The Sierra Nevada

The Sierra Nevada is a large mountain range in eastern California. It stretches about 400 miles from north to south. The range has some of the tallest peaks in the United States. Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe are both in the Sierra Nevada.

Tall Peaks and Deep Valleys

Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada is the tallest mountain in the lower 48 states at 14,505 feet. Yosemite Valley was carved by glaciers and has famous waterfalls and granite cliffs. The range gets heavy snowfall in winter, which provides water for much of California when it melts.

Nature and History

The Sierra Nevada is home to giant sequoia trees, the largest living things on Earth. Black bears, mule deer, and mountain lions live in the forests. During the Gold Rush of 1849, thousands of people came to the Sierra Nevada to search for gold.

Fun Facts

• Sierra Nevada means snowy mountain range in Spanish.
• Giant sequoia trees in the Sierra Nevada can grow over 250 feet tall.
• Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada is one of the deepest lakes in the United States.

Did You Know?

The snow that falls on the Sierra Nevada each winter melts in spring and provides drinking water for about 23 million people in California!