Guijarral Hills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Guijarral Hills |
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Highest point | |
Elevation | 192 m (630 ft) |
Geography | |
Country | United States |
State | California |
District | Fresno County |
Range coordinates | 36°8′40.835″N 120°13′15.514″W / 36.14467639°N 120.22097611°W |
Topo map | USGS Guijarral Hills |
The Guijarral Hills are a group of low hills located in Fresno County, California. They are part of the inner California Coast Ranges. These hills are about seven miles east of the town of Coalinga.
Contents
What Are the Guijarral Hills?
The Guijarral Hills are not very tall. Their highest point is about 192 meters (630 feet) above sea level. They are a natural feature in the landscape of central California.
Where Do They Get Their Name?
The name Guijarral comes from a Spanish word. It means "heap of pebbles." This name likely describes the rocky or gravelly look of the hills.
How Were the Hills Formed?
The Guijarral Hills are the top part of something called an anticlinal structure. Imagine layers of rock deep underground. An anticline is like a giant arch or fold in these rock layers. Over a very long time, these folded rocks slowly pushed upwards. This created the hills we see today.
Connected Hill Ranges
This folded rock structure doesn't stop at the Guijarral Hills. It continues in both directions:
- To the south, it forms the Kettleman Hills.
- To the north, it becomes Anticline Ridge. This ridge is part of the very large Coalinga Oil Field.
Oil Beneath the Hills
Underneath the Guijarral Hills, there is a smaller area known as the Guijarral Hills Oil Field. An oil field is a place where oil and natural gas are found trapped in underground rock layers. The oil in the Guijarral Hills Oil Field has mostly been taken out, so it is now "exhausted." This means there isn't much oil left to pump from it.
Getting Around the Hills
A main road called Jayne Avenue goes through the Guijarral Hills. This road connects Interstate 5 to the town of Coalinga. It is an important route for people traveling in the area.