Mendocino Coastline

The Coast Ranges are predominantly northwest-trending mountains and valleys formed largely by the shearing action of the San Andreas Fault and other associated faults along the margin of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Geologically complex, the Coast Ranges includes uplifted slices of Cenozoic-age and Mesozoic-age sedimentary and volcanic deposits, along with slivers of ancient seafloor deposits and, west of the San Andreas Fault, local granitic blocks.

Print No. A99NW-2-5.

More images from California's North Coast.

Images from Big Sur and California's Central Coast.