Temescal Mountains facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Temescal Mountains
Gavilan Mountains, Gavilan Hills
Temescal Mountains Location in California
Highest point
Peak	Estelle Mountain
Elevation	2,762 ft (842 m)
Dimensions
Length	25 mi (40 km) SE
Width	10 mi (16 km) E
Naming
Native name	Error {{native name}}: an IETF language tag as parameter {{{1}}} is required (help)
Geography
Country	United States
Settlements	Canyon Lake, Corona, El Sobrante, Good Hope, Lake Elsinore, Lake Mathews, Mead Valley and Meadowbrook
Parent range	Peninsular Ranges
Geology
Type of rock	Fault-block, igneous, batholith

The Temescal Mountains, once known as the Sierra Temescal, are a mountain range in Riverside County, Southern California. They are part of the larger Peninsular Ranges, which stretch from Southern California down into Baja California, Mexico. These mountains run for about 25 miles (40 km) to the southeast, starting near the Santa Ana River. They are located east of the Elsinore Fault Zone, a major crack in the Earth's crust, and form the western edge of an area called the Perris Block.

To the west of the Temescal Mountains are the Santa Ana Mountains. To the south, you'll find the Elsinore Mountains. To the east, there's the Perris Valley and the Lakeview Mountains.

History of the Temescal Mountains

The Spanish people first named these mountains Sierra Temescal. This name might have come from a nearby ranch called Rancho Temescal. The name "Sierra Temescal" appeared on a map made by the United States Army in 1854–55 during a survey for a railroad route.

The Temescal Mountains are among the northernmost parts of the Peninsular Ranges in California. They run from the south side of the Santa Ana River southeast, almost parallel to the Santa Ana Mountains. A valley called the Temescal Valley and the Elsinore Valley separate them.

In 1865, a geologist named Josiah Whitney thought the San Jacinto River was the southern border of the Temescal Mountains. However, a later study by Rene Engel suggested that other mountains, like the Sedco Hills, which extend southeast of the San Jacinto River, are also part of this same mountain range. The Murrieta Hogbacks are the furthest southeast peaks of the range.

How the Mountains Formed: Geology

The Temescal Mountains are part of something called the Perris Block. They are made up of old, worn-down rocks. These rocks include granitic rocks, which are a type of igneous rock (formed from cooled magma), and metasedimentary rocks. These rocks are part of the Peninsular Ranges Batholith, a huge mass of igneous rock that formed deep underground.

Over a very long time, much of the rock that once covered these granitic rocks has worn away due to erosion. What's left can be found between the similar granitic rock masses that have also been eroded.

Nature and Wildlife

The Temescal Mountains are home to many different kinds of plants and animals. This area is part of the California Floristic Province, which means it has a unique collection of plant species.

Plants of the Temescal Mountains

You can find various plant communities here, including:

• Coastal sage scrub: This has fragrant sages and other plants that grow in dry, sunny areas.
• Chaparral: This is made up of dense, evergreen shrubs.
• Riparian woodland: These are trees and plants that grow near water, like streams.
• Southern oak woodland: This includes different types of oak trees.
• Rocky outcrop and valley grassland: These are areas with rocky hills and open grassy fields.

Some rare flowers, like the intermediate mariposa lily, grow here. You'll also see perennial bunchgrasses, Dudleya species (which are a type of succulent plant), and many wildflowers that bloom after fires.

Animals of the Temescal Mountains

The mountains are home to many different animals, such as:

• Large mammals: Mountain lion, mule deer, bobcat, coyote, raccoon, gray fox, and American badger.
• Smaller mammals: Spotted skunk, kangaroo rat, and various types of bats.
• Birds: Ravens, red-tailed hawk, mountain quail, and canyon wren.
• Reptiles: Speckled rattlesnake, Pacific rattlesnake, common kingsnake, gopher snake, two-striped garter snake, rosy boa, San Diego night snake, and granite spiny lizard.
• Amphibians: Arroyo toad and western spadefoot toad.
• Insects and spiders: Various Aphonopelma species of tarantula and the Quino checkerspot butterfly.

Animals like the gray wolf, pronghorn, and California condor used to live here but are no longer found in the range.

Commercial Uses of the Mountains

People have used the Temescal Mountains for various purposes for a long time. Since the 1840s, they have mined for resources like:

• Metals: Tin and gold.
• Non-metals: Clay, coal, and granite.

For over 200 years, parts of the mountains have been used for grazing farm animals like cows and sheep. The small amount of water found in the range has also become a very important resource for the area.

Places to See: Geographic Features

The Temescal Mountains have many interesting geographic features, stretching from the northwest to the southeast. Here are some of them: