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93-1200: The Pacific Coast Ranges are part of the North American Cordillera (sometimes known as the Western Cordillera, or in Canada , as the Pacific Cordillera and/or the Canadian Cordillera), which includes the Rocky Mountains , the Columbia Mountains , the Interior Mountains , the Interior Plateau , the Sierra Nevada , the Great Basin mountain ranges , and other ranges and various plateaus and basins. The Pacific Coast Ranges designation, however, only applies to

186-636: A "triathlon" was held at Mission Bay, San Diego, California on September 25, 1974. The race was conceived and directed by Jack Johnstone and Don Shanahan of the San Diego Track Club, and was sponsored by the track club with 46 participants in the event. It was reportedly not inspired by the French events, although a race held the following year at Fiesta Island, San Diego, is sometimes called "the first triathlon in America." Approximately half of

279-491: A Junior World title. Some areas in Mission Bay Park require dogs to be on leashes, other areas such as Fiesta Island are leash-free, and other areas do not allow dogs at all. There is a youth campground located on Mission Bay's Fiesta Island. Throughout the year youth groups with their leaders enjoy a full camping experience along with daytime water experiences and classes. A permit is required to use this site. It

372-670: A change in North American Plate movement circa 7 to 8 Million years ago, rifting began on the Gulf of California . Although many of the ranges do share a common geologic history, the Pacific Coast Ranges province is not defined by geology, but rather by geography. Many of the various ranges are composed of distinct forms of rock from many different periods of geological time from the Precambrian in parts of

465-475: A community-informed plan to restore and expand wetlands in the northeast corner of Mission Bay. San Diego City Council awarded new and extended campland leases in June. The Mayor and Council with the input of residents will determine how this process moves forward. Mission Bay has 27 miles (43 km) of shoreline, 19 of which are sandy beaches with eight locations designated as official swimming areas. Mission Bay

558-533: A dike along the south side of the river to prevent water from flowing into San Diego Bay. This made "False Bay" an estuary outlet for the San Diego River drainage. Unfortunately the dike failed within two years. Finally in 1877 the city erected a permanent dam and straightened the river channel to the sea, giving the river its present configuration. Today the San Diego River is constrained on both

651-800: A multi-agency effort that includes the City of San Diego Park and Recreation Department, the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife Service, the California Department of Fish and Game and the Wildlife Services Program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, professionals from the wildlife program carry out the humane trapping of predators that are attracted to least tern nesting sites. This includes skunks and opossums , as well as feral cats and dogs, believed to be former pets who were abandoned by their owners. Sites are located on North Fiesta Island, Mariner's Point, Stoney Point, and

744-548: A poem by Rose Hartwick Thorpe originally published in San Francisco newspaper The Golden Era in 1888. In 1944, a chamber of commerce committee recommended development of Mission Bay into a tourism and recreational center, in order to help diversify the city's economy, which was largely military. In the late 1940s, dredging and filling operations began converting the marsh into Mission Bay Park. Twenty-five million cubic yards of sand and silt were dredged to create

837-488: A problem at some Mission Bay colonies, as they eat chicks alive, and are often controlled there. Even with annual losses from depredation, since the least tern was listed, it has continued to thrive. Being on the Endangered Species list allowed protection of the terns' habitat, and allowed the natural rebound and growth of the colonies. Colonies at Mission Bay are either fenced or reachable only by watercraft. In

930-593: A small island called "Government Island", which is used by the Federal Aviation Agency and houses a VORTAC station. The San Diego Visitor Information Center was constructed in northeastern Mission Bay in the 1960s, and it served its purpose until it closed down in 2010. There were plans to convert the building into a counter-style fast-casual restaurant, scheduled to be opened in late 2018, eventually opening in October 2021 as Mission Bay Beach Club,

1023-811: Is 40 to 60 miles (60 to 100 km) wide, with the Sierra Nevada to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west. In northwestern Oregon, the fertile Willamette Valley lies between the Oregon Coast Range and the Cascades ; this depression continues north into Washington as the Puget Trough . The Gulf of California is a body of water that separates the Peninsular Ranges from the Sierra Madre Occidental on

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1116-739: Is a mountain range on the Olympic Peninsula of western Washington in the United States . The mountains , part of the Pacific Coast Ranges , are not especially high – Mount Olympus is the highest at 7,962 ft (2,427 m) – but the western slopes of the Olympics rise directly out of the Pacific Ocean and are the wettest place in the 48 contiguous states. Most of the mountains are protected within

1209-566: Is a European-style 2,000 meter grass loop running along east Mission Bay Park. The terrain along the first 1,000 meters of the course is primarily flat. During the second 1,000 meters of the course it includes a series of five small grass inclines. The average width of the course is 15 meters with sections 5 meters in width. It is the home course for the San Diego Toreros cross country teams. Scenic Mission Bay Golf Course and Practice Center, designed by Ted Robinson, former president of

1302-667: Is a project started by the San Diego Audubon Society to enhance and restore wetlands in the northeast corner of Mission Bay. Almost all of the wetlands in Mission Bay have been lost to development. Science shows that wetlands are vital for clean air and water, and serve as habitats for local wildlife. The ReWild Mission Bay wetland restoration feasibility study was unveiled in autumn of 2018. The San Diego Audubon Society worked with conservation partners, stakeholders, and community members to develop three versions of

1395-477: Is also home to an impressive diversity of rare, threatened, and endangered bird and plant species, despite the popularity of the area for people and dogs. Mission Bay is also host to the annual San Diego Bayfair Cup , a hydroplane boat race that takes place on the H1 Unlimited circuit. Before Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo named the area “Bahía Falsa,” or “False Bay,” in 1542, the area that we call Mission Bay

1488-578: Is an artificial, saltwater bay located south of the Pacific Beach community of San Diego, California , created from approximately 2,000 acres (810 ha) of historical wetland, marsh, and saltwater bay habitat. The bay is part of the recreational Mission Bay Park , the largest man-made aquatic park in the United States, consisting of 4,235 acres (17.14 km ), approximately 46% land and 54% water. The combined area makes Mission Bay Park

1581-797: Is an extremely arid region characterized by basin and range topography. The Colorado Plateau is an area of high desert located in Arizona , New Mexico , Colorado , and Utah , bisected by the Colorado River which flows westward through the southern part, and the Green River which flows south from the northernmost part of the plateau. The Green is a tributary of the Colorado, the confluence being west of Moab, Utah in Canyonlands National Park. The Mexican Plateau

1674-577: Is located in southern British Columbia and northern Washington . The Interior Plateau also includes the Quesnel Highland , Fraser Plateau , Nechako Plateau , and McGregor Plateau . California's Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of California , stretching inland and parallel to the Pacific Ocean coast. Its northern half is referred to as the Sacramento Valley , and its southern half as

1767-701: Is often seen dropping steeply into the sea with photogenic views. Along the British Columbia and Alaska coast, the mountains intermix with the sea in a complex maze of fjords , with thousands of islands. Off the Southern California coast the Channel Islands archipelago of the Santa Monica Mountains extends for 160 miles (260 km). There are coastal plains at the mouths of rivers that have punched through

1860-606: Is one of six distinct physiographic sections of the Basin and Range Province , which in turn is part of the Intermontane Plateaus physiographic division. It is a large arid-to-semiarid plateau that occupies much of northern and central Mexico . Averaging 1,825 m (5,988 ft) above sea level, it extends from the United States border in the north to the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt in

1953-525: Is recognized for protection by the California Bays and Estuaries Policy . Swimmers and sunbathers take advantage of the warm water, calm surf conditions and the sands of Mission Bay's beaches. Mission Bay offers boat docks and launching facilities, sailboat and motor rentals, bike/walk paths and basketball courts. There are playgrounds for children. Public restrooms and showers are available, and lifeguard stations are located in designated areas. On

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2046-627: Is unlawful for adults to camp, sleep overnight or lodge overnight anywhere in Mission Bay Park except as a leader of a permitted youth group. Fishing is permitted in all areas of Mission Bay, except in areas designated for swimming, water skiing and personal water craft use (including takeoff and landing zones). Fishing is also not allowed from any bridge. Species found here include Cilus gilberti , Spotted bass , halibut , Spotted Sand Bass . Traditional angling gear such as baitcasters and spinning tackle may be used, and many fishermen use fly fishing. A local club and fly shop specifically target stretches of

2139-620: The Cascade Range and the Rocky Mountains , cut through by the Columbia River . In one of various usages, the term " Columbia Basin " refers to more or less the same area as the Columbia Plateau. The Basin and Range province covers most of the state of Nevada and parts of the states of Arizona , California , Idaho , New Mexico , Oregon , Texas , Utah , and Wyoming , as well as much of northern Mexico . It

2232-784: The Central Valley , the Sierra Nevada, the Basin and Range Province (forming many narrow ranges and valleys), the Colorado Plateau , and the Rocky Mountains. In the United States, another major feature of the Cordillera is the Columbia Plateau , located north of California between the Cascade Range – which is a northern extension of the Sierra Nevada – and the Rocky Mountains. In Mexico,

2325-771: The Coast Mountains and adjoining inland ranges such as the Hazelton Mountains , and sometimes also the Saint Elias Mountains . The character of the ranges varies considerably, from the record-setting tidewater glaciers in the ranges of Alaska, to the rugged Central and Southern California ranges, the Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges , in the chaparral and woodlands eco-region with Oak Woodland , Chaparral shrub forest or Coastal sage scrub -covering them. The coastline

2418-552: The Coast Mountains , the interior system includes the Columbia Mountains , and the eastern system includes the Canadian Rockies . At its midsection between San Francisco , California and Denver , Colorado , the North American Cordillera is about 1,000 miles (1,600 km) wide, and its physiographic provinces at this midpoint are as follows, going from west to east: the Pacific Coast Ranges,

2511-713: The Coast Range Arc whereas the metamorphic formed when intruding magma heated the surrounding rock to produce schist . The Insular Mountains extend from Vancouver Island in the south to Haida Gwaii in the north on the British Columbia Coast . It contains two main mountain ranges, the Vancouver Island Ranges on Vancouver Island and the Queen Charlotte Mountains on Haida Gwaii. The Olympic Mountains

2604-660: The Eocene (55–50 million years ago) and Oligocene (34–23 million years ago), but since that time the region has been relatively stable. Generally speaking, it will be convenient here to consider these three belts going west to east, and north to south. In Alaska , south of the Interior Plains area, is the Rocky Mountain System, then the Intermontane Basins and Ranges, and in

2697-657: The Hazelton Mountains and Coast Range to the west and northwest. Within the Interior plateau, the Shuswap Highland consists of a portion of the foothills between the Thompson Plateau and Bonaparte Plateau on the west, and the Monashee Mountains and Cariboo Mountains on the east and northeast. Also within the Interior plateau, the Thompson Plateau forms the southern portion of

2790-836: The Interior Plains to the east, and over the Great Basin to the west, and extend south to the Rio Grande in New Mexico. The United States definition of the Rockies includes the Cabinet and Salish Mountains of Idaho and Montana, whereas their counterparts north of the Kootenai River , the Columbia Mountains , are sometimes considered a separate system lying to the west of the huge Rocky Mountain Trench which runs

2883-657: The Interior Plateau . The southernmost extends into the Washington, where it is named by the American spelling Okanogan Highland (and was the first-named of these groupings). The Cascade Range (called the Cascade Mountains in Canada) extends from northern California in the United States to British Columbia , Canada. It consists of non-volcanic and volcanic mountains: all of the known historic eruptions in

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2976-499: The Liard River , just south of the British Columbia – Yukon border near Watson Lake, Yukon . The trench bottom is 3 to 16 km (2 to 10 miles) wide and ranges from 600 to 900 m (2,000 to 3,000 ft) above sea level. The general orientation of the Trench is almost uniformly pointing north. Some of its topography has been carved into glacial valleys , but it is primarily a byproduct of faulting . The Trench separates

3069-480: The Little San Bernardino Mountains to 10,000-year-old rock in the Cascade Range. For one example, the Peninsular Ranges, composed of Mesozoic batholitic rock, are geologically extremely different from the San Bernardino Mountains , composed of a mix of Precambrian metamorphic rock and Cenozoic sedimentary rock. However, both are considered part of the Pacific Coast Ranges due to their proximity and similar economic and social impact on surrounding communities. These are

3162-434: The Mexican mainland. The Gulf of California is 1,126 km (700 miles) long and 48 to 241 km (30 to 150 miles) wide, with an area of 177,000 km (68,000 sq mi), a mean depth of 818.08 m (2,684.0 ft), and a volume of 145,000 km (35,000 cu mi). The Rocky Mountain Trench is a large valley that extends approximately 1,600 km (990 mi) from Flathead Lake , Montana , to

3255-440: The Okanagan Range , which lies along the Cascades' northeastern margin, separated by the Similkameen River . The Sierra Nevada forms an inland mountain spine of northern California, extending from the terminus of the Cascade Range south of Lassen Peak southwards along the east flank of the Central Valley of California to the Transverse Ranges , forming a mountain region of complex terrain and varied geology which separates

3348-423: The Rocky Mountains on its east from the Columbia Mountains and the Cassiar Mountains on its west. It is up to 25 km (16 miles) wide, if measured peak-to-peak. For convenience the Rocky Mountain Trench may be divided into northern and southern sections. The dividing point reflects the separation of north and easterly flows to the Arctic Ocean versus south and westerly flows to the Pacific Ocean. A break in

3441-454: The San Joaquin Valley . The two-halves meet at the huge Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers, which along with their tributaries drain the majority of the valley and flow into San Francisco Bay . The Central Valley covers an area of approximately 22,500 square miles (58,000 km ), making it slightly smaller than the state of West Virginia and about 13.7% of California's total area. The Central Valley

3534-428: The Sierra Madre Occidental , and the Sierra Madre Oriental further east, surround the Mexican Plateau . To the west of the Sierra Madre Occidental, the Peninsular Ranges border the Pacific Ocean, and the Sierra Madre del Sur is the southern extension of the Peninsular Ranges. Sierra Madre means "Mother Range" in Spanish. The Nevadan belt runs up and down the middle of the North American Cordillera. Therefore,

3627-438: The Strait of Juan de Fuca in Washington to the California-Mexico border , and to those west of Puget Sound , the Willamette Valley , and the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys (the California Central Valley ). That definition excludes the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges , the Mojave (High) , and Sonoran (Low) Deserts, i.e. the Pacific Border province . The same term is used informally in Canada to refer to

3720-407: The Thompson Plateau in a less rugged fashion than in most other parts of the range. The North Cascades are very different in character from the series of high volcanic stratovolcanoes from Rainier southwards to Mount Shasta and Lassen Peak , and are more severely alpine and steeply rugged, particularly the Skagit Range . Inland portions of the range are dryland and plateau-like in character, e.g.

3813-439: The U.S. state of Alaska to the southern border of Mexico , and includes some of the highest peaks on the continent. Its mountain ranges generally run north to south along three main belts: the Pacific Coast Ranges in the west, the Nevadan belt in the middle (including the Sierra Nevada ), and the Laramide belt in the east (including the Rocky Mountains ). These three orogenic belts (also called "orogens") arose due to

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3906-446: The Western Cordillera of North America , the Western Cordillera , or the Pacific Cordillera , is the North American portion of the American Cordillera , the mountain chain system along the Pacific coast of the Americas . The North American Cordillera covers an extensive area of mountain ranges , intermontane basins , and plateaus in Western and Northwestern Canada , Western United States , and Mexico , including much of

3999-404: The Yukon Territory at Champagne Pass and Chilkat Pass northwest of Haines, Alaska . The Saint Elias Mountains lie to their west and northwest, while the Yukon Ranges and Yukon Basin lie to their north. On the inland side of the Boundary Ranges are the Tahltan and Tagish Highlands and also the Skeena Mountains , part of the Interior Mountains system, which also extend southwards on

4092-415: The Yukon , Canada. This range has an area of 364,710 km (140,820 sq mi). The Coast Mountains run from the lower Fraser River and the Fraser Canyon northwestward, separating the Interior Plateau from the Pacific Ocean. Their coastal flank is characterized by an intense network of fjords and associated islands, very similar to the Norwegian coastline , while their inland side against

4185-423: The American Society of Golf Course Architects, opened its gates May 27, 1955 as a nine-hole course. In the early 1960s Robinson designed what is now the 18-hole executive course. The 18-hole executive course, measuring 2,719 yards, sits on 46 acres in the heart of the City. It is the only golf course in San Diego with night lighting. The center is a long-time favorite golf course for locals. It is where Tiger Woods won

4278-401: The California coast (the Transverse Ranges, Peninsular Ranges and the Klamath Mountains are not included). The Sierra Madre del Sur mountains in southwestern Mexico form a southern extension of the Peninsular Ranges of Baja California . The Peninsular Ranges are separated from the Sierra Madre del Sur by an expanse of ocean. The Nevadan belt is located between the Pacific coast belt and

4371-414: The Central Valley from the Great Basin to the east. The mean height of the mountain summits in the Sierra Nevada gradually increases from north to south, culminating at Mount Whitney (14,505 feet (4,421 m)), the highest point in the contiguous United States . From east to west, the Sierra is wedge-shaped: the west slope gradually rises and the east slope forms a steep escarpment , particularly so in

4464-408: The Interior Plateau. It is bordered on the south by the Canadian Cascades and on the north by the Thompson River . The Okanagan Highland is the part of the Interior Plateau to the east of the Thompson Plateau, and is bounded by the Okanagan River on the west, the Shuswap River on the north, and the Kettle River on the east side. The Okanagan Highland is described as being a hilly plateau, and

4557-405: The Laramide belt. Nevada means "snow-covered" in Spanish. In Canada, the Northern Interior Mountains are a northern extension of the Columbia Mountains. They include the Hazelton Mountains , Cassiar Mountains , Omineca Mountains , and Skeena Mountains . The Columbia Mountains are a designation in British Columbia for a group of four ranges lying between the Rocky Mountain Trench (to

4650-477: The Rocky Mountains in the United States. To the west of the Monashees and Cariboos, there are three intermediary upland areas which are transitional between the mountain ranges and the plateaus flanking the Fraser and Thompson Rivers . These – the Quesnel , Shuswap and Okanagan Highlands , are sometimes considered as being part of the neighbouring ranges rather than the plateaus and are often spoken of that way locally but are formally designated as being part of

4743-449: The Selkirks and Monashees. The southward extension of the Selkirks, Purcells and Monashees into the United States are reckoned to be part of the Rocky Mountains and the designation Columbia Mountains is not used there (the Purcells, also, go by the name "Percell Mountains" in the United States). The Salish and Cabinet Mountains south of the Kootenai River are essentially part of the same landform, but are officially designated part of

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4836-425: The Sierra Nevada, and the Guerrero super-terrane of western Mexico. 90–80 million years ago the subducting Farallon plate split and formed the Kula Plate to the North. This formed an area in what is now Northern California, where the plates converged forming a Mélange . North of this was the Columbia Embayment , where the continental margin was east of the surrounding areas. Many of the major batholiths date from

4929-439: The Southern California coast the Channel Islands archipelago of the Santa Monica Mountains extends for 160 miles (260 km). In southern Alaska, the primary mountain ranges are the Alaska Range , Wrangell Mountains , Saint Elias Mountains , Kenai Mountains , Chugach Mountains , and Talkeetna Mountains . The Yukon Ranges comprise the mountains in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Alaska and most of

5022-477: The United States that are considered part of the Rocky Mountains, and therefore the Columbia Mountains are often treated as being part of the Rockies. The Selkirks and Purcells lie entirely within the basin of the Columbia River, while the Monashees lie to the river's west on its southward course from its Big Bend and are flanked on the west by the basin of the Thompson and Okanagan Rivers . There are many named subranges of all four subgroupings, particularly in

5115-405: The Western System of the Western Cordillera, which comprises the Saint Elias Mountains , Coast Mountains , Insular Mountains , Olympic Mountains , Cascade Range , Oregon Coast Range , California Coast Ranges , Transverse Ranges , Peninsular Ranges , and the Sierra Madre Occidental . The term Coast Range is used by the United States Geological Survey to refer only to the ranges south of

5208-584: The bay through this manner. Netting of several bait species near bridges is down by locals. The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has developed a safe eating advisory for Mission Bay based on levels of mercury or PCBs found in fish caught here. Mission Bay Park is home to many rare and endangered species, including the California least tern . A program goes into effect every April through August to protect this bird at four of its nesting sites in Mission Bay Park. The California least tern has more than tripled in number since it

5301-479: The bay. On land, visitors choose between various activities like playing in the sand, picnicking, riding bikes along the 14 miles of paths, playing volleyball, and flying kites. Attractions at Mission Bay include SeaWorld San Diego , Aqua Adventures for kayaking and paddleboarding, the Mission Bay Cross Country Course, the Mission Bay Golf Course, and Belmont Park , which features the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster and other rides. The Mission Bay cross country course

5394-486: The bounds of the Olympic National Park . The Oregon Coast Range is the part of the Coast Range system that is denoted as between the mouth of the Columbia River and the Middle Fork Coquille River . It is about 200 miles (320 km) long. The highest peak is Marys Peak , at 4,101 ft (1,250 m). The California Coast Ranges are one of the eleven traditional geomorphic provinces of California. This province includes several – but not all – mountain ranges along

5487-441: The coastal plain form the margin. Most of the land is made of terranes that have been accreted onto the margin. In the north, the insular belt is an accreted terrane, forming the margin. This belt extends from the Wrangellia Terrane in Alaska to the Chilliwack group of Canada. A rupture in Rodinia 750 million years ago formed a passive margin in the eastern Pacific Northwest. The breakup of Pangea 200 million years ago began

5580-466: The contiguous United States have been from the volcanoes of the Cascade Volcanic Arc . The highest peak in the Cascade Range is Mount Rainier (14,409 feet (4,392 m)), a stratovolcano . The small portion of the Cascade Range in Canada is called the Cascade Mountains or Canadian Cascades, and in its southwestern area is similar in terrain to the area north of Glacier Peak , known as the North Cascades , and its northern and eastern extremities verge on

5673-400: The east side of the bay is a network of channels and islands which are used by wind surfers and water skiers. Several water areas are dedicated or restricted to particular forms of water recreation, with specific separate areas for sailing, water skiing and personal watercraft use. Mission Bay is one of the premier locations in Southern California for the sport of rowing , or "crew." One of

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5766-438: The east) and the Interior Plateau (to the west). These ranges are the Cariboo Mountains , which are the northernmost and sometimes considered to be part of the Interior Plateau, the Selkirk Mountains , the Purcell Mountains , and the Monashee Mountains . The Columbia Mountains are classified as being in Canada's interior system, rather than its eastern system. However, the Columbia Mountains are an extension of mountains in

5859-451: The engagement of tectonic plates which deformed the Earth's lithosphere (crust and uppermost mantle). For example, the Laramide orogeny changed the topography of the central Rocky Mountains and adjoining Laramide regions (from central Montana to central New Mexico) during the Late Cretaceous 80 million years ago. Prior to this time the Rocky Mountain region was occupied by a broad basin. Further topographical evolution occurred during

5952-460: The inland side of the Kitimat Ranges . The terrain of the main spine of the Coast Mountains is typified by heavy glaciation, including several very large icefields of varying elevation. Of the three subdivisions, the Pacific Ranges are the highest and are crowned by Mount Waddington , while the Boundary Ranges contain the largest icefields, the Juneau Icefield being the largest. The Kitimat Ranges are lower and less glacier-covered than either of

6045-426: The intermontane areas of the cordillera can be divided up into the areas east of the Nevadan belt, and those west of the Nevadan belt. The Pacific Coast Ranges, comprising the Pacific Coast Belt, parallel the North American Pacific Coast, and comprise several mountain systems. Along the British Columbia and Alaska coast, the mountains intermix with the sea in a complex maze of fjords , with thousands of islands. Off

6138-599: The largest rowing regattas in the country is held on Mission Bay each year: The San Diego Crew Classic is held in Mission Bay every spring, featuring two days of competition in eight-oared shells rowed by more than 100 college, club, and senior crews. Mission Bay is a hub for many activities, both on the land and in the water. There are 8 locations dedicated as official swimming areas. The west end offers many channels and islands which are great for water sports. Water toys such as sailboats and motor rentals, kayaks, paddleboards, and more are available for rent in various places around

6231-430: The late Cretaceous . As the Laramide Orogeny ended around 48 million years ago, the accretion of the Siletzia terrane began in the Pacific Northwest. This began the volcanic activity in the Cascadia subduction zone , forming the modern Cascade Range, and lasted into the Miocene . Events here may relate to the ignimbrite flare-up of the southern Basin and Range . As extension in the Basin and Range Province slowed by

6324-400: The length of British Columbia. The Sierra Madre Oriental mountains in eastern Mexico are a southern extension of the Rocky Mountains . The Sierra Madre Oriental spans about 1,000 km (600 miles). Mexico's Gulf Coastal Plain lies to the east of the range, between the mountains and the Gulf of Mexico coast. The Mexican Plateau lies to the west of the range. The Nevadan belt runs down

6417-465: The members of the Pacific Coast Ranges, from north to south: These are not named as ranges, but amount to the same thing. The Pacific Coast Ranges are home to the largest temperate-latitude icefields in the world. Only the largest icefields are listed above; smaller icefields may be listed on the various range pages. Formally unnamed icefields are not listed North American Cordillera The North American Cordillera , sometimes also called

6510-417: The middle of the North American Cordillera. Therefore, the intermontane areas can be divided up into the areas east of the Nevadan belt, and those west of the Nevadan belt. The Interior Plateau is the northern continuation of the Columbia Plateau , and covers much of inland British Columbia . The Cariboo Mountains and Monashee Mountains lie to the east, the Canadian Cascades are to the southwest, and

6603-426: The mountains spreading sediments, most notably at the Copper River in Alaska, the Fraser River in British Columbia, and the Columbia River between Washington and Oregon. In California: the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers' San Francisco Bay , the Santa Clara River 's Oxnard Plain , the Los Angeles, San Gabriel, and Santa Ana Rivers' Los Angeles Basin  – a coastal sediment-filled plain between

6696-671: The mountains' western faces and peaks causing an eastward rainshadow that produces the arid desert regions . Omitted from the list below, but often included is the Sierra Nevada, a major mountain range of eastern California that is separated by the Central Valley over much of its length from the California Coast Ranges and the Transverse Ranges. On the West coast of North America, the coast ranges and

6789-535: The ninth largest municipally-owned park in the United States. The bay was created to enhance recreational opportunities in San Diego. Wakeboarding , jet skiing, sailing, camping, cycling, jogging, roller skating , skateboarding, and sunbathing are all popular around the bay. Mission Bay Yacht Club , on the west side of the bay, conducts sailing races year-round in the bay and the nearby Pacific Ocean and has produced national sailing champions in many classes. Also on

6882-444: The north and the south by levees (San Diego River Flood Control Channel), and it no longer drains to the ocean through Mission Bay, other than through a weir located at the entrance to Mission Bay. During the late 1800s some recreational development began in "False Bay" including the building of hunting and fishing facilities. These facilities were destroyed by flooding that took place years later. The name "Mission Bay" comes from

6975-756: The northern flank of the lower Yukon River basin, separating it from Alaska's North Slope region, facing the Beaufort Sea . The Brooks Range is considered part of (or an extension of) the Rockies . South of the Brooks Range are the Mackenzie Mountains , and the Canadian Rockies . In the Rocky Mountains , the highest peak is Mount Elbert in Colorado at 14,439 feet (4,401 m) above sea level. The American Rockies rise steeply over

7068-562: The northernmost of the major mountain systems of the North American Cordillera, and extends along an east–west axis across northern Alaska from near the northern opening of the Bering Strait to the northern Yukon Territory. Major subranges include the British Mountains and Richardson Mountains , towards their eastern end, and at their farthest west is the small subrange that De Long Mountains . The Brooks Range forms

7161-573: The other two groupings, but are extremely rugged and dense. The Coast Mountains are made of igneous and metamorphic rock from an episode of arc volcanism related to subduction of the Kula and Farallon Plates during the Laramide orogeny about 100 million years ago. The widespread granite forming the Coast Mountains formed when magma intruded and cooled at depth beneath volcanoes of

7254-514: The park was once state tidelands. Development of Mission Bay removed all but 40 acres (16 ha), or approximately 5%, of wetland habitat. Mission Bay Park was transferred to the City of San Diego with several restrictions, some of which were adopted into San Diego City Charter by public vote, with others implemented as part of the California Coastal Commission 's oversight of local planning and land use decisions. One of

7347-566: The peninsular and transverse ranges with sediment in the basin up to 6 miles (10 km) deep, and the San Diego River's Mission Bay . From the vicinity of San Francisco Bay north, it is common in winter for cool unstable air masses from the Gulf of Alaska to make landfall in one of the Coast Ranges, resulting in heavy precipitation , both as rain and snow , especially on their western slopes. The same Winter weather occurs with less frequency and precipitation in Southern California, with

7440-734: The plateau they transition to the high plateau in dryland valleys notable for a series of large lakes similar to the alpine lakes of southern Switzerland, beginning in deep mountains and ending in flatland. They are subdivided in three main groupings, the Pacific Ranges between the Fraser and Bella Coola , the Kitimat Ranges from there northwards to the Nass River and the Boundary Ranges from there to their terminus in

7533-487: The restrictions sets a limit on commercial development of leaseholds, so that no more than 25% of the land area and 6.5% of the water area can be used for private purposes. This assures that most of the acres making up Mission Bay Park are available for public recreational use. Rose Creek flows into Mission Bay from the north, creating a rich wetland area called the Kendall Frost Marsh. ReWild Mission Bay

7626-511: The river carried silt and sand and had the potential to transform a small bay into an estuary and then into a shallow water tidal marsh over time. Mission Bay Park was developed into a recreational water park during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. During the 1820s the river began to empty primarily into San Diego Bay , causing worries that the harbor might silt up. In 1852 the United States Army Corps of Engineers constructed

7719-561: The south and is bounded by the Sierra Madre Occidental and Sierra Madre Oriental to the west and east, respectively. A low east–west mountain range in the state of Zacatecas divides the plateau into northern and southern sections. These two sections, called the Northern Plateau (Spanish: Mesa del Norte ) and Central Plateau (Spanish: Mesa Central ), are now generally regarded by geographers as sections of one plateau. Mission Bay, San Diego, California Mission Bay

7812-612: The southern part of the state are the Pacific Mountains and Valleys. In the Alaska panhandle , the mainland mountain ranges and offshore islands (the Alexander Archipelago ) are extensions of respective ranges further south. In Canada, the North American Cordillera is usually divided into three physiographic regions: the western system, the interior system, and the eastern system. The western system includes

7905-526: The southern portion. The northern Sierra surface rocks are predominantly volcanic, while the southern Sierra granitic batholith has been sculpted by glaciers into dramatic U-shaped valleys and thin ridges called arêtes . The Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range is a southern extension of the Sierra Nevada. The range extends from near the Arizona border down to the Sierra Madre del Sur, along

7998-476: The territory west of the Great Plains . The precise boundaries of this cordillera and its subregions, as well as the names of its various features, may differ depending on the definitions in each country or jurisdiction, and also depending on the scientific field; this cordillera is a particularly prominent subject in the scientific field of physical geography . The North American Cordillera extends from

8091-556: The valley system at around 54°N near Prince George , British Columbia may be used for this purpose. There are three main mountain ranges in the Canadian area named the Rocky Mountains, the Columbia Mountains, and the Coast Mountains. The Columbia Plateau is a geologic and geographic region that lies across parts of the U.S. states of Washington , Oregon , and Idaho . It is a wide flood basalt plateau between

8184-485: The varied land forms of the park, which is almost entirely man-made. From 1957 to 1962 large amounts of industrial waste, including millions of gallons of hydrofluoric, nitric, sulfuric, and hydrochloric acids, dichromate , cyanide , and carbon tetrachloride , were deposited into an unlined landfill located in the south shores section of Mission Bay Park immediately east of SeaWorld . No remediation efforts have occurred. The first modern swim/bike/run event to be called

8277-412: The west side of Mission Bay lies Mission Bay Sportcenter , which offers boat rentals in Mission Bay and boasts the largest aquatic Youth Camp in San Diego. Fiesta Island, a large peninsular park located within Mission Bay, has a large off-leash dog park and is a popular location for charity walks and runs, bicycle races, time trials , and other special events like an over-the-line tournament. It

8370-579: The western mainland of Mexico. The high plateau that is formed by the range is cut by deep river valleys. The Laramide belt is on the side of the North American Cordillera most distant from the Pacific Coast Ranges. It is named for the Laramie Mountains of eastern Wyoming (in turn named for Jacques La Ramee , a trapper who disappeared in the Laramie Mountains in 1820 and was never heard from again). The Brooks Range includes

8463-535: The westward movement of the North American plate, creating an active margin on the western continent. As the continent drifted West, terranes were accreted onto the west coast. The timing of the accretion of the insular belt is uncertain, although the closure did not occur until at least 115 million years ago. Other Mesozoic terranes that accreted onto the continent include the Klamath Mountains ,

8556-522: Was a shifting matrix of wetland type habitats, including lagoons, estuaries, tidal marshes, and saltwater bays surrounded by upland habitat. Prior to European colonization, there were at least three separate Native American villages in the area who relied upon the habitats and their resources. “False Bay” may have shifted between wetland habitat types when the San Diego River terminus historically shifted between San Diego Bay and False Bay before dredging activities in 1946. This periodic shifting changed where

8649-534: Was put on the endangered species list, and has many colonies from San Diego Bay to the San Francisco Bay area. Most are fenced and protected from public access. The major cause for its decline was habitat destruction and alteration, as occurred in Mission Bay. Predators like the gull-billed tern and the red fox can decimate a crop of chicks; therefore, predator control, either by removal or elimination, has been instigated at some colonies. Non-endemic ants are

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