Terminous Tract facts for kids
USGS aerial imagery of the Terminous Tract
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 Terminous Tract
Location in Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
Terminous Tract
Location in California
Terminous Tract
Location in the United States
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| Geography | |
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| Location | Northern California |
| Coordinates | 38°06′45″N 121°27′27″W / 38.11250°N 121.45750°W |
| Adjacent bodies of water | Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta |
| Highest elevation | -7 ft (-2.13 m) |
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United States
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| State |  California |
| County | San Joaquin |
The Terminous Tract is a special kind of island located in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta in California. It's part of San Joaquin County and is looked after by a group called Reclamation District 548. This island is found at coordinates 38°06′45″N 121°27′27″W / 38.11250°N 121.45750°W. In 1981, experts from the United States Geological Survey measured its elevation as −7 ft (−2.1 m), which means it's actually below sea level! The small town of Terminous, California is also located on this unique island.
Contents
What is Terminous Tract?
A "tract" in this area is like an island of land that has been created or protected by people. These tracts are often surrounded by water and are usually very flat. They are important for farming and for managing water in the delta.
How Tracts are Managed
Places like Terminous Tract are managed by groups called Reclamation Districts. These districts are responsible for keeping the land safe from floods. They do this by building and maintaining special walls called levees. Levees are like big dirt walls that hold back the water from rivers and sloughs (small channels of water).
Why Levees are Important
Because Terminous Tract is below sea level, it needs levees to protect it. Without these strong walls, the land would be underwater. The levees help keep the land dry so people can live there and farmers can grow crops.
Where is Terminous Tract Located?
Terminous Tract is in the northern part of California, specifically within the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta. This delta is a huge area where two big rivers, the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River, meet before flowing into San Francisco Bay.
A Map View
If you look at a map, you'll see Terminous Tract surrounded by many waterways. It's like a puzzle piece in a big watery maze. Its exact location helps us understand how it fits into the larger delta system.
Life on the Tract
Even though it's an island below sea level, people live and work on Terminous Tract. The small community of Terminous, California, is right there. Life on the tract often involves activities related to the water and the land, such as farming or fishing.
Farming in the Delta
The soil in the delta is very rich, which makes it great for farming. Farmers on Terminous Tract might grow different kinds of crops. This farming is a big part of the local economy and history of the delta region.
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta
The delta is one of California's most important natural areas. It's a mix of rivers, sloughs, islands, and wetlands. It provides drinking water for millions of Californians and is home to many different plants and animals.
A Special Watery Place
The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is like a giant wetland. It's where fresh water from the mountains mixes with some salty water from the ocean. This creates a unique environment that supports a lot of wildlife, including many kinds of fish and birds.
How the Delta Works
The delta forms as the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers slow down and spread out. They drop sediment (tiny bits of dirt and sand), which builds up over time to create islands and shallow areas. Over many years, people have also shaped the delta by building levees and canals.
