The Santa Monica Mountains are a coastal mountain range in Southern California, next to the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Transverse Ranges. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area encompasses this mountain range. Because of its proximity to densely populated regions, it is one of the most visited natural areas in California.
Malibu Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains
Image: Wpdms shdrlfi 020l santa monica mountains
Snow in the Santa Monica Mountains in 2007.
Boney Mountain is sacred to the Chumash people.
The Transverse Ranges are a group of mountain ranges of southern California, in the Pacific Coast Ranges physiographic region in North America. The Transverse Ranges begin at the southern end of the California Coast Ranges and lie within Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Kern counties. The Peninsular Ranges lie to the south. The name Transverse Ranges is due to their east–west orientation, making them transverse to the general northwest–southeast orientation of most of California's coastal mountains.
The Ranges rise steeply above major urban areas such as Los Angeles
Snowy Mt. Baden-Powell in the San Gabriel Mountains
View west of the eastern portion of the San Bernardino and San Gabriel Mountains, with the Mojave Desert on the right and Silverwood Lake near the boundary. The San Andreas Fault runs straight up the middle toward the horizon.
The San Andreas Fault trends more east-west where it cuts through the Transverse Ranges.
