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Exploring the beautiful nature of California


California Nature: Santa Monica Mountains NRA


The Santa Monica Mountains NRA covers some 150,000 acres of rugged mountain, steep canyons, rolling hills and 50 miles of beachfront. Overlooking both the L.A. basin and Pacific Ocean, it stretches from Griffith Park to the Ventura County Line. A popular scenic tour is Mulholland Drive which traverses the length of Santa Monica Mountains and offers many hilltop overlooks of the region

Located adjacent to the city of Los Angeles, the second largest urban area in the United States, the Santa Monica Mountains represent one of the largest protected areas of the Mediterranean-type ecosystem. The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is part of the Mediterranean Coast Network that includes Channel Islands National Park and Cabrillo National Monument. Together, these parks protect some of the most significant examples of terrestrial Mediterranean-type ecosystems and coastal marine environments anywhere in the world. The climate of the Mediterranean ecosystem along with the diverse topography in the Santa Monica Mountains has created a landscape filled with unique natural resources. Over 1,000 plant species provide habitat for approximately 500 mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species.
Santa Monica Mountains National recreational Area is a great place to explore California nature at its best The Santa Monica Mountains support an abundant and diverse wildlife community, which is reflective of the diversity of the vegetative communities encompassed within the park boundary. More than 450 vertebrate species occur in the park. The relatively intact wildlife populations of the mountains are especially impressive considering their proximity to one of the largest urban areas in the United States. The continued maintenance of wildlife populations in the Santa Monica Mountains is dependent on the ability of public and private land managers to ensure adequate habitat for the most sensitive species

Many people are surprised to hear that mountains lions still live in the chaparral-covered peaks so close to urban Los Angeles. The survival of all mammals in the Santa Monica Mountains, especially those that maintain a territorial home range such as the coyote and bobcat, will depend on their ability to survive amid on-going urban development, as well as their ability to disperse between open space areas and parklands. For mountain lions, which occupy a very large territorial home range, their persistence in the mountains will depend upon their capability of dispersing to and from other habitat areas beyond the Santa Monica Mountains
The Santa Monica Mountains rise above Los Angeles, widen to meet the curve of Santa Monica Bay and reach their highest peaks facing the ocean, forming a beautiful and multi-faceted landscape. Located in a Mediterranean ecosystem, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area contains a wide variety of plants and wildlife. Over 1,000 plant species provide habitat for approximately 500 mammal, bird, reptile, and amphibian species.

From oak woodlands to grassland savannas to the coastal shore, the many diverse habitats of the Santa Monica Mountains support a wide variety of resident and migrating birds. More than 380 specie, nearly half the North American total, can be seen year-round including shorebirds, songbirds, woodpeckers, and raptors. At Malibu Lagoon alone, more than 250 species have been recorded.

Of all the species found in the recreation area, about one-third reside and breed here. Migration is an especially amazing time, when literally millions of birds pass through or settle in for the season. Large populations come and go, following the food sources that suit their breed along the Pacific Flyway. The region’s Mediterranean weather make the mountains and coastline the perfect place for seasonal stopovers.
Visit the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains National recreation Area Santa Monica Mountains NRA runs nearly 50 miles distance from the Santa Monica Pier through Malibu and Point Mugu at its western beach beginnings to the Hollywood Bowl. It contains approximately 150,000 acres of land, plants, trees, animals, bugs, birds and flowers in a wilderness setting.

Westlake Lake is in close proximity to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and on a delightful day you obtain a nice panorama of Mount Clef from Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Throughout the days of summer here at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, high temperatures mostly get into the 80's. All through the moonlight hours it's usually in the 50's. For the period of the wintertime the highs are typically in the 60's, and overnight lows through the winter for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area tend to be in the 40's.

Not much precipitation falls here at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area; the month with most of the rain is January while July is the month with the least amount of precipitation.
The Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area was established November 10, 1978, after a long campaign for preservation of the Santa Monica Mountains by local and regional conservationists. The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, a California state agency, was created in 1980 for the acquisition of land for preservation as open space, for wildlife and California native plants habitat preserves, and for public recreation activities.

Comprising 153,075 acres, Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world's largest urban national park. It has more area codes (5) and zip codes (26), including the notable 90210 zip code of Beverly Hills, than any other unit in the National Park System.
 
 
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