CSET Multiple Subject Subtest 1 History & Social Sciences California Geography

How large is CA relative to other states?

3rd largest in land size

Specifically how big?

163,693 square miles

Climate in general:

Central & northern coast: mild to cool

* Southeast: hot & dry

Where are the Mojave and Colorado deserts?

Southeastern region

How much does rainfall vary?

* North: 15-50 inches/year

* Redwood forests on coast: can be >100"

The 3 high mountain ranges are:

1. Sierra Nevada

2. Cascades

3. Trinity Alps

How much snow do Tahoe and Shasta receive?

Can receive more than 10' a season--

Often more :-)

Precipitation feeds the 4 significant rivers. Name them.

1. Trinity River--far north

2. Colorado River

3. Sacramento River

4. San Joaquin

What is geographically rare about the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers?

The rivers converge into an

> inverted delta in the

> northern central valley

How big is Lake Tahoe relative to other lakes in the country?

Largest alpine lake in the US.

About how many miles long--N/S, is CA?

About 800 miles

About how many miles wide--E/W is CA?

Ranges: 150-350 miles

California borders which states?

* Oregon

* Nevada

* Arizona

* Mexico

The highest peak?

Mt. Whitney: 14,495'

How does Mt. Whitney compare to other mountains in the US?

Highest peak in continental US

Death Valley holds what title?

Lowest point in the continental US: 282' below sea level.

What sort of geologic evidence does one see in CA?

* Faulting

* Folding

* Alluvial deposition

* Sedimentary deposition

* Volcanic activity

Which way are the plates moving on the San Andreas fault?

* Largely horizontally:

. West moves north

. East moves south

How long is the San Andreas fault?

About 500 miles.

Examples of the varied topography:

* rugged mountain peaks

* Fertile Valleys

* Dense forests

* Ocean boundaries

* Extensive deserts

How many seasons in CA?

Just 2 in many regions:

. Mild, wet winter

. relatively long, dry summer

How much of the year does the climate support the growing season?

Growing season extends throughout the year.

Southern CA's climate is characterized as...

... Mediterranean

Is LA climate unique in the US?

Yes

Does CA have diverse microclimates?

Yes

While there are a number of diverse microclimates, what generalizations can be made about CAs climate?

* Coastal climate is mild

* Interior is much more extreme

Where can the most extreme temperatures be found in CA?

Interior basins

Few CA rivers are navigable, they are:

* Sacramento

* San Joaquin

* Colorado

Are the tributaries of the Sacramento & San Joaquin rivers navigable?

They can be.

-- 7 Distinct Regions of CA --

7 Distinct Regions of CA

What are the 7 distinct regions of CA?

1. Klamath Mountains

2. Coast Ranges

3. Sierra Nevada (the Snowy range)

4. Central Valley

5. Basin and Range

6. Cascade Range & Modoc Plateau

7. Transverse & Peninsular ranges

Barron's saz there are 4 regions, what are they?

1. Coast

2. Mountains

3. Central Valley

4. Desert

Klamath Mountains are in what region?

Northwestern corner of the state and into Oregon

Is the Klamath range connected to another range?

Yes--northern extension of the Coast Ranges

Height of the Klamath Range mountains?

6,000--8,000'

Describe the topography of the Klamath Range.

Rugged & steep

Climate in the Klamath Range?

Heavy precipitation

What kind of plant life does the heavy precipitation of the Klamath Range support?

Dense forests

Coast Ranges--where are they?

* West coast

* South end of the Klamath Mountains to

* Southwestern section of the Sierra Nevada in Southern CA

What does the San Andreas fault have to do with the Coast Ranges?

* Divides the region along a north/south axis

* It's where the plates meet

How long are the Coast Ranges?

About 550 miles

What about the plant diversity in the Coast Ranges?

* Giant redwoods in the north to

* Chaparral in the south

How were the mountains in the Coast Ranges formed?

* Sedimentary deposition

* Uplifted by faulting and folding

Is it just one range of mountains?

Coast Ranges are a series of parallel ranges

Climate of the Coast Ranges?

Varied

> North:

. Low-pressure fog & rain-producing areas

> South:

. Mediterranean-type condition

The Sierra Nevada is know also as...

The Snowy Range

How long are the Sierra Nevada Mountains?

About 400 miles

Where is the Sierra Nevada Range?

* Follows the eastern border of the state

* Form the eastern wall of the Central Valley

The Sierras are characterized as fault block mountains. How were they formed?

Extensive uplifting & subsidence

What kind of rock are the Sierras made of?

Backbone of the range is igneous (volcanic) rock

Are the Sierras the highest mountains in CA?

Yes

How high are the serrated peaks of the Sierras?

13,000'

Where is Mt. Whitney?

At the southern end of the Sierras.

What is the difference between the east side of the Sierras and the west side?

* East side is steep

* West side has a more gentle slope

What's the impact of the steep east side of the Sierras?

Makes east/west travel very difficult

And the impact of the gentle slope of the west side of the Sierras?

* Traps water

* Benefits Central Valley agriculture

Sierra Nevada streams cut deep valleys. What does this have to do with the discovery of gold?

The deeply cut streams eroded the gold veins in the rocks, allowing miners to discover it.

More technically, how is the water trapped on the west side of the Sierras?

* Sierra Nevada causes a rain shadow effect

. Clouds rise against the high peaks

. Causing them to drop their moisture

Ramifications of rain shadow effect?

* Fertile valleys on west

* Dry landscape on east

Ice age glaciers created the mountain profiles. Name a park that clearly demonstrates this.

Yosemite's U-shaped valleys are from glacial action

Southern CA is dependent upon what region for its water supply?

Sierra Nevadas

How much rain/snow fall, on average, in the Sierras?

About 70"

The Central Valley separates...

... The Sierra Nevada and

The Coast Range

How long is the Central Valley?

About 400 miles

On average, how wide is the Central Valley?

50 miles

Name 3 characteristics of the Central Valley.

1. flat

2. sedimentary plain

3. fertile

How important is the Central Valley with regards to CA agriculture?

It's the major agriculture region of the state.

What % of CAs farmland is in the Central Valley?

60%

What's the relationship between CAs water supply and the Central Valley?

* Majority of the state's water supply

. caught in the Central Valley as

. runoff from the Sierra Nevada

Where's the Sacramento Delta?

In the Central Valley

How big is the Delta?

1,200 square miles of waterways

What do the Delta, the Sacramento, and the San Joaquin rivers have to do with each other?

* Delta is located where the

. Sacramento and the

. San Joaquin rivers

. meet

Which river flows north, Sacramento or San Joaquin?

San Joaquin is NORTH flowing

Which river flows south, Sacramento or San Joaquin?

Sacramento is SOUTH flowing

The Basin and Range, it covers a lot of territory--where is it?

Northeastern corner of the state

Mid-state:

. South of Lake Tahoe and

. East of Sierras

. South of Sierras

. Boundary with Arizona

. Boundary with Mexico

Is the Mojave Desert part of the Basin & Range?

Yes

Is the northern section of the Basin & Range a lava plateau?

Yes

The southern section is generally dry. What is the major geographical feature in the south?

Mojave Desert

Besides the Mojave Desert, what are 3 other significant areas in this region?

1. Northwest & Southwest Great Basin

2. Northwestern Sonoran Desert

3. Salton Sea trough

Where is Death Valley?

Mojave Desert

Where is the lowest point in the U.S.?

Death Valley

How was Death Valley formed?

Faulting (not erosion)

Does the Basin & Range extend east into Nevada & Utah?

Yes--it includes almost all of Nevada!

What river forms the boundary between CA and AZ?

Colorado River

Irrigation with water from the Colorado River allows large-scale farming in what 2 valleys?

* Imperial Valley

* Coachella Valley

Where's the Imperial Valley?

* Between Colorado River and the Salton Sea, in part

* South of Coachella Valley

* North of the Mexican border

Where's the Coachella Valley?

North of the Salton Sea

Where is the Cascade Range located?

* Central, northern CA

* Southern end meets northern end of Sierras

Where is Mt. Shasta?

In the Cascade Range, natch.

Where's the Modoc Plateau?

* Northeast corner of CA

* Except for the most NE corner which is part of the Basin and Range

Does part of the Modoc Plateau wrap around some of the Basin & Range and reach towards the border with Nevada?

Yup.

. Wraps around the bit of the Basin & Range in the extreme NE corner of CA

How long is the Cascade Range?

550 miles--reaches all the way to Canada

How wide is the Cascade Range?

Only about 25 miles wide

Are the Cascades separate from the Sierras?

Yes

How were the Cascades formed?

Volcanic activity

Are any of the mountains in the Cascades dormant volcanoes?

Yes, many

. Mt. Shasta

. Lassen

How tall is Mt. Shasta?

14,162'

What type of mountain is Lassen?

Largest plug-dome volcano in the world

What's a plug-dome volcano?

It's filled with magma

Describe the Modoc Plateau.

* Level tableland

* Volcanic origin