Pinnacles National Monument
is a protected habitat for condors.
Pinnacles National Monument is a protected area of nearly 25,000 acres, located on the West coast of California just south of Santa Cruz. Established as a national monument by Theodore Roosevelt in 1908, Pinnacles is under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service, and is named for the distinctive rock formations that dot its landscape. It is also known as an important habitat for condors.
Landscape
Pinnacles National Monument exists in a desert climate, and features dramatic natural sculptures formed from volcanic rock. There are also caves within some of the stone features, made of the same material. Much of the dramatic landscape in this area was created by seismic activity related to the San Andreas Fault, which is nearby. Shifting of tectonic plates forced much of the stone out of the surface of the earth, where it was subsequently sculpted and formed into its present shape through the action of millions of years of wind and rain.
Wildlife
Pinnacles provides habitat to a wide variety of animals, most notably the California Condor, which has been the subject of a human re-introduction program beginning in 2003. In addition to condors, the Pinnacles ecosystem supports birds including prairie and peregrine falcons, turkeys and quail, as well as mammals including coyotes, mountain lions and bobcats. In addition to these very noticeable creatures, there are many amphibians, reptiles, and insects.
Plants
A variety of plant ecosystems exist within Pinnacles. Chaparral is one of the dominant plants. Chaparral is a low bush with small, waxy leaves that has adapted to survive within arid desert environments. Woodlands cover parts of Pinnacle, and are comprised primarily of oak, pine and buckeye trees. There are also riparian areas and grasslands, with significant areas comprised of no vegetation at all. These latter areas are where the unusual rock formations can be found. The volcanic rocks are free of covering soil, which is why nothing has grown to cover them.
Activities
There are a number of popular outdoor activities that happen at Pinnacle. Over 30 miles of hiking trails are available for hikers, ranging from easy and relatively flat routes to more challenging hikes over rougher terrain. Camping is available in a specified area within the national monument. There are also opportunities for rock climbing and exploring caves.
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