Big Sur

Big Sur is a section of the California coast, typically considered to run from Carmel-by-the-Sea in the north to San Luis Obispo, or more precisely to the Hearst Castle at San Simeon in the south. It is characterized by the collision of coastal mountain ranges, locally named the Santa Lucia Range, with the Pacific Ocean. Throughout much of Big Sur, this produces dramatic sea cliffs and undersea kelp forests. The mountains trap most of the moisture out of the clouds, often in the form of morning fogs, creating a favorable environment for forests, including the southernmost habitat of the famous coast redwood. Farther inland, in the rain shadow, the forests disappear and the vegetation becomes more like the familiar fire-tolerant California chaparral scrub.

Related Topics:
California - Carmel-by-the-Sea - San Luis Obispo - Hearst Castle - Coastal mountain ranges - Santa Lucia Range - Pacific Ocean - Sea cliff - Kelp - Cloud - Forest - Coast redwood - Rain shadow - Chaparral

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