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List of National Natural Landmarks in California

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There are 37 National Natural Landmarks in California.[1]

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California National Natural Landmarks (clickable map)
Name Image Date Location County Ownership Description
Amboy Crater May 1973 34°31′11.69″N 115°43′26.92″W / 34.5199139°N 115.7241444°W / 34.5199139; -115.7241444 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management) A 6,000-year-old volcanic cinder cone, made up of pahoehoe, just off historic U.S. Highway 66.
American River Bluffs and Phoenix Park Vernal Pools American River 1976 38°39′10.33″N 121°12′59.95″W / 38.6528694°N 121.2166528°W / 38.6528694; -121.2166528 Sacramento Federal (United States Bureau of Reclamation), state (California State Parks), and municipal (Fair Oaks Recreation and Park District) Contains vernal pools, and blue oak woodlands.[2]
Año Nuevo State Reserve Año Nuevo State Reserve 1980 37°7′7.24″N 122°18′24.02″W / 37.1186778°N 122.3066722°W / 37.1186778; -122.3066722 San Mateo State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) One of the largest mainland breeding grounds for the northern elephant seal.[3]
Anza-Borrego Desert Anza-Borrego Desert 1974 33°14′57.38″N 116°24′24.63″W / 33.2492722°N 116.4068417°W / 33.2492722; -116.4068417 Imperial, Riverside, San Diego State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) The largest desert state park in the nation.[4]
Audubon Canyon Audubon Canyon 1968 37°55′46.01″N 122°40′55.85″W / 37.9294472°N 122.6821806°W / 37.9294472; -122.6821806 Marin Private The largest known nesting area for great blue herons and great and snowy egrets on the Pacific Coast.[5]
Black Chasm Cave
Black Chasm Cave
Black Chasm Cave
 1976 38°26′3.4″N 120°37′35.3″W / 38.434278°N 120.626472°W / 38.434278; -120.626472 Amador Private A small three-level cave containing a variety of speleothems and some of the best helictite formations in the western U.S.[6]
Burney Falls Burney Falls 1984 41°0′43.79″N 121°39′7″W / 41.0121639°N 121.65194°W / 41.0121639; -121.65194 Shasta State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) Contains some of the best examples in the western United States of a river drainage regulated by stratigraphically controlled springs.[7]
Cinder Cone Natural Area Cinder Cone 1973 35°17′21.95″N 115°35′6.99″W / 35.2894306°N 115.5852750°W / 35.2894306; -115.5852750 San Bernardino Federal (Mojave National Preserve) A complex of over 20 large cinder cones of recent origin with extensive and continuous lava flows.[8]
Cosumnes River Riparian Woodlands Cosumnes River Preserve 1976 38°15′56.57″N 121°26′21.22″W / 38.2657139°N 121.4392278°W / 38.2657139; -121.4392278 Sacramento Private, Federal, State, and County A small remnant of a rapidly-disappearing riparian woodland community type that once formed a major part of the central valley.[9]
Deep Springs Marsh 1975 37°20′00″N 118°01′03″W / 37.33333°N 118.01750°W / 37.33333; -118.01750 Inyo Private An example of increasingly rare desert marsh.[10]
Dixon Vernal Pools 1987 38°16′31.29″N 121°49′25.49″W / 38.2753583°N 121.8237472°W / 38.2753583; -121.8237472 Solano Private The best example of valley needlegrass grassland in the central valley.[11]
Elder Creek 1964 39°43′32.04″N 123°37′34.35″W / 39.7255667°N 123.6262083°W / 39.7255667; -123.6262083 Mendocino State (University of California Natural Reserve System) A largely undisturbed watershed containing large old stands of Douglas fir, broadleaf evergreens, and deciduous trees.[12]
Emerald Bay Emerald Bay 1968 38°57′25.49″N 120°5′36.3″W / 38.9570806°N 120.093417°W / 38.9570806; -120.093417 El Dorado State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) An outstanding example of glacial geology.[13]
Eureka Dunes 1983 37°5′45.6″N 117°40′30″W / 37.096000°N 117.67500°W / 37.096000; -117.67500 Inyo Federal (Death Valley National Park) The tallest dune complex in the Great Basin.[14]
Fish Slough Area of Critical Environmental Concern 1975 37°28′8.69″N 118°24′3.1″W / 37.4690806°N 118.400861°W / 37.4690806; -118.400861 Inyo, Mono Mixed- federal (Bureau of Land Management), state, municipal A large, essentially undisturbed, desert wetland that provides habitat for the alkali mariposa lily and the endangered Owens pupfish.[15]
Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes 1974 34°57′56.13″N 120°39′1.24″W / 34.9655917°N 120.6503444°W / 34.9655917; -120.6503444 San Luis Obispo Mixed- federal (Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge), state, private A coastal dune tract with off-road vehicle recreation, a national wildlife refuge, beaches, and nesting for the western snowy plover.[16]
Imperial Sand Hills 1966 32°55′0″N 115°3′0″W / 32.91667°N 115.05000°W / 32.91667; -115.05000 Imperial Federal (Bureau of Land Management) One of the largest dune patches in the United States.[17]
Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks 2006 33°43′53.4″N 117°41′34.8″W / 33.731500°N 117.693000°W / 33.731500; -117.693000 Orange Mixed- state, county, municipal A remarkably complete stratigraphic succession ranging in age from late Cretaceous to the present.[18]
Lake Shasta Caverns Lake Shasta Caverns May 2012 40°48′16.2″N 122°18′15.98″W / 40.804500°N 122.3044389°W / 40.804500; -122.3044389 Shasta Private A well-decorated Solutional cave that contains a diverse assemblage of calcite cave formations.[19]
Lanphere Dunes and Ma-le'l Dunes 2021 Humboldt Federal (Bureau of Land Management, Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge) Considered to be the largest and best quality sand dune ecosystems representing coastal dunes in the area.[20]
Miramar Mounds 1972 32°50′43″N 117°8′19″W / 32.84528°N 117.13861°W / 32.84528; -117.13861 San Diego Federal (Marine Corps Air Station Miramar) Contains unique soil features called mima mounds, which are found in only three or four locations in the country, and vernal pools.[21]
Mitchell Caverns and Winding Stair Cave Mitchell Caverns 1975 34°56′26.97″N 115°30′51.97″W / 34.9408250°N 115.5144361°W / 34.9408250; -115.5144361 San Bernardino State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) Regarded as the most important solution caverns in the Mojave Desert.[22]
Mt. Diablo State Park Mt Diablo 1982 37°52′37.75″N 121°55′25.79″W / 37.8771528°N 121.9238306°W / 37.8771528; -121.9238306 Contra Costa State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) One of the few areas in the region where geologic strata of Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary age can be seen in an aggregate thickness of 42,000 feet (13,000 m).[23]
Mount Shasta Mount Shasta 1976 41°24′35.6″N 122°11′41.52″W / 41.409889°N 122.1948667°W / 41.409889; -122.1948667 Siskiyou Federal (Shasta-Trinity National Forest) One of the world's largest and most impressive stratovolcanoes, within the Shasta-Trinity National Forest.[24]
Pixley Vernal Pools 1987 35°59′3.85″N 119°12′45.04″W / 35.9844028°N 119.2125111°W / 35.9844028; -119.2125111 Tulare Private One of the few remaining natural vernal pools containing rare endemic crustacean species such as vernal pool fairy shrimp.[25]
Point Lobos Point Lobos 1967 36°31′1.56″N 121°56′33.36″W / 36.5171000°N 121.9426000°W / 36.5171000; -121.9426000 Monterey State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) An outstanding example of terrestrial and marine environments in close association, and the only known habitat of Monterey cypress and variegated brodiaea.[26]
Pygmy Forest at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve Pygmy forest at Jug Handle State Natural Reserve 1969

1973

39°22′29.3″N 123°47′22.15″W / 39.374806°N 123.7894861°W / 39.374806; -123.7894861 Mendocino State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) Includes a five step ecological staircase on which a unique forest of low, stunted trees and shrubs is located.[27]
Rainbow Basin Rainbow Basin syncline 1966 35°1′46″N 117°2′12″W / 35.02944°N 117.03667°W / 35.02944; -117.03667 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management) Deep erosion canyons with rugged rims with fossil evidence of insects and Miocene mammals.[28]
La Brea Tar Pits (Rancho La Brea) 1964 34°3′46.62″N 118°21′21.49″W / 34.0629500°N 118.3559694°W / 34.0629500; -118.3559694 Los Angeles Municipal (City of Los Angeles) Site of the world-famous natural asphalt tar pits.[29]
San Andreas Fault San Adreas Fault 1965 San Benito Private One of the best illustrations of earth displacement caused by small crustal movements.[30]
San Felipe Creek Area 1974 33°10′11″N 115°49′19″W / 33.16972°N 115.82194°W / 33.16972; -115.82194 Imperial, San Diego Federal (Bureau of Land Management), state (California Department of Fish and Wildlife) A marsh containing probably the last remaining perennial natural desert stream in the Colorado Desert region.[31]
Sand Ridge Wildflower Preserve Sand Ridge Wildflower Preserve 1984 35°18′31.26″N 118°47′24.29″W / 35.3086833°N 118.7900806°W / 35.3086833; -118.7900806 Kern Private A remnant natural area displaying a great diversity of floral species including the Bakersfield cactus.[32]
Sharktooth Hill 1976 35°26′30.57″N 118°56′26.18″W / 35.4418250°N 118.9406056°W / 35.4418250; -118.9406056 Kern Private One of the most abundant, diverse and well- preserved fossil marine vertebrate sites in the world.[33]
Tijuana River Estuary Tijuana River 1973 32°33′7.2″N 117°7′9.59″W / 32.552000°N 117.1193306°W / 32.552000; -117.1193306 San Diego Federal (Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve), state, municipal One of the finest remaining saltwater marshes on the California coastline.[34]
Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve Torrey Pintes 1977 32°54′59.58″N 117°14′58.7″W / 32.9165500°N 117.249639°W / 32.9165500; -117.249639 San Diego State (California Department of Parks and Recreation) Contains a natural Torrey pine forest, high bluffs and sea cliffs, and endangered bird species.[35]
Trona Pinnacles Trona Pinnacles 1967 35°37′3.81″N 117°22′5.08″W / 35.6177250°N 117.3680778°W / 35.6177250; -117.3680778 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management) A relict landform from the Pleistocene containing unique formations of calcium carbonate.[36]
Turtle Mountain Turtle Mountains (California) 1973 34°19′5.53″N 114°51′7.28″W / 34.3182028°N 114.8520222°W / 34.3182028; -114.8520222 San Bernardino Federal (Bureau of Land Management), state Contains two mountain sections of entirely different composition.[37]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "National Natural Landmarks Program, California". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-01-04.
  2. ^ "American River Bluffs and Phoenix Park Vernal Pools". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  3. ^ "Año Nuevo State Reserve". CA State Parks. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  4. ^ "Anza-Borrego Desert State Park". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  5. ^ "Audubon Canyon Ranch". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  6. ^ "Black Chasm Cave". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  7. ^ "Burney Falls". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  8. ^ "Cinder Cone Natural Area". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  9. ^ "Cosumnes River Preserve Visitor Center | BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT". www.blm.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  10. ^ "Deep Springs Marsh". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  11. ^ "Dixon Vernal Pools". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  12. ^ "Elder Creek". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  13. ^ "Emerald Bay". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-09-30.
  14. ^ "Eureka Dunes - Death Valley National Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  15. ^ "Fish Slough Area of Critical Environmental Concern". www.blm.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  16. ^ "Nipomo Dunes-Point Sal Coastal Area". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  17. ^ "Imperial Sand Hills". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  18. ^ "Irvine Ranch". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  19. ^ "Lake Shasta Caverns". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  20. ^ "High Plateaus, Smelly Caverns, and Coastal Dunes, Meet the Nation's Newest Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
  21. ^ "Miramar Mounds". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  22. ^ "Mitchell Caverns and Winding Stair Cave". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  23. ^ "Mount Diablo". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  24. ^ "Mount Shasta". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  25. ^ "Pixley Vernal Pools". CNLM. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  26. ^ "Point Lobos State Reserve". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  27. ^ "Jug Handle Ecological Staircase Trail - Mendocino Land Trust - 2017". Mendocino Land Trust 2017. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  28. ^ "Rainbow Basin". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  29. ^ "Rancho La Brea". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  30. ^ "San Andreas Fault". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  31. ^ "San Felipe Creek Area". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  32. ^ "Sand Ridge". CNLM. 7 December 2015. Retrieved 2017-10-01.
  33. ^ Choi, Charles Q. (June 9, 2009). "Vast Bed of Ancient Bones and Shark Teeth Explained". Live Science. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  34. ^ "Tijuana River Estuary". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  35. ^ "Torrey Pines State Reserve". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  36. ^ "Trona Pinnacles". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  37. ^ "Turtle Mountaoins Wilderness". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
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