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Geography 417

Map Quiz - List of Physical Features

Image: Flag of California

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 Statewide Water Features Table
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)

 

California Landform Features Table
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)

Sacramento Valley
(in Great Central Valley)

Peninsular Ranges Tehachapi Pass (Tehachapi Mountains - CA Highway 58)

San Joaquin Valley
(in Great Central Valley)

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  


Greater Los Angeles Physical Features Table (LA Map Quiz)
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  

 

 

 

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