning more towards the latter in the south coast and vice versa. The sea off California is remarkably fertile, a murky green filled with a massive variety of fish, rather than the clear dead blue of most tropical seas.  Before 1930, there was an extremely valuable [[sardine]] ([[herring]]) fishery off [[Monterey, California|Monterey]], but this was depleted, an event later famous as the background to [[John Steinbeck]]'s ''[[Cannery Row (novel)|Cannery Row]]''.

California's coastline is about 840 miles long, the [[List of U.S. states by coastline|third longest coastline in the United States]] after [[Alaska]] and [[Florida]].

==Geology==
{{Main|Geology of California}}

===Faults, volcanoes, and tsunamis===
[[Earthquake]]s occur due to [[fault (geology)|faults]] that run the length of the Pacific coast, the largest being the [[San Andreas Fault]].  Major historical earthquakes include, with the magnitudes listed:
* [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]] (magnitude 7.8–8.2)
* [[1971 San Fernando earthquake]] (magnitude 6.6)
* [[1989 Loma Prieta earthquake]] (magnitude 6.9–7.1)
* [[1994 Northridge earthquake]] (magnitude 6.7)

Coastal cities are vulnerable to [[tsunami]]s from locally generated earthquakes as well as those elsewhere in the Pacific [[Ring of Fire]]. The [[Great Chilean earthquake]] tsunami (1960) killed one person and caused $500,000 to $1,000,000 of damage in [[Los Angeles]], damaged harbors in many coastal cities, and flooded streets in [[Crescent City, California|Crescent City]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110427033753/http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/web_tsus/19600522/damage.htm May 22, 1960 Tsunami<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Waves from the Alaskan [[1964 Alaska earthquake|Good Friday earthquake]] of 1964 killed twelve people in Crescent City and caused damage as far south as Los Angeles. USGS has released the UCERF [[California earthquake forecast]] which models earthquake occurrence in California.

California is also home to several [[volcano]]es, including [[Lassen Peak]], which erupted in 1914 and 1921, and [[Mount Shasta]].

===Tectonics===
California, when only partially explored by the Spanish, was once thought to be an island, as when the southern [[Baja California peninsula]] is approached from the [[Gulf of California]] the land appears to the west. It is expected, through the motions of [[plate tectonics]] that the sea floor spreading now acting in the Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) will eventually extend through Southern California and along the San Andreas fault to below [[San Francisco]], finally forming a long island in less than 150 million years. (For comparison, this is also the approximate age of the [[Atlantic Ocean]].) Predictions suggest that this island will eventually collide with [[Alaska]] after an additional 100 million years.

==Climate==
{{main|Climate of California}}
[[File:California Köppen.gif|thumb|upright=1.25|California map of Köppen climate classification]]

[[California]]'s climate varies widely, from [[arid]] to [[subarctic]], depending on [[latitude]], [[elevation]], and proximity to the coast. Coastal and Southern parts of the state have a [[Subtropical]] [[Mediterranean climate]], with somewhat rainy winters and dry summers. The influence of the [[ocean]] generally moderates temperature extremes, creating warmer winters and substantially cooler summers, especially along the coastal areas.

The state is subject to [[coastal storm]]s during the winter. Eastern California is subject to summertime thunderstorms caused by the [[North American monsoon]]. Dry weather during the rest of the year produces conditions favorable to [[wildfire]]s. [[California hurricane]]s occur less frequently than their counterparts on the [[Atlantic Ocean]].  Higher elevations experience [[snowstorm]]s in the winter months.

[[Flood]]s are occasionally caused by heavy rain, storms, and snowmelt.  Steep slopes and unstable soil make certain locations vulnerable to [[landslides]] in wet weather or during earthquakes.

==See also==
{{colbegin}}
*[[Deserts of California]]
*[[Ecology of California]]
*[[List of California 14,000-foot summits]]
*[[List of California state parks]]
*[[List of forts in California]]
*[[List of lakes in California]]
*[[List of mountain peaks of California]]
*[[List of mountain ranges of California]]
*[[List of regions of California]]
*[[List of rivers of California]]
*[[List of the major 3000-meter summits of California]]
*[[List of islands of California]]
*[[List of lakes of California]]
*[[List of beaches in California]]
{{colend}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* Miller, Crane S., and Richard S. Hyslop. ''California, the Geography of Diversity'' (Mayfield Publishing Company, 1983).
* Pyne, Stephen J. ''California: A Fire Survey'' (2016) [https://books.google.com/books?id=IqA9DAAAQBAJ&dq=PYNE+california&pg=PR7 online]
* Safford, Hugh D., et al. "Fire ecology of the North American Mediterranean-climate zone." in ''Fire ecology and management: Past, present, and future of US forested ecosystems'' (2021): 337–392. re California and its neighbors [https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/download/63841.pdf online]{{dead link|date=June 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}
* Selby, William A. ''Rediscovering the Golden State: California Geography'' (John Wiley & Sons, 2018). [https://books.google.com/books?id=-OOLDwAAQBAJ&dq=Geography+california&pg=PA1 online]

==External links==
*[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/united_states/california_north_90.jpg Map of Northern California]
*[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/united_states/california_south_90.jpg Map of Southern California]
{{coord|37|9|58|N|119|26|58|W|dim:650km_type:landmark_region:US-CA_source:enwiki |display=title|name=Center of California}}
*[https://gis.data.ca.gov/pages/organizations CA State Geoportal]

{{California}}
{{U.S. political divisions geographies}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Geography of California}}
[[Category:Geography of California| ]]