Santa Ynez Mountains
| Santa Ynez Mountains | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Highest point | |
| Peak | Peak 4864 |
| Elevation | 4,864 ft (1,483 m) |
| Coordinates | 34°28′47″N 119°25′55″W / 34.47972°N 119.43194°W |
| Geography | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| District |
Santa Barbara County Ventura County |
| Range coordinates | 34°30′N 119°44′W / 34.5°N 119.73°WCoordinates: 34°30′N 119°44′W / 34.5°N 119.73°W |
The Santa Ynez Mountains are a portion of the Transverse Ranges, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges of the west coast of North America. It is the westernmost range in the Transverse Ranges.
The range is a large fault block of Cenozoic age created by the movements of the Santa Ynez Fault. A very narrow range, the Santa Ynez Mountains rise quickly on its north side and drops off equally dramatically along the range's south face. The Santa Ynez Mountains begin as a series of volcanic hills near Point Arguello, and gradually transitions eastward into a single, well-defined ridge extending from Gaviota Peak to Matilija Creek. The range is somewhat contiguous with the Topatopa Mountains beyond to the east, which terminates abruptly at Sespe Creek.
The climate of the range is Mediterranean with semi-arid characteristics. Most of the range lies in the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion. At the crest, rainier regions support large groves of conifers, primarily Coulter pines.
They are principally in Santa Barbara County, with an eastward extension into Ventura County, and are unusual in being an entirely east-west trending mountain range—one of the few in the United States. The range is mostly within Los Padres National Forest.
The northern boundary of the range is marked by the Santa Ynez Fault, the massive thrust fault that uplifted the mountains 5 million years ago. Notable features along the fault which mark the boundary of the range include Jalama Creek and the Santa Ynez River to the west and Matilija Creek in the far east. To the north of the range are the San Rafael Mountains. The southern slopes of the range drop off into a series of alluvial plains adjoining the Santa Barbara Channel. They tend to be made up of unconsolidated riverine deposits overlying shale bedrock.
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Wikipedia