Sierra Nevada
Range
Little Lakes Valley: typical eastside terrain
Country	United States
States	California, Nevada
Highest point	Mount Whitney
- elevation	14,505 ft (4,421 m)
- coordinates	36°34′42.9″N 118°17′31.2″W / 36.578583, -118.292
Length	400 mi (644 km), North-South
Geology	batholith, igneous
Period	Triassic
Position of Sierra Nevada inside California

The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for "Snowy Range") is a mountain range located in the U.S. state of California. In a few places, it overlaps into neighboring Nevada. The range is also known informally as the Sierra, the High Sierra, and the Sierras. Sierra Nevada, meaning snowy range in Spanish, is the name of at least three mountain ranges: Sierra Nevada (Spain) in Andalusia, Spain Sierra Nevada (US) in California and Nevada, United States Sierra Nevada (Mexico) in Mexico There are also two single mountains named Sierra Nevada in the Andes which are... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 793 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Bear Creek Spire, Sierra Nevada (US), from Little Lakes Valley. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... “Miles” redirects here. ... “km” redirects here. ... Half Dome, a granite monolith in Yosemite National Park and part of the Sierra Nevada batholith. ... Igneous rocks are formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies, with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on the surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks. ... The Triassic is a geologic period that extends from about 251 to 199 Ma (million years ago). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... For exotic financial options, see Mountain range (options). ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ...

Geography

The Sierra Nevada stretches 400 miles (650 km), from Fredonyer Pass in the north to Tehachapi Pass in the south.^[1] It is bounded on the west by California's Central Valley, and on the east by the Great Basin. Fredonyer Pass is a mountain pass in Lassen County, California, USA, at an elevation of 5775 feet (1760m) located at 40°2132N, 120°523W. [1] California State Route 36 passes through Fredonyer Pass. ... Tehachapi Pass Tehachapi Pass (elevation 3793 ft/1156 m, location 35°06′08″ N 118°16′58″ W) is a mountain pass in southern California in the United States. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... The California Central Valley Part of the Valley as seen from overhead A typical Central Valley scene at ground level The California Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of the U.S. state of California. ... Drainage map showing the Great Basin in orange Various Definitions of the Great Basin (NPS) Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. ...

Physiographically, it is a section of the Cascade-Sierra Mountains province, which in turn is part of the larger Pacific Mountain System physiographic division. (See legend) For purposes of description, the physical geography of the United States is split into several major physiographic divisions, one being the Pacific Mountain System. ...

In west-east cross section, the Sierra is shaped like a trapdoor: the elevation gradually increases on the west slope, while the east slope forms a steep escarpment.^[1] Thus, the crest runs principally along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada range. Rivers flowing west from the Sierra Crest eventually drain into the Pacific Ocean, while rivers draining east flow into the Great Basin and do not reach any ocean.^[2] However, water from several streams and the Owens River is redirected to the city of Los Angeles (see Los Angeles Aqueduct). Thus, by artificial means, some east-flowing river water does make it to the Pacific Ocean. In geology, an escarpment is a transition zone between different physiogeographic provinces that involves an elevation differential, often involving high cliffs. ... Owens Valley The Owens River is a river in eastern California in the United States, approximately 120 mi (193 km) long. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... There are two Los Angeles Aqueducts--the original Los Angeles Aqueduct was designed by William Mulholland (an Irish immigrant who became a self-taught engineer and head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) and completed in 1913 to deliver water from the Owens River to the city...

There are several notable geographical features in the Sierra Nevada:

• Lake Tahoe is a large, clear freshwater lake in the northern Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 6,225 feet (1,897 m) and an area of 191 square miles (489 km²).^[3] Lake Tahoe lies between the main Sierra and the Carson Range, a spur of the Sierra.^[3]
• Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite Valley, Kings Canyon, Tehipite Valley and Kern Canyon are the most well-known of many beautiful, glacially-scoured canyons on the west side of the Sierra.
• Yosemite National Park is filled with stunning features, such as waterfalls and granite domes.
• Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 m),^[4] is the highest point in the contiguous United States. Mt. Whitney is on the eastern border of Sequoia National Park.
• Groves of Giant Sequoias Sequoiadendron giganteum occur along a narrow band of altitude on the western side of the Sierra Nevada. Giant Sequoias are the most massive trees in the world.^[5]

East Face of Mt. Whitney as seen from the way up on Whitney Portal.

The height of the mountains in the Sierra Nevada gradually increases from north to south. Between Fredonyer Pass and Lake Tahoe, the peaks range from 5,000 feet (1,524 m) to 8,000 feet (2,438 m). The crest near Lake Tahoe is roughly 9,000 feet (2,700 m) high, with several peaks approaching the height of Freel Peak (10,881 feet, 3,316 m), including Mount Rose (10,776 feet, 3,285 m), which overlooks Reno from the north end of the Carson Range. The crest near Yosemite National Park is roughly 13,000 feet (4,000 m) high at Mount Dana and Mount Lyell, and the entire range attains its peak at Mount Whitney (14,505 feet, 4,421 m). South of Mount Whitney, the range diminishes in elevation, but there are still several high points like Florence Peak (12,405 feet, 3,781 m) and Olancha Peak (12,123 feet, 3,695 m). The range still climbs almost to 10,000 feet (3,048 m) near Lake Isabella, but south of the lake, the peaks reach only to a modest 8,000 feet (2,438 m).^[6][7] At cORDOVA Lane Bye This article is about the lake in California/Nevada. ... The Carson Range is a range of mountains in eastern California and western Nevada that spurs off of the Sierra Nevada mountain range south of Lake Tahoe. ... Hetch Hetchy Valley is a glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in California. ... Yosemite Valley with Half Dome in the distance. ... This article is about Kings Canyon National Park, USA. For Kings Canyon, Australia, see Kings Canyon (Northern Territory). ... Yosemite redirects here. ... A granite dome is a dome of granite, formed by exfoliation. ... Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... The continental United States refers (except sometimes in U.S. federal law and regulations) to the largest part of the U.S. that is delimited by a continuous border. ... Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron) trees in the Giant Forest Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Visalia, California in the United States of America. ... Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x1024, 742 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1536x1024, 742 KB) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Freel Peak is a mountain located in the Carson Range near Lake Tahoe in California. ... Places Reno, Nevada Reno, Pennsylvania Reno, Lamar County, Texas Reno, Parker County, Texas A valley in Italy Other Uses Reno, a Turk from the popular videogame and CG movie by Square-Enix, Final Fantasy VII. Reno a 1939 film A band named Reno Reno is a drug Reno 911! - A... The Carson Range is a range of mountains in eastern California and western Nevada that spurs off of the Sierra Nevada mountain range south of Lake Tahoe. ... Yosemite redirects here. ... Mount Dana is a mountain on the eastern edge of Yosemite National Park and is the second highest peak within the park after Mount Lyell. ... Mount Lyell is the highest point in Yosemite National Park. ... Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... Lake Isabella is a census-designated place located in Kern County, California. ...

Geology

See Geology of the Yosemite area for a detailed article about the geology of the central Sierra Nevada.

The well-known granite that makes up most of the southern Sierra started to form in the Triassic period. At that time, an island arc collided with the West coast of North America and raised a set of mountains, in an event called the Nevadan orogeny.^[8] This event produced metamorphic rock. At roughly the same time, a subduction zone started to form at the edge of the continent. This means that an oceanic plate started to dive beneath the North American plate. Magma from the melting oceanic plate rose in plumes (plutons) deep underground, their combined mass forming what is called the Sierra Nevada batholith. These plutons formed at various times, from 115 million to 87 million years ago.^[9] By 65 million years ago, the proto-Sierra Nevada was worn down to a range of rolling low mountains, a few thousand feet high. The exposed geology of the Yosemite area includes primarily granitic rocks with some older metamorphic rock. ... The Triassic is a geologic period that extends from about 251 to 199 Ma (million years ago). ... North American redirects here. ... For other uses, see Mountain (disambiguation). ... The Nevadan Orogeny was a major mountain building event that took place along the western edge of ancient North America between the Mid to Late Jurassic(between about 180 and 146 million years ago). ... Quartzite, a form of metamorphic rock, from the Museum of Geology at University of Tartu collection. ... Categories: Geology stubs | Plate tectonics ... The tectonic plates of the world were mapped in the second half of the 20th century. ...  The North American plate, shown in brown The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, extending eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Cherskiy Range in East Siberia. ... Glacier-sliced Half Dome, Yosemite, a classic granite dome of the Sierra Nevada Batholith The Sierra Nevada Batholith is a large batholith in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, USA, and is a continuous granitic formation that forms much of the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. ...

Image of the Sierra Nevada and Owens Valley from the International Space Station

By 20 million years ago, crustal extension associated with the Basin and Range Province caused extensive volcanism in the Sierra.^[10] About 4 million years ago, the Sierra Nevada started to form and tilt to the west. Rivers started cutting deep canyons on both sides of the range. The Earth's climate cooled, and ice ages started about 2.5 million years ago. Glaciers carved out characteristic U-shaped canyons throughout the Sierra. The combination of river and glacier erosion exposed the uppermost portions of the plutons emplaced millions of years before, leaving only a remnant of metamorphic rock on top of some Sierra peaks. Download high resolution version (750x750, 86 KB)On February 6th 2003, astronauts aboard the International Space Station looked obliquely down at the steep eastern flank of California’s Sierra Nevada. ... Download high resolution version (750x750, 86 KB)On February 6th 2003, astronauts aboard the International Space Station looked obliquely down at the steep eastern flank of California’s Sierra Nevada. ... Owens Valley is the arid ranching valley of the Owens River in southeastern California in the United States. ... ISS redirects here. ... Full extent of the Basin and Range The Basin and Range Province is a particular type of topography that covers much of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico that is typified by elongate north-south trending arid valleys bounded by mountain ranges which also bound adjacent valleys. ... Variations in CO2, temperature and dust from the Vostok ice core over the last 400 000 years For the animated movie, see Ice Age (movie). ...

Uplift of the Sierra Nevada continues today, especially along its eastern side. This uplift causes large earthquakes, such as the Lone Pine earthquake of 1872. Lone Pine fault scarp The Great Lone Pine earthquake was one of the largest earthquakes to hit California in recorded history. ...

Ecology

Upper montane forest

Main article: Ecology of the Sierra Nevada Upper montane red fir forest. ... Upper montane red fir forest. ... Biotic zones in Yosemite The Ecology of the Sierra Nevada is diverse and complex: the plants and animals are a significant part of the scenic beauty of the mountain range. ...

The Sierra Nevada is divided into a number of biotic zones^[9] The Life Zone concept was developed by C. Hart Merriam in 1889 as a means of describing areas with similar plant and animal communities. ...

• The Pinyon pine-Juniper woodland, 5,000-7,000 ft (1,500-2,100 m) east side only
  • Notable species: Pinyon Jay, Desert Bighorn Sheep
• The lower montane forest, 3,000-7,000 ft (1,000-2,100 m) west side, 7,000-8,500 ft (2,100-2,600 m) east side
  • Notable species: Ponderosa pine and Jeffrey pine, California black oak, Incense-cedar, Giant Sequoia, Dark-eyed Junco, Mountain Chickadee, Western gray squirrel, Mule deer, American black bear
• The upper montane forest, 7,000-9,000 ft (2,100-2,700 m) west side, 8,500-10,500 ft (2,600-3,100 m) east side
  • Notable species: Lodgepole pine, Red Fir, Mountain Hemlock, Sierra Juniper, Hermit Thrush, Sage Grouse, Great Grey Owl, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel, Marten
• The subalpine forest, 9,000-10,500 ft (2,700-3,100 m) west side, 10,500-11,500 ft (3,100-3,500 m) east side
  • Notable species: Whitebark pine and Foxtail pine, Clark's Nutcracker
• The alpine region >10,500 ft (>3,100 m) west side, >11,500 ft (>3,500 m) east side
  • Notable species: Polemonium viscosum (Sky Pilot), Pika, Belding's ground squirrel, Yellow-Bellied Marmot, Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep

Species Section Cembroides     Pinus cembroides     Pinus orizabensis     Pinus johannis     Pinus culminicola     Pinus remota     Pinus edulis     Pinus monophylla     Pinus quadrifolia Section Rzedowskiae     Pinus rzedowskii     Pinus pinceana     Pinus maximartinezii Section Nelsoniae     Pinus nelsonii The pinyon (or piñon) pine group grows in the southwestern United States and in Mexico. ... Species Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. ... Binomial name Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus Wied, 1841 The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) is a jay between the North American Blue Jay and the Eurasian Jay in size. ... Trinomial name Ovis canadensis nelsoni The Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) is a subspecies of Bighorn Sheep that occurs in the desert Southwest regions of the United States. ... Binomial name Pinus ponderosa Douglas ex C. Lawson Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) is a widespread and very variable pine native to western North America. ... Binomial name Pinus jeffreyi Balf. ... Binomial name Newb. ... Species Calocedrus decurrens Conservation status: Secure Calocedrus formosana Conservation status: Vulnerable Calocedrus macrolepis Conservation status: Vulnerable The Incense-cedars, Calocedrus, are a genus of two to three species of coniferous trees in the cypress family Cupressaceae. ... Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... Binomial name Junco hyemalis (Linnaeus, 1758) The Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis, is the best-known species of junco, a genus of small American sparrows. ... Binomial name Poecile gambeli or Parus gambeli Linnaeus, 1766 The Mountain Chickadee, Parus gambeli or Poecile gambeli, is a small songbird. ... Binomial name Sciurus griseus Ord, 1818 The Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus) is a tree squirrel found along the western coast of the United States and Canada. ... Binomial name (Rafinesque, 1817) The mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) is a deer whose habitat is in the western half of North America. ... Binomial name Pallas, 1780 Synonyms Euarctos americanus The American Black Bear (Ursus americanus) is the most common bear species native to North America. ... Binomial name Pinus contorta Douglas Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) is a common tree in western North America. ... Binomial name Abies magnifica A.Murray The Red Fir (Abies magnifica) is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. ... Binomial name Tsuga mertensiana (Bong. ... Binomial name Juniperus occidentalis Hook. ... Binomial name Catharus guttatus (Pallas, 1811) The Hermit Thrush, Catharus guttatus, is a medium-sized thrush. ... Species Centrocercus urophasianus, (Bonaparte, 1827) Centrocercus minimus, (Young et. ... Binomial name Strix nebulosa Forster, 1772 The Great Grey Owl or Lapland Owl (Strix nebulosa) is a very large owl. ... Binomial name Spermophilus lateralis (Say, 1823) The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) lives in all types of forests across North America. ... Species Martes americana Martes flavigula Martes foina Martes gwatkinsii Martes martes Martes melampus Martes pennanti Martes zibellina For the Wiltshire village see Marten, Wiltshire. ... The Sierra Nevada subalpine zone is positioned between the upper montane zone (such as red fir forest) at its lower limit, and treeline at its upper limit. ... Binomial name Pinus albicaulis Engelm. ... Binomial name Pinus balfouriana Balf. ... Binomial name Nucifraga columbiana (Wilson, 1811) The Clarks Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana), is a large passerine bird, in the family Corvidae. ... For other uses, see Tundra (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Nutt. ... Type Species Ochotona minor Link, 1795 (= Lepus dauuricus Pallas, 1776) Species See text The name pika (archaically spelled pica) is used for any member of the Ochotonidae, a family within the order of lagomorphs, which also includes the Leporidae (rabbits and hares). ... Species about 38: see text. ... Binomial name (Audubon and Bachman, 1841) The Yellow-bellied Marmot (Marmota flaviventris), also known as the Rock Chuck, is a ground squirrel in the marmot genus. ... Trinomial name Ovis canadensis sierrae (Grinnell, 1912) Sierra Nevada Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis sierrae) is a subspecies of Bighorn Sheep. ...

History

History of exploration

The earliest identified inhabitants of the Sierra Nevada were the Paiute tribe on the east side and the Mono and Sierra Miwok tribe on the western side. Today, passes such as Duck Pass are littered with discarded obsidian arrowheads that date back to trade between tribes. There were also prehistorical territorial disputes between the Paiute and Sierra Miwok tribes^[11] European-American exploration of the mountain range started in the 1840s. In the winter of 1844, Lieutenant John C. Frémont, accompanied by Kit Carson, was the first white man to see Lake Tahoe. “Piute” redirects here. ... The Valley and Sierra Miwok (also called the Plains and Sierra Miwok), were the largest group of Miwok Native American people. ... This article is about a type of volcanic glass. ... For other uses, see Arrowhead (disambiguation). ... John Charles Frémont (January 21, 1813 – July 13, 1890), was an American military officer, explorer, the first candidate of the Republican Party for the office of President of the United States, and the first presidential candidate of a major party to run on a platform in opposition to slavery. ... Kit Carson Christopher Houston Kit Carson (December 24, 1809 – May 23, 1868) was an American frontiersman. ... At cORDOVA Lane Bye This article is about the lake in California/Nevada. ...

Red Slate Mountain - Peter Pande trail (photo taken in 1963)

By 1860, even though the California Gold Rush populated the flanks of the Sierra Nevada, most of the Sierra remained unexplored.^[12][13] Therefore, the state legislature authorized the California Geological Survey to officially explore the Sierra (and survey the rest of the state). Josiah Whitney was appointed to head the survey. Red Slate Mountain. ... Red Slate Mountain. ... Red Slate Mountain is the highest peak in the Sherwin Range, which is part of the Sierra Nevada. ... The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began shortly after January 24, 1848 (when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill in Coloma). ... Although it was not until 1880 that the California State Mining Bureau, predecessor to the California Geological Survey, was established, the roots of Californias state geological survey date to an earlier time. ... Portrait of Josiah Whitney by Silas Selleck, 1863 Josiah Dwight Whitney (November 23, 1819-August 15, 1896) was a professor of geology at Harvard University (from 1865), and was chief of the California Geological Survey (1860-1874). ...

Men of the survey, including William H. Brewer, Charles F. Hoffmann, and Clarence King, explored the backcountry of what would become Yosemite National Park in 1863.^[12] In 1864, they explored the area around Kings Canyon. King later recounted his adventures over the Kings-Kern divide in his book Mountaineering in the Sierra Nevada. In 1871, King mistakenly thought that Mount Langley was the highest peak in the Sierra and climbed it. However, before he could climb the true highest peak (Mount Whitney), fishermen from Lone Pine climbed it and left a note.^[12] William Henry Brewer William Henry Brewer (September 14, 1828 -- November 2, 1910) was an American botanist. ... A native of Germany, trained as an engineer. ... Categories: Stub | 1842 births | 1901 deaths | Climbers | Geologists | Sierra Nevada ... Yosemite redirects here. ... This article is about Kings Canyon National Park, USA. For Kings Canyon, Australia, see Kings Canyon (Northern Territory). ... Mount Langley is located on the crest of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, on the border of Inyo and Tulare counties, in eastern California in the southwestern United States. ... Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... The main street in Lone Pine retains a frontier look Lone Pine is a census-designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States. ...

Between 1892 and 1897, Theodore Solomons was the first explorer to attempt to map a route along the crest of the Sierra (what would eventually become the John Muir Trail, along a different route).^[12] On his 1894 expedition, he took along Leigh Bierce, son of writer Ambrose Bierce. Theodore Seixas Solomons (1870-1947) was an explorer and early member of the Sierra Club; from 1892 to 1897 he explored and named the Mount Goddard, Evolution Valley and Evolution Basin region in what is now northen Kings Canyon National Park in eastern California. ... John Muir Trail is a long-distance trail in California, running 211 miles (340 km) from the Yosemite Valley to Mount Whitney. ... Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (June 24, 1842 – 1914?) was an American editorialist, journalist, short-story writer and satirist, today best known for his Devils Dictionary. ...

The Minarets, first climbed by Norman Clyde

Other noted early mountaineers included:^[12] The Minarets in the Sierra Nevada (US). ... The Minarets in the Sierra Nevada (US). ... For the building, see Minaret. ... Norman Clyde (April 8, 1885-December 23, 1972) was a famous mountaineer and nature photographer. ...

• John Muir
• Bolton Coit Brown
• Joseph N. LeConte
• James S. Hutchinson
• Norman Clyde
• Walter Starr, Sr.
• Walter A. Starr, Jr.

Features in the Sierra are named after these men. For other persons named John Muir, see John Muir (disambiguation). ... Joseph Nisbet LeConte (1870-1950) was a noted explorer of the Sierra Nevada. ... James Sather Hutchinson (1867-1959) was a lawyer in San Francisco. ... Norman Clyde (April 8, 1885-December 23, 1972) was a famous mountaineer and nature photographer. ... Walter A. Pete Starr, Jr. ...

History of the name

In 1542 Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, sighting the Santa Cruz Mountains while off the peninsula of San Francisco, gave them the name Sierra Nevada meaning "snowy range" in Spanish. As more specific names were given to California's coastal ranges, the name was used in a general way to designate less familiar ranges towards the interior.^[14] In April of 1776 Padre Pedro Font on the second de Anza expedition, looking northeast across the Tulare Valley, described the mountains seen beyond: Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, in Portuguese João Rodrigues Cabrilho, (ca 1499–January 3, 1543) was an explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America while sailing for Spain. ... The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. ... Juan Bautista de Anza Juan Bautista de Anza Bezerra Nieto (July 1736 - December 19, 1788) was a Novo-Spanish explorer for the Spanish Empire. ... Tulare Lake is an extinct fresh-water lake that was formerly the largest to be completely enclosed within the territories of the Unites States. ...

Looking northeast we saw an immense plain without any trees, through which the water extends for a long distance, having in it several little islands of lowland. And finally, on the other side of the immense plain, and at a distance of about forty leagues, we saw a great Sierra Nevada whose trend appeared to me to be from south-southeast to north-northwest.^[15]

Its most common nickname is the Range of Light. This nickname comes from John Muir.^[16] This description is due in part to the unusually light colored granite exposed by glacial action. For other persons named John Muir, see John Muir (disambiguation). ...

Owens Valley and the Sierra Escarpment

Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2359x600, 309 KB) Owens Valley, California, and the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada mountains, looking southwest from the Inyo Mountains near Harkless Flat. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2359x600, 309 KB) Owens Valley, California, and the eastern escarpment of the Sierra Nevada mountains, looking southwest from the Inyo Mountains near Harkless Flat. ...

Climate and meteorology

During the fall, winter, and spring, precipitation in the Sierra ranges from 20 to 80 in (500 to 2,030 mm) where it occurs mostly as snow above 6,000 ft (1,829 m). Rain on snow is common. Summers are dry with low humidity, however afternoon thunderstorms are not uncommon. Summer temperature averages 42 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5 to 15.5 degrees Celsius). The growing season lasts 20 to 230 days, strongly dependent on elevation.^[17]

A unique peculiarity of the Sierra Nevada is that, under certain wind conditions, a large round tube of air begins to roll on the southeast side. This is known as the "Sierra Nevada Rotor." This "mountain wave" forms when dry continental winds from the east cause the formation of a stacked set of counter-revolving cylinders of air reaching into the stratosphere. As of 2004, no sailplane has found its top. Similar features occur on many mountain ranges, but it is often observed and utilized in the Sierra. The phenomenon was the subject of an Air Force-funded study in the early 1950s called the Sierra Wave Project.^[18] All recent world altitude records set in unpowered aircraft were set in the Sierra Nevada Wave, most flown from Mojave Airport. Generation of Lee Waves (schematic drawing) 1 = Mountain 2 = Wind 3 = Rotor 4 = Lee Wave 5 = typical cloud (lenticularis) 6 = typical cloud (cumulus) In meteorology, Lee waves, also known as mountain waves, are periodic changes of pressure in a stream of air when the wind moves over mountains. ... USAF redirects here. ... The Mojave Spaceport, also known as the Mojave Airport and Civilian Flight Test Center, is the first facility to be licensed in the United States for horizontal launches of reusable spacecraft. ...

The Sierra Nevada casts the valleys east of the Sierra in a rain shadow, which makes Death Valley and Owens Valley "the land of little rain".^[19] For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series). ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ... Owens Valley is the arid ranching valley of the Owens River in southeastern California in the United States. ...

Protected Status

In much of the Sierra Nevada, development is restricted or highly regulated. A complex system of National Forests, National Parks, Wilderness Areas and Zoological Areas designates permitted land uses within the 400-mile (640 km) stretch of the Sierra. These areas are jointly administered by the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the National Park Service. See List of Sierra Nevada topics for a list of protected areas. Logo of the U.S. Forest Service. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States government agency that deals with U.S. National Parks and U.S. National Monuments. ... The Wilderness Act protects exceptional undisturbed natural areas and scenery, such as in the Ansel Adams Wilderness On federal lands in the United States, Congress may designate a wilderness area under the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964. ... The USDA Forest Service, a United States government agency within the United States Department of Agriculture, is under the leadership of the United States Secretary of Agriculture. ... US BLM logo The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers Americas public lands, totaling approximately 261 million surface acres (1,056,229. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... This is a list of Sierra Nevada topics, about the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. Please see Sierra Nevada for alternative meanings. ...

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Sierra Nevada, USA

• List of Sierra Nevada topics, including lists of mountains, rivers, parks, wilderness areas, and other natural features.
• List of guidebooks about the Sierra Nevada
• Ecology of the Sierra Nevada
• List of Sierra Nevada wildfires

This is a list of Sierra Nevada topics, about the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. Please see Sierra Nevada for alternative meanings. ... The following is a partial list of guidebooks about the Sierra Nevada of California, USA. Please see Sierra Nevada for more information. ... Biotic zones in Yosemite The Ecology of the Sierra Nevada is diverse and complex: the plants and animals are a significant part of the scenic beauty of the mountain range. ... A list of Sierra Nevada wildfires includes notable wildfires in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California, United States: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ...

References

Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 132nd day of the year (133rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Google Earth is a virtual globe program that was originally called Earth Viewer and was created by Keyhole, Inc. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 34th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 27th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• List of Sierra Peaks at climber.org
• The Mountains of California
• Geological Time Line for the Sierra Nevada, National Park Service
• Sierra Nevada info at SummitPost

v • d • e General sub-fields of physical geography Biogeography · Climatology & paleoclimatology · Coastal geography · Geomorphology · Glaciology · Hydrology & Hydrography · Landscape ecology · Limnology · Oceanography · Palaeogeography · Pedology · Quaternary science For the books called Geography by Ancient Greek authors, see Geographia (Ptolemy) and Geographica (Strabo) For the magazine of the Royal Geographical Society, see Geographical (magazine) Geography is the study of the earth and its features, inhabitants, and phenomena. ... This article explores the history of geography. ... Geography is the study of the Earth and its features and of the distribution of life on the earth, including human life and the effects of human activity. ... List of Geographers The geographers are listed below in English alphabetical transliteration order (by surnames). ... This is a list of geography topics: Geography of countries Geography of Afghanistan Geography of Albania Geography of Algeria Geography of American Samoa Geography of Andorra Geography of Angola Geography of Anguilla Geography of Antarctica Geography of Antigua and Barbuda Geography of Argentina Geography of Armenia Geography of Aruba Geography... Population density by country, 2007 Human geography, is a branch of geography that focuses on the study of patterns and processes that shape human interaction with the environment, with particular reference to the causes and consequences of the spatial distribution of human activity on the Earths surface. ... Behavioral geography is an approach to Human Geography that examines human behavior using a disaggregate approach. ... Cultural geography is a sub-field within human geography. ... Map of countries by population Population growth showing projections for later this century Demography is the statistical study of all populations. ... Development geography is the study of the Earths geography and its relationship with economic development. ... Economic geography is the study of the location, distribution and spatial organisation of economic activities across the Earth. ... Feminist geography is an approach to study in human geography which applies the theories, methods and critiques of feminism to the study of the human environment, society and geographical space. ... Historical Geography is the study of the: Human Physical Fictional Theoretical and Real geographies of the past. ... Political geography is the field of human geography that is concerned with the study of both the spatially uneven outcomes of political processes and the ways in which political processes are themselves affected by spatial structures. ... Regional geography is a study of regions throughout the world in order to understand or define the unique characteristics of a particular region which consists of natural as well as human elements. ... Urban geography is the study of urban areas. ... True-color image of the Earths surface and atmosphere Physical geography (also know as geosystems or physiography) is a subfield of geography that focuses on the systematic study of patterns and processes within the hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. ... Biogeography is the science which deals with patterns of species distribution and the processes that result in such patterns. ... Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time,[1] and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences. ... Coastal geography is the study of the dynamic interface between the ocean and the land, incorporating both the physical geography(i. ... Environmental geography is the branch of geography that describes the spatial aspects of interactions between humans and the natural world. ... An old geodetic pillar (1855) at Ostend, Belgium A Munich archive with lithography plates of maps of Bavaria Geodesy (pronounced [1]), also called geodetics, a branch of earth sciences, is the scientific discipline that deals with the measurement and representation of the Earth, including its gravity field, in a three... Surface of the Earth Geomorphology is the study of landforms, including their origin and evolution, and the processes that shape them. ... Lateral moraine on a glacier joining the Gorner Glacier, Zermatt, Switzerland. ... Water covers 70% of the Earths surface. ... Landscape ecology is a sub-discipline of ecology and geography that address how spatial variation in the landscape affects ecological processes such as the distribution and flow of energy, materials and individuals in the environment (which, in turn, may influence the distribution of landscape elements themselves such as hedgerows). ... Lake Geneva Limnology (from Greek: Λίμνη limne, lake; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of inland waters (both fresh and saline), including their biological, physical, chemical, geological and hydrological aspects. ... Thermohaline circulation Oceanographic frontal systems on the southern hemisphere Oceanography (from the greek words Ωκεανός meaning Ocean and γράφω meaning to write), also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth Sciences that studies the Earths oceans and seas. ... Paleogeography (sometimes spelled palaeogeography) is the study of the ancient geologic environments of the Earths surface as preserved in the stratigraphic record. ... Pedology (pÄ›dÇ’lōgy), (from Russian: pedologiya, from the Greek pedon = soil, earth), is the study of soils and soil formation. ... Quaternary science is an inter-disciplinary field of study focusing on the Quaternary period, which encompasses the last 2. ... Cartography or mapmaking (in Greek chartis = map and graphein = write) is the study and practice of making maps or globes. ... GIS redirects here. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... GPS redirects here. ... For the purported psychic ability to sense remotely, see Remote viewing right Synthetic aperture radar image of Death Valley colored using polarimetry In the broadest sense, remote sensing is the short or large-scale acquisition of information of an object or phenomenon, by the use of either recording or real... Spatial data analysis is a quantitative approach to geographical analysis that applies rigorous statistical techniques to geographic data, to ultimately analyze why phenomena occurs in particular places, and what dynamic factors are key. ... Qualitative research is one of the two major approaches to research methodology in social sciences. ... The American Geographical Society (AGS) was founded in 1851 in New York City, New York as a non-profit organization with the goal of increasing worldwide knowledge of geography. ... Logo of the AAG The Association of American Geographers (AAG) is an educational and scientific society aimed at advancing the understanding of, study of, and importance of geography and related fields. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... The Geographical Association is a Sheffield,United Kingdom-based organisation that aims to further the teaching of geography and to communicate the value of learning geography for all. ... The Hong Kong Geographical Association exists to promote interest in, stimulate teaching of, and research in Geography. ... The International Geographical Union (Union Géographique Internationale; IGU / UGI) was founded in Brussels, Belgium, in 1922. ... This article is about the organization. ... The Royal Canadian Geographical Society is dedicated to imparting a broader knowledge and deeper appreciation of Canada — its people and places, its natural and cultural heritage and its environmental, social and economic challenges. ... The Royal Geographical Society is a British learned society founded in 1830 with the name Geographical Society of London for the advancement of geographical science, under the patronage of King William IV. It absorbed the Association for Promoting the Discovery of the Interior Parts of Africa (founded by Sir Joseph... The Royal Scottish Geographical Society is a learned society in Scotland, founded in 1884. ... The Russian Geographical Society is a learned society, founded on 6 August 1845 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. ... The Saudi Geographical Society (Arabic: , Aj-jamaiya Aj-joÄ¡rafïya as-Saʻūdiyya), a learned society headquartered in King Saud University, Riyadh in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is a non-for-profit organization for workers and experts in geography. ... The Society of Woman Geographers was established in 1925 by ten women including Harriet Chalmers Adams, Marguerite Harrison, Blair Niles, Gertrude Shelby, and Gertrude Emerson Sen. ... The Société de Géographie, Paris, is the worlds oldest geographical society. ... True-color image of the Earths surface and atmosphere Physical geography (also know as geosystems or physiography) is a subfield of geography that focuses on the systematic study of patterns and processes within the hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and lithosphere. ... Biogeography is the science which deals with patterns of species distribution and the processes that result in such patterns. ... Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time,[1] and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences. ... Paleoclimatology is the study of climate change taken on the scale of the entire history of the Earth. ... Coastal geography is the study of the dynamic interface between the ocean and the land, incorporating both the physical geography(i. ... Surface of the Earth Geomorphology is the study of landforms, including their origin and evolution, and the processes that shape them. ... Lateral moraine on a glacier joining the Gorner Glacier, Zermatt, Switzerland. ... Water covers 70% of the Earths surface. ... Hydrography focuses on the measurement of physical characteristics of waters and marginal land. ... Landscape ecology is a sub-discipline of ecology and geography that address how spatial variation in the landscape affects ecological processes such as the distribution and flow of energy, materials and individuals in the environment (which, in turn, may influence the distribution of landscape elements themselves such as hedgerows). ... Lake Geneva Limnology (from Greek: Λίμνη limne, lake; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is the study of inland waters (both fresh and saline), including their biological, physical, chemical, geological and hydrological aspects. ... Thermohaline circulation Oceanographic frontal systems on the southern hemisphere Oceanography (from the greek words Ωκεανός meaning Ocean and γράφω meaning to write), also called oceanology or marine science, is the branch of Earth Sciences that studies the Earths oceans and seas. ... Paleogeography (sometimes spelled palaeogeography) is the study of the ancient geologic environments of the Earths surface as preserved in the stratigraphic record. ... Pedology (pÄ›dÇ’lōgy), (from Russian: pedologiya, from the Greek pedon = soil, earth), is the study of soils and soil formation. ... Quaternary science is an inter-disciplinary field of study focusing on the Quaternary period, which encompasses the last 2. ...

v • d • e   State of Nevada Carson City (capital) Topics Economy · Geography · Government · History · People · Transportation Image File history File links Flag_of_Nevada. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... Motto: Proud of its Past. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Regions Black Rock Desert · Great Basin · Lake Tahoe · Las Vegas Valley · Mojave Desert · Pahranagat Valley · Sierra Nevada This list of regions of the United States includes official (governmental) and non-official areas within the borders of the United States, not including U.S. states, the federal district of Washington, D.C. or standard subentities such as cities or counties. ... The Black Rock Desert is a dry lake bed in northwestern Nevada in the United States. ... Drainage map showing the Great Basin in orange Various Definitions of the Great Basin (NPS) Wheeler Peak in Great Basin National Park, Nevada. ... At cORDOVA Lane Bye This article is about the lake in California/Nevada. ... The Las Vegas metropolitan area, includes the Las Vegas Valley a 600 square mile (1600 km²) basin, and surrounding areas, that are part of Clark County in southern Nevada. ... For the indigenous American tribe, see Mohave. ... A ranch in Ash Springs The Pahranagat Valley is located in Lincoln County, Nevada and is home to the Pahranagat Valley National Wildlife Refuge. ... Metro Areas Las Vegas-Paradise · Reno-Sparks · Carson City In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... Looking west toward Paradise Road and the Las Vegas Strip in the CDP of Paradise, Nevada Paradise is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. ... Reno redirects here. ... Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. ... Motto: Proud of its Past. ... Counties Churchill · Clark · Douglas · Elko · Esmeralda · Eureka · Humboldt · Lander · Lincoln · Lyon · Mineral · Nye · Ormsby · Pershing · Storey · Washoe · White Pine Nevada has 16 counties and one independent city. ... Churchill County is a county located in the southwestern U.S. state of Nevada. ... Clark County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Douglas County is a county located in the northwestern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Elko County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Esmeralda County is a county in the west of U.S. state of Nevada. ... Eureka County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Humboldt County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Lander County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Lincoln County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Lyon County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Mineral County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Nye County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Ormsby County was a county of Nevada from 1861 until 1969. ... Pershing County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Storey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Washoe County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... White Pine County is a county located in the state of Nevada. ... Cities and Communities Alamo · Amargosa Valley · Austin · Baker · Battle Mountain · Beatty · Boulder City · Caliente · Carlin · Carson City · Elko · Ely · Enterprise · Eureka · Fallon · Fernley · Gardnerville Ranchos · Gerlach · Goldfield · Hawthorne · Henderson · Incline Village · Las Vegas · Laughlin · Lovelock · Mesquite · Minden · North Las Vegas · Pahrump · Paradise · Pioche · Primm · Rachel · Reno · Spanish Springs · Sparks · Spring Creek · Spring Valley · Stateline · Summerlin South · Sun Valley · Sunrise Manor · Tonopah · Virginia City · West Wendover  · Winnemucca · Whitney · Winchester · Yerington This is a list of cities, towns, unincorporated areas and CDPs in Nevada, a state of the U.S.. Alamo Amargosa Valley Ash Springs Austin Baker Battle Mountain Beatty Beowawe Blue Diamond Boulder City Bunkerville Cal-Nev-Ari Caliente Carlin Carson City Cold Springs Crescent Valley Crystal Crystal Bay Dayton... Alamo is a town in Lincoln County, Nevada. ... Amargosa Valley (formerly Lathrop Wells) is a town located in Nye County, Nevada in the Amargosa Desert. ... Stokes Castle Austin is a small, unincorporated community located in Lander County, Nevada. ... Baker, Nevada is a small community in Eastern Nevada. ... Battle Mountain, Nevada. ... Beatty, Nevada Beatty is a census-designated place and town located on the Amargosa River in Nye County in the U.S. state of Nevada. ... Boulder City is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. ... Caliente is a city located in Lincoln County, Nevada. ... Carlin, Nevada. ... Motto: Proud of its Past. ... Elko, Nevada Elko is a city in Elko County, Nevada, United States. ... Downtown Ely, Nevada Ely (pronounced [iːli], rhyming with freely) is a city in White Pine County, Nevada, in the United States. ... Enterprise is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. ... Eureka is a city located in Eureka County, Nevada, in the United States. ... Corn Field in Fallon, NV August 2004. ... Fernley is a census-designated place located in Lyon County, Nevada. ... Gardnerville Ranchos is a census-designated place located in Douglas County, Nevada. ... Gerlach-Empire is a census-designated place located in Washoe County, Nevada. ... Location of Goldfield in Nevada. ... Hawthorne is a census-designated place (CDP) in Mineral County, Nevada, United States. ... A view of Black Mountain above Henderson, Nevada. ... Incline Village-Crystal Bay is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. ... For further information, see Las Vegas metropolitan area and Las Vegas Strip. ... Laughlin is a census-designated place (CDP) in Clark County, Nevada, United States. ... Lovelock, Nevada. ... Mesquite is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States, adjacent to the Arizona state line and 77 miles northeast of Las Vegas. ... Minden is a census-designated place located in Douglas County, Nevada. ... North Las Vegas is a city in Clark County, Nevada, United States. ... An aerial view from March 2005 shows development scattered across the valley floor. ... Looking west toward Paradise Road and the Las Vegas Strip in the CDP of Paradise, Nevada Paradise is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. ... Pioche is a town located in Lincoln County, Nevada, of which it is the county seat. ... I-15 and Whiskey Petes casino, Primm, NV Primm (often called Primm Valley, after one of its casinos) is a tiny community of Clark County, Nevada, primarily notable for its position straddling Interstate 15 where it crosses the border between California and Nevada. ... Rachel is an unincorporated portion of Lincoln County, Nevada. ... Reno redirects here. ... Spanish Springs is a census-designated place (CDP) in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. ... Sparks is a city in Washoe County, Nevada, United States. ... Spring Creek is a census-designated place located in Elko County, Nevada. ... Spring Valley is an unincorporated township and census designated place (CDP), in Clark County, Nevada, United States located two miles west of the Las Vegas Strip. ... Stateline is a census-designated place (unincorporated town) located in Douglas County, Nevada. ... Summerlin South, also seen on maps as South Summerlin, is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada, on the western edge of Las Vegas and adjacent to the Red Rock Conservation Area. ... Sun Valley is a census-designated place located in Washoe County, Nevada. ... Sunrise Manor is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. ... Tonopah is a census-designated place located in Nye County, Nevada. ... View of Virginia City, Nevada, from a nearby hillside, 1867-68 Virginia City is a city located in Storey County, Nevada. ... West Wendover is a city located in Elko County, Nevada. ... Winnemucca cemetery with a sign reading: Welcome to Winnemucca, Proud of it! // Winnemucca is the county seat of Humboldt County in the U.S. state of Nevada and the site of a September 19, 1900 bank robbery by the Wild Bunch. ... Whitney is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. ... Winchester is a census-designated place located in Clark County, Nevada. ... Yerington is a city located in Lyon County, Nevada, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 2,883. ...