California topographic maps

The climate in San Diego, like most of Southern California, often varies significantly over short geographical distances, resulting in microclimates. In San Diego, this is mostly because of the city's topography (the Bay, and the numerous hills, mountains, and canyons). Frequently, particularly during the "May…

Average elevation: 57 m

Palm Springs, located in the Coachella Valley, is characterized by striking topography shaped by both the Colorado Desert and surrounding mountain ranges. The city lies at an average elevation of around 480 feet (146 meters) above sea level​. To the west, the San Bernardino Mountains rise dramatically, with…

Average elevation: 859 m

Lake Russell was the prehistoric predecessor to Mono Lake, during the Pleistocene. Its shoreline reached the modern-day elevation of 7,480 feet (2,280 m), about 1,100 feet (330 m) higher than the present-day lake. As of 1.6 million years ago, Lake Russell discharged to the northeast, into the Walker River…

Average elevation: 2,008 m

Solvang is located at 34°35′38″N 120°8′23″W / 34.59389°N 120.13972°W / 34.59389; -120.13972. At an elevation of 505 ft (154 m), it lies in the Santa Ynez Valley some 46 miles (74 km) north-west of Santa Barbara and about 15 miles (24 km) north of the Pacific coast. According to the United…

Average elevation: 194 m

Despite its remote source, nearly all of the river is publicly accessible. The Kern River is particularly popular for wilderness hiking and whitewater rafting. The Upper Kern River is paralleled by trails to within a half-mile of its source (which lies at 13,600 feet (4,100 m)). Even with the presence of Lake…

Average elevation: 1,216 m

Average elevation: 212 m

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 59.1 square miles (153 km2), all land. The city is at an elevation of 1,988 feet (606 m). The Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms is located there.

Average elevation: 690 m

The northern parts consist of mountainous terrain in the Simi Hills, Conejo Mountains and Mount Clef Ridge. Narrow canyons such as Hill Canyon cut through the steeper mountainous areas. Conejo Mountain and Conejo Grade are found in westernmost Newbury Park, while the southernmost parts of Thousand Oaks are…

Average elevation: 303 m

Lee Vining (formerly Leevining, Poverty Flat, and Lakeview) is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Mono County, California, United States. It is located 25 miles (40 km) south-southeast of Bridgeport, at an elevation of 6,781 feet (2,067 m). Lee Vining is located on the southwest…

Average elevation: 2,180 m

Average elevation: 13 m

In the 1970s, most of the buildings constructed along the shoreline, including the city's marina were abandoned due to rising sea elevation. In the 1980s, the Imperial Irrigation District took proactive water conservation measures to reduce the flow of unused canal water into the Salton Sea. Throughout the…

Average elevation: -40 m

Johannesburg is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, in a mining district of the Rand Mountains. Johannesburg is located 1 mile (1.6 km) east-northeast of Randsburg, at an elevation of 3,517 feet (1,072 m). The terminus of the Randsburg Railway was here from 1897 to 1933. The population…

Average elevation: 1,103 m

Average elevation: 285 m

Average elevation: 17 m

The San Gorgonio Pass, or Banning Pass, is a 2,600 ft (790 m) elevation gap on the rim of the Great Basin between the San Bernardino Mountains to the north and the San Jacinto Mountains to the south. The pass was formed by the San Andreas Fault, a major transform fault between the Pacific plate and the North…

Average elevation: 492 m

Average elevation: 124 m

Average elevation: 2,556 m

Average elevation: 179 m

Average elevation: 224 m

Average elevation: 41 m

Average elevation: 335 m

Average elevation: 84 m

Average elevation: 372 m

Average elevation: 236 m

The climate of Rancho Santa Fe is, for the most part, typical of the San Diego metropolitan area though its higher elevation and inland location lends itself to larger temperature variations.

Average elevation: 62 m

Average elevation: 188 m

Average elevation: 1,028 m

Average elevation: 803 m

Average elevation: 306 m

Average elevation: 563 m

Average elevation: 726 m

Average elevation: 1,207 m

Average elevation: 2,468 m

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Average elevation: 1,073 m

Average elevation: 2,488 m

Average elevation: 486 m

Average elevation: 1,697 m

Average elevation: 252 m

Average elevation: 34 m

Average elevation: 34 m

Average elevation: 175 m

Average elevation: 283 m

Average elevation: 1,022 m

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Average elevation: 1,168 m

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Average elevation: 809 m

Average elevation: 24 m

Average elevation: 1,350 m

Average elevation: 819 m

The region east of Placerville, popularly known as Apple Hill and Pleasant Valley, is becoming a center for wine production. The wine region is officially designated as the El Dorado AVA. The largest wineries in the area are Boeger, Lava Cap and Madrona, but most of the 30 plus wineries surrounding Placerville…

Average elevation: 587 m

Lodi is flat terrain at an elevation of approximately 50 feet (15 m) above mean sea level datum. Historically, land in the area has been used for grazing as well as for grain production.

Average elevation: 3 m

Average elevation: 1,604 m

Average elevation: 1,674 m

Independence is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California. Independence is located 41 miles (66 km) south-southeast of Bishop, at an elevation of 3930 feet (1198 m). It is the county seat of Inyo County, California. The population of this census-designated place was 669 at the 2010 census, up from…

Average elevation: 1,199 m

Average elevation: 2,145 m

Average elevation: 2,179 m

Average elevation: 227 m

Average elevation: 181 m

Average elevation: 518 m

Average elevation: 149 m

Climate in the preserve varies greatly. Summer temperatures average 90 °F (32 °C), with highs exceeding 105 °F (41 °C). Elevations in the preserve range from 7,929 feet (2,417 m) at Clark Mountain to 880 feet (270 m) near Baker. Annual precipitation varies from 3.37 inches (86 mm) near Baker, to almost 9…

Average elevation: 959 m

Anza-Borrego Desert State Park lies in a unique geologic setting along the western margin of the Salton Trough. This major topographic depression with the Salton Sink having elevations of 200 ft (61 m) below sea level, forms the northernmost end of an active rift valley and a geological continental plate…

Average elevation: 606 m

An ancient volcano, known as Mount Tehama is believed to have been much larger and taller than Lassen Peak. Its erosion is responsible for the topography of the national forest and the national park: a volcanic rim, with elevations beginning at 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above sea level.

Average elevation: 1,492 m

Average elevation: 1,601 m

Sierra National Forest covers, in descending order of forestland area, the eastern portions of Fresno, Madera, and Mariposa counties, adjacent to the southern part of Yosemite National Park. It includes more than 1,300,000 acres (2,000 sq mi; 5,300 km2), at altitudes ranging from 900 to 13,986 feet (274 to…

Average elevation: 1,987 m

Average elevation: 1,361 m

Average elevation: 91 m

Average elevation: 659 m

Los Padres National Forest is a United States national forest in southern and central California. Administered by the United States Forest Service, Los Padres includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland. Elevations range from sea level to 8,847…

Average elevation: 445 m

Average elevation: 12 m

Average elevation: 28 m

Average elevation: 190 m

Average elevation: 1,462 m

Average elevation: 149 m

Pacific Palisades was formally founded in 1921 by a Methodist organization, and in the years that followed became a refuge for Jewish artists and intellectuals fleeing the Holocaust. The Palisades would later be sought after by celebrities and other high-profile individuals seeking privacy. It is known for its…

Average elevation: 196 m

Average elevation: 1,102 m

Average elevation: 868 m

Average elevation: 613 m

Average elevation: 849 m

Average elevation: 670 m

Average elevation: 432 m

Average elevation: 1,197 m

According to the United States Geological Survey, Pine Valley is located 3,736 feet (1,139 m) above sea level, at 32°49′17″N 116°31′45″W / 32.82139°N 116.52917°W / 32.82139; -116.52917. Interstate 8 passes east-to-west along the southern border of Pine Valley. It crosses the Pine Valley…

Average elevation: 1,291 m

Average elevation: 978 m

Average elevation: 41 m

Average elevation: 256 m

Average elevation: 464 m

Average elevation: 101 m

Average elevation: 56 m

Average elevation: 103 m

Independence is a census-designated place in Inyo County, California. Independence is located 41 miles (66 km) south-southeast of Bishop, at an elevation of 3930 feet (1198 m). It is the county seat of Inyo County, California. The population of this census-designated place was 669 at the 2010 census, up from…

Average elevation: 1,210 m

Average elevation: 189 m

Average elevation: 63 m

Average elevation: 2,088 m

General Sherman is a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) tree located at an elevation of 2,109 m (6,919 ft) above sea level in the Giant Forest of Sequoia National Park in Tulare County, in the U.S. state of California. By volume, it is the largest known living single-stem tree on Earth.

Average elevation: 2,114 m

Average elevation: 60 m

Average elevation: 216 m

Average elevation: 87 m