San Juan Ridge facts for kids
The San Juan Ridge (39°22′40″N 121°01′33″W / 39.37778°N 121.02583°W) is a long, raised area of land in California. It stretches for about 24 miles (39 km) in the foothills of the northern Sierra Nevada mountains. This ridge is found between the South and Middle Yuba Rivers. It sits about 2,600 feet (790 meters) above sea level.
Exploring the History of San Juan Ridge
The San Juan Ridge became very famous during the California Gold Rush. This was a time when many people came to California looking for gold. The ridge was known for a special way of mining called hydraulic mining. This method used powerful jets of water to wash away hillsides and find gold.
One of the biggest hydraulic mining operations was run by the North Bloomfield Mining and Gravel Company. They used huge amounts of water to dig for gold. French Corral was the very first mining camp built on the San Juan Ridge. In the 1990s, people even studied the area to see if they could start gold mining again.
Fun Places to Visit Near San Juan Ridge
There are several cool places to explore close to the San Juan Ridge. You can visit the South Yuba River State Park. This park offers beautiful views and places to hike. Another interesting spot is the Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park. This park shows off the huge areas changed by hydraulic mining. You can also visit historic Nevada City, California. It's a charming town with a lot of history from the gold rush days.
