"In this comprehensive and abundantly illustrated book, Allan A. Schoenherr describes the natural history of California--a state with a greater range of landforms, a greater variety of habitats, and more kinds of plants and animals than any area of equivalent size in all of North America. A Natural History of California focuses on each distinctive region of the state, addressing its climate, rocks, soil, plants, and animals. The new edition of this...

"Vernal pools, protected lagoons, grassy hills rich in bunchgrasses and,where the San Francisco Bay is today, ancient bison and mammoths roaming a vast grassland. Through the use of historical ecology, Laura Cunningham walks through these forgotten landscapes to uncover secrets about the past, explore what our future will hold, and experience the ever-changing landscape of California. Combining the skill of an accomplished artist with a passion for...

Inside you will find descriptions of hikes, with details on the terrain, lakes, animals, and vegetation, mileage tables to lakes, tips on low-impact hiking, lists of campgrounds near trailheads, and 7 regional maps.

Describes the plants and animals found in the many regions of California, including those found in deserts, forests, and off the state's coast.

"Over the canyon, the sun scalds the air, and bakes the desert mud to stone. But under the shade of the canyon hides another world, where bighorn sheep bound from rock to rock on the hillside, roadrunners make their nests in sturdy cacti, and banded geckos tuck themselves into the shelter of the sand. This book takes readers on a journey through the wonders concealed in the curves of the canyon, and all the secret life hidden in its arms"-- Provided...