PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY 71 



fault rift which, in late Miocene time when the north- 

 south trends prevailed, may have existed along the 

 entire east side of California. This former continuity, 

 however, if it once existed, has later been crossed by 

 the east-west trending structure of the Transverse 

 Belt, and the northwest-southeast extending rifts. 



THE PACIFIC SIDE 



The northwest portion of the state with its many 

 beautiful natural aspects and the sites of the older 

 American settlements of California lies to the west of 

 the Great Basin Province and to the north of the 

 Transverse Belt. To some of its honored native sons 

 this portion alone is California. Its history is one of 

 romance and memories of pioneer days. Here, until 

 lately, have been situated all of its great institutions 

 of learning and its concentrated wealth. We stepsons 

 of the south are partakers by tolerance of its halo 

 of poetic tradition. To its inhabitants our entirely-dif- 

 ferent, southern region has been a back country, which 

 even its scientists but grudgingly admit is a naturally 

 different province. 



This northern subdivision of the State presents 

 striking alternations of north-south extending phys- 

 iographic units, consisting of extensive highlands 

 and valley plains. These include such well known 

 features as the Sierra Nevada Highland, the great Val- 

 ley and the Coast Ranges. All of these features end 

 to the southward at the north side of the Transverse 

 Belt which is popularly known by that vaguely defined, 

 but somewhat appropriate term of "the Tehachapi," al- 

 though it is not all embraced within the area of the 

 mountains of that name. In fact, it includes a drain- 



