2017_04_20
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Sierra Nevada Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
The Sierra Nevada (/siˈɛrə nᵻˈvɑːdə/ or /nᵻˈvædə/, Spanish: [ˈsjera neˈβaða], snowy range[6]) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Basin and Range Province. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primarily in Nevada. The Sierra Nevada is part of the American Cordillera, a chain of mountain ranges (cordillera) that consists of an almost continuous sequence of mountain ranges that form the western "backbone" of North America, Central America, South America and Antarctica.
The Sierra runs 400 miles (640 km) north-to-south, and is approximately 70 miles (110 km) across east-to-west. Notable Sierra features include Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in North America; Mount Whitney at 14,505 ft (4,421 m),[1] the highest point in the contiguous United States; and Yosemite Valley, sculpted by glaciers out of one-hundred-million-year-old granite. The Sierra is home to three national parks, twenty wilderness areas, and two national monuments. These areas include Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks; and Devils Postpile National Monument.
The character of the range is shaped by its geology and ecology. More than one hundred million years ago during the Nevadan orogeny, granite formed deep underground. The range started to uplift four M.A. (million years) ago, and erosion by glaciers exposed the granite and formed the light-colored mountains and cliffs that make up the range. The uplift caused a wide range of elevations and climates in the Sierra Nevada, which are reflected by the presence of five life zones. Uplift continues due to faulting caused by tectonic forces, creating spectacular fault block escarpments along the eastern edge of the southern Sierra.
The Sierra Nevada has a significant history. The California Gold Rush occurred in the western foothills from 1848 through 1855. Due to inaccessibility, the range was not fully explored until 1912.
From Wikipedia.
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
Inyo Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
Lone Pine is a census designated place (CDP) in Inyo County, California, United States.[2] Lone Pine is located 16 miles (26 km) south-southeast of Independence,[3] at an elevation of 3727 feet (1136 m).[2] The population was 2,035 at the 2010 census, up from 1,655 at the 2000 census. The town is located in the Owens Valley, near the Alabama Hills. From possible choices of urban, rural, and frontier, the Census Bureau identifies this area as "frontier". The local hospital, Southern Inyo Hospital, offers standby emergency services.[4] On March 26, 1872, the very large Lone Pine earthquake destroyed most of the town and killed 27 of its 250 to 300 residents.
From Wikipedia.
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Whitney Portal Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
The Alabama Hills are a range of hills and rock formations near the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada in the Owens Valley, west of Lone Pine in Inyo County, California, United States.
Though geographically separate from the Sierra Nevada, they are part of the same geological formation.
The rounded contours of the Alabamas contrast with the sharp ridges of the Sierra Nevada to the west. Though this might suggest that they formed from a different orogeny, the Alabamas are the same age as the nearby Sierras[citation needed]. The difference in wear can be accounted for by different patterns of erosion.
Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, towers several thousand feet above this low range, which itself is 1,500 feet (460 m) above the floor of Owens Valley. However, gravity surveys indicate that the Owens Valley is filled with about 10,000 feet (3,000 m) of sediment and that the Alabamas are the tip of a very steep escarpment. This feature may have been created by many earthquakes similar to the 1872 Lone Pine earthquake which, in a single event, caused a vertical displacement of 15–20 feet.
There are two main types of rock exposed at Alabama Hills. One is an orange, drab weathered metamorphosed volcanic rock that is 150-200 million years old. The other type of rock exposed here is 82- to 85-million-year-old biotite monzogranite which weathers to potato-shaped large boulders, many of which stand on end due to spheroidal weathering acting on many nearly vertical joints in the rock.
Dozens of natural arches are among the main attractions at the Alabama Hills. They can be accessed by short hikes from the Whitney Portal Road, the Movie Flat Road and the Horseshoe Meadows Road. Among the notable features of the area are: Mobius Arch, Lathe Arch, the Eye of Alabama and Whitney Portal Arch.
From Wikipedia.
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Mount Whitney is the highest summit in the contiguous United States and the Sierra Nevada, with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m).[5] It is on the boundary between California's Inyo and Tulare counties, 84.6 miles (136.2 km)[8] west-northwest of the lowest point in North America at Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park at 282 ft (86 m) below sea level.[9] The west slope of the mountain is in Sequoia National Park and the summit is the southern terminus of the John Muir Trail which runs 211.9 mi (341.0 km) from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley.[10] The east slope is in the Inyo National Forest in Inyo County.
From Wikipedia.
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California'
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Sierra Nevada Mountains, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California
Alabama Hills, Movie Flats Road, Lone Pine, California