One of the most diverse U.S. states, the habitats of California range from near-tropical desert to alpine. The lowest spot in North America is in Death Valley - located in the southeast  of the state, in site of Mt. McKinley which is the highest place in the 48 continental U.S. States.

While most of the state overall enjoys a near desert climate the northern coast is dominated by Coastal Redwood rainforests. Coast Redwoods are among the tallest of trees, and they require large amounts of water, which in California comes to them mostly in the form of fog.

The other Redwood - the Giant Sequoia tree - live exclusively in the mid and southern Sierra Nevada - the mountain range that makes up the spine of the state. It is the largest non-colonial terrestrial organism.

The California Central Valley, one of the richest agricultural areas on earth, runs much of the length of the state north-to-south. It is filled with alluvial (river flood) deposits which make a deep rich soil. They also make the valley floor nearly flat.

The Central Valley is divided into two major areas, the Sacramento River Valley north of the San Francisco Bay, and the San Joaquin River Valley south of SF Bay. The two rivers meet in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, a huge marshland extending from San Francisco Bay inland to Sacramento.

The California Coast Range Mountains run along the western coast of most of the state, blocking much of the moisture from reaching inland places. The western side of the mountains are much lusher than the eastern slopes.

Birds of California

Another Checklist of California Birds

Plants of California

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Original content copyright 1995-2007 Robert B. Hole, Jr. All Rights Reserved