Sierra Nevada (California)
| Sierra Nevada | |
|---|---|
The Sierra's Mills Creek cirque (center) is on the west side of the Sierra Crest, south of Mono Lake (top, blue).
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| Highest point | |
| Peak | Mount Whitney |
| Elevation | 14,505 ft (4,421 m) |
| Coordinates | 36°34′43″N 118°17′31″W / 36.578580925°N 118.29199495°W |
| Dimensions | |
| Length | 400 mi (640 km) north-south from Fredonyer Pass to Tehachapi Pass |
| Width | 65 mi (105 km) |
| Area | 24,370 sq mi (63,100 km2) |
| Naming | |
| Etymology | 1777: Spanish for " " |
| Nickname | the Sierra, the High Sierra, the Sierras, Range of Light (1894, John Muir) |
| Geography | |
Position of Sierra Nevada inside California
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| Country | United States |
| States | California and Nevada |
| Range coordinates | 37°43′51″N 119°34′22″W / 37.73083°N 119.57278°WCoordinates: 37°43′51″N 119°34′22″W / 37.73083°N 119.57278°W |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Mesozoic |
| Type of rock | batholith and igneous |
The Sierra Nevada (/siˈɛrə nᵻˈvɑːdə/ or /nᵻˈvædə/, Spanish: [ˈsjera neˈβaða], snowy range) 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), 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.
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