Santa Cruz Mountains

The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south, bordering Monterey Bay and ending at the Salinas Valley. The range passes through San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito and Monterey counties.

Related Topics:
Pacific Coast Ranges - Mountain range - California - San Francisco Peninsula - San Francisco - Pacific Ocean - San Francisco Bay - Santa Clara Valley - Monterey Bay - Salinas Valley - San Mateo - Santa Clara - Santa Cruz - San Benito - Monterey

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The highest point in the range is Loma Prieta Peak (1160 m; 3806'), near which is the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Other major peaks include Mount Umunhum (1063 m; 3486'), Mount Bielawski (985 m; 3231'), El Sombroso (914 m; 2999'), Eagle Rock (758 m; 2488') and Sierra Morena (737 m; 2417'). The San Andreas Fault runs along or near the ridge line throughout the range. For much of the length of the range on the San Francisco Peninsual, California State Route 35 runs along its ridge, and is known as "Skyline Boulevard".

Related Topics:
Loma Prieta Peak - 1160 - M - Loma Prieta earthquake - Mount Umunhum - Mount Bielawski - 985 - El Sombroso - Eagle Rock - Sierra Morena - San Andreas Fault - California State Route 35

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The area welcomes a tremendous number of species of birds. (see: bird list) The range is also home to some of the southernmost coast redwoods.

Related Topics:
Birds - Bird list - Coast redwood

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