Plains of Leon facts for kids
The Plains of Leon are a large, mostly flat area in California. They are named after an old gold mining town called Leon, which used to be located right in the middle of these plains.
The Plains of Leon are part of a larger geological area known as the Perris Block. To the south, they connect with another flat area called the Perris Plain. The Plains of Leon include several smaller valleys, such as the Domenigoni Valley, parts of the Diamond Valley, French Valley, and Auld Valley. They also include the upper part of the valley of Warm Springs Creek and some flat, raised areas called tablelands.
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Where Are the Plains of Leon Located?
The Plains of Leon have clear boundaries that help us understand where they are.
Western Boundaries
To the west, the Plains of Leon are bordered by the Paloma Valley. They also meet the southeastern part of the Temescal Mountains. The valley of Warm Springs Creek forms another part of the western boundary, especially after the creek drops below the level of the flat tablelands.
Northern Boundaries
Looking north, the Plains of Leon are next to the Menifee Valley and the Domenigoni Mountains.
Southern Boundaries
To the south, the plains stretch to include French Valley and Auld Valley, along with the tablelands between them. The southern edge is also defined by Tucalota Creek (which was once called Alamos Creek) and the flat land west of it, extending to Warm Springs Creek and northeast of Murrieta Hot Springs.
Eastern Boundaries
Originally, the eastern side of the Plains of Leon was bordered by the eastern Diamond Valley, the Rawson Mountains, Bachelor Mountain, Black Mountain, and the Tucalota Hills. However, today, the Diamond Valley is bordered on its east side by the West Dam of the large Diamond Valley Lake. Also, Auld Valley is now bordered to the east by Skinner Reservoir, which is south of Bachelor Mountain on Tucalota Creek.
How Water Flows Through the Plains
Unlike the Perris Plain, where water flows into the San Jacinto River, the Plains of Leon have their own unique drainage system. Water from the Plains of Leon flows into Warm Springs Creek, French Valley Creek, and Tucalota Creek. These creeks are all smaller streams that eventually join Murrieta Creek, which then flows into the larger Santa Margarita River.
