54 Adventures in Scenery 



Kern, Kings, and Tule, descending with high velocity from the 

 mountain slopes, become lost in the porous soils of their own 

 deposits. The vast amount of debris which has been borne 

 down the courses of the streams of the Sierra slope forms a floor 

 of porous soil in the lower San Joaquin Valley. Into this great 

 plain of alluvium much of the waters that pour down the 

 mountain slopes soak and are lost. The deltas that have been 

 built by the rivers from the east merge with those built by 

 streams flowing east from the Coast Range. Thus a vast allu- 

 vial plain has been built up across the southern part of the Great 

 Valley. The delta of Kings River has been built out till it 

 meets that of Los Gatos Creek from the Coast Range, and a 

 ridge thus crosses the Great Valley. 



Several Types of Rivers 



Several types of rivers have been considered, consequent, 

 subsequent, and superimposed. Another type of river remains, 

 to which, since they have ceased to be active and have gone out 

 of business as rivers, the name "Retired" river may be given. 

 Such are the Mojave and the Amargosa. These rivers rise in 

 the mountains, the former in the San Bernardino Mountains, 

 the latter far north in the Pahute Mesa, in Nevada. Both 

 rivers start off with alacrity. But the odds are against them. 

 They start with the torrential vigor of mountain streams, con- 

 sequent at their sources. Heavy rainfall in sudden storms give 

 vigorous currents in the upper stream courses. 



In the San Bernardino Mountains the precipitation, as great 

 as 50 inches annually, makes the headwaters vigorous. Small 

 streams tear down the mountains. The great plain to the east 

 and north is mantled with a porous soil which has been formed 

 from wash from the mountains. Soon the head streams have 

 gathered and attempted to form a real river. Out on the plain 

 the precipitation is 2 inches, or in some years none at all, up 

 to 3 or 4 inches. The porous soil takes up the water. Flat 

 saucer-like basins, playas, serve as catch basins for what water 



