| Central California Ranges | |
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Route 25 shifts from the San Benito River valley to the Bear Valley, a long basin with the westernmost trace of the San Andreas fault. State route 146 heads westward from here toward Pinnacles National Monument, a block of young volcanic rocks erupted during the Miocene some 23 million years ago, when this part of the Pacific plate was down near present-day Lancaster. It has a counterpart, the Neenach Volcanics, across the fault there. The wilderness area here is one of three sites where California condors are being released to the wild.
All photos (c) 2003 Andrew Alden, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Flats near Hernandez Reservoir, San Benito River valley.
