Map Quiz - List of Physical Features

Physical Features Study Guide
The table below contains several lists of physical features you will be required to know for a map quiz this semester. Use this list and the accompanying maps to prepare for the quiz. Click on the California for Educators link in the left navigation window. Chose from the Geography Resources the link to the California Geographical Alliance for an excellent on-line Atlas of California.
Major / Significant Rivers | Lakes and Bays | Points and Islands |
---|---|---|
Colorado River | Lake Tahoe | Cape Mendocino |
Kern River | Mono Lake | Pt. Reyes |
Klamath River | Monterey Bay | Pt. Conception |
Owens River | Owens Lake | Pt. Arguello |
Sacramento River | Salton Sea | Santa Rosa Island (Channel Islands) |
Salinas River | San Diego Bay | Santa Cruz Island (Channel Islands) |
San Joaquin River | San Francisco Bay | San Clemente Island (Channel Island) |
Russian River | San Miguel Island (Channel Island) |
Valleys and Plains | Geomorphic Regions | Mountains and Passes |
---|---|---|
Death Valley (in Basin and Range) | Basin and Range | Mount Whitney (Sierra Nevada) |
Imperial & Coachella Valleys (in Salton Trough) |
Cascade Mountains | Mount Lassen (Cascade Volcano) |
Owens Valley (in Basin and Range) | Central/Southern Coast Ranges | Mount Shasta (Cascade Volcano) |
Salinas Valley | Klamath Mountains | Sutter Buttes (Sacramento Valley) |
Mojave Desert (in Basin and Range) | Modoc Plateau | Beckwourth Pass (Sierra Nevada- CA Highway 70) |
Great Central Valley (includes two major valleys) | North Coast Ranges | Donner Pass (Sierra Nevada - Interstate 80, US Highway 40) |
|
Peninsular Ranges | Tehachapi Pass (Tehachapi Mountains - CA Highway 58) |
|
Salton Trough or Salton Sink | San Gorgonio Pass & Mount San Gorgonio - San Bernardino Mountains on Interstate 10 |
Colorado Desert (part of the larger Sonoran Desert) - in the Salton Trough or Sink | Sierra Nevada Mountains | Cajon Pass (San Gabriels / San Bernardinos I-15) |
The California Delta (leads into San Francisco Bay) | Transverse Ranges |
Valleys and Plains | Mountain Ranges | Mountains and Passes | Rivers, Lakes and Bays | Points and Islands |
---|---|---|---|---|
Los Angeles Basin | San Gabriel Mountains | Mount San Antonio /Old Baldy (San Gabriels) | Los Angeles River | Point Dume (Malibu) |
San Fernando Valley | Santa Monica Mountains | Mount Pinos (San Emigdio) |
Owens River (diverted from Owens Valley) |
Palos Verde Peninsula |
San Gabriel Valley | Santa Susanna Mountains | Cahuenga Pass (US Hwy 101) | Santa Clara River | Point Mugu |
Santa Clarita Valley | Simi Hills | Sepulveda Pass (Interstate 405) | San Gabriel River | |
Oxnard Plain | San Emigdio | Newhall Pass (I 5 / CA 14) | Santa Monica Bay | Santa Catalina Island |
Simi Valley | Tehachapi Mountains | Santa Susanna Pass (CA 118) | Ventura River | |
Antelope Valley | Hollywood Hills | Tejon Pass - (Interstate 5) | Lake Casitas | |
Verdugo Hills | Ballona Creek | |||
Topa Topa Mountains | Santa Ana River | |||
Santa Ana Mountains | San Pedro Bay |