Carrizo Plain National Monument is the largest single native grassland remaining in California. It is supposedly home to a wide variety of animals although I only saw a few types of smaller birds and heard the yip of some coyotes in the distance.
I drove up into the hills where I had a spot to stay overnight that provided me an excellent view of the land below and almost complete peace and quiet to enjoy the nature around me.
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Carrizo Plain
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| Rocky Edge of the Plains |
At this time of year, the plains and hills were vibrant shades of green.
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| Plains Stretch Before the Hills |
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| Broad Expanse |
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| Darker Green Hills |
By spring, blooming wildflowers will make the landscape even more beautiful. During my visit, they were still fairly scarce.
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| California Poppies |
Soda Lake is apparently a dry lakebed for a large part of the year. This natural alkali wetland concentrates salts as water evaporates, leaving white deposits of sulfates and carbonates that look like baking soda.
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| Soda Lake Filled with Water |
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| Soda Lake amid the Plains |
The San Andreas Fault runs along the eastern edge of the national monument. Its activity over countless years has created ridges, creases, and crevices.
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| Ridgeline Created by the San Andreas Fault |
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| Closer View of the Ridgeline |
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