What natural feature is found in the Sierra Nevada?

Notable Features Hetch Hetchy Valley, Yosemite Valley, Kings Canyon, and Kern Canyon are examples of many glacially scoured canyons on the western side of the Sierra. Yosemite National Park is filled with remarkable features such as waterfalls, granite domes, high mountains, lakes and meadows.

What is the country like in the Sierra Nevada?

The climate of the Sierra Nevada. The area's mid-latitude location and its proximity to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean give the Sierra Nevada an unusually mild mountain climate. Although winter temperatures below 0° F (−18° C) are common in the valleys, they are rare on mountain slopes.

What is the eastern side of the Sierra Nevada?

The Eastern Sierra stretches from Lone Pine in the south to the Nevada line in the north and contains many of the Sierra's most awe-inspiring settings. From the highest mountain in the lower United States, Mount Whitney to the eastern entrance to Yosemite National Park, this side of the sierra is truly remarkable.

Which state contains the Sierra Nevada mountains?

Sierra Nevada, also called the Sierra Nevadas, the largest mountain range in western North America, running along the eastern edge of the US state of California. Its great mass lies between the great Central Valley depression to the west and the Basin and Range province to the east.

What are the most famous landforms in Nevada?

Display. Nevada's landforms are not only among the nation's most striking, but they are also highly accessible given the vast tracts of public land in the state. The vast Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest protects millions of acres of highlands, while the Great Basin National Park stretches from alkaline valley floor to…

How high is the highest peak in the Sierra Nevada?

Physiography. The Sierra Nevada is an asymmetric range with its crest and high peaks decidedly to the east. The peaks range from 11,000 to 14,000 feet (3,350 to 4,270 meters) above sea level, with Mount Whitney at 14,494 feet (4,418 meters), the highest peak in the contiguous United States.

Biologically speaking, it is home to the largest trees in the world – the giant sequoias. As a recreation center, its year-round facilities prove a magnet for the inhabitants of the vast urban areas of California, and it is of great importance as a source of electricity and water. It was the focus of the famous gold rush in California.