Breaking wave, fast motion and blur. The Wedge, Newport Beach, California

Breaking wave, fast motion and blur. The Wedge, Newport Beach.

 Two blue whales, a mother and her calf, swim through the open ocean in this aerial photograph. The calf is blowing (spouting, exhaling) with a powerful column of spray. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to live on Earth, Balaenoptera musculus, San Diego, California

Blue Whale Aerial Photo. Two blue whales, a mother and her calf, swim through the open ocean in this aerial photograph. The calf is blowing (spouting, exhaling) with a powerful column of spray. Balaenoptera musculus.

 Half Dome and storm clouds at sunset, viewed from Sentinel Bridge, Yosemite National Park, California

Half Dome And Storm Clouds At Sunset, Yosemite Valley.
Breaking wave, Ponto, South Carlsbad

Cresting wave and morning sun, Carlsbad, California.

 Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown pelican in flight at sunrise, La Jolla, Pelecanus occidentalis

 Cholla cactus, brittlebush, ocotillo and various cacti and wildflowers color the sides of Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months, Opuntia, Encelia farinosa, Fouquieria splendens, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California

Opuntia Sp., Encelia Farinosa, Anza-borrego Desert State Park
Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls, viewed from the Mist Trail, Yosemite National Park, California

Vernal Falls at peak flow in late spring, with a rainbow appearing in the spray of the falls. Yosemite National Park.

 Kelp frond showing pneumatocysts, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

Giant kelp frond showing pneumatocysts which make the algae bouyant. Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, California

 A kelp forest, with sunbeams passing through kelp fronds. Giant kelp, the fastest growing plant on Earth, reaches from the rocky bottom to the ocean's surface like a terrestrial forest, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

A kelp forest with sunbeams passing through kelp fronds. Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island, California.
Yosemite Falls at peak flow in late spring, viewed from Cooks Meadow, Yosemite National Park, California

Upper Yosemite Falls From Cook's Meadow, Yosemite Valley.

 Oceanside Pier at dusk, sunset, night. Oceanside

Oceanside Pier

 Aspen trees display Eastern Sierra fall colors, Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains

Aspen Trees, Lake Sabrina, Bishop Creek Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains
2006 Mavericks surf contest champion Grant Twiggy Baker of South Africa. Final round, Mavericks surf contest, February 7, 2006, Half Moon Bay, California

Twiggy Baker, finals, Mavericks Surf Contest, 2006, Half Moon Bay, California.

 Bristlecone pine displays its characteristic gnarled, twisted form as it rises above the arid, dolomite-rich slopes of the White Mountains at 11000-foot elevation. Patriarch Grove, Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Pinus longaeva, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest

Bristlecone Pine, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest

 Townsley Lake (10396'), a beautiful alpine lake sitting below blue sky, clouds and Fletcher Peak (right), lies amid the Cathedral Range of glacier-sculpted granite peaks in Yosemite's high country, near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, Yosemite National Park, California

Townsley Lake In The High Sierra, Yosemite National Park.
Sky Rock petroglyphs near Bishop, California. Hidden atop an enormous boulder in the Volcanic Tablelands lies Sky Rock, a set of petroglyphs that face the sky. These superb examples of native American petroglyph artwork are thought to be Paiute in origin, but little is known about them

Sky Rock Petroglyphs, Volcanic Tablelands, Bishop, California.

 Blue whale, exhaling as it surfaces from a dive, aerial photo. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth, exceeding 100' in length and 200 tons in weight, Balaenoptera musculus, Redondo Beach, California

Aerial photo of a blue whale. Blue whale, exhaling as it surfaces from a dive, aerial photo taken off the coast of California.

 Breaking wave, early morning surf, Ponto, Carlsbad, California

Surf breaks in shallow water, Carlsbad
Cathedral Range peaks reflected in the still waters of Townsley Lake at sunrise, Yosemite National Park, California

Cathedral Range peaks reflected in the still waters of Townsley Lake at sunrise, high country near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, Yosemite National Park.

 Yosemite Falls and star trails, night sky time exposure of Yosemite Falls waterfall in full spring flow, with star trails arcing through the night sky, Yosemite National Park, California

Star trails appear over Yosemite Falls in this 40 minute time exposure, Yosemite Valley, California.

 Torrey Pines seacliffs, rising up to 300 feet above the ocean, stretch from Del Mar to La Jolla. On the mesa atop the bluffs are found Torrey pine trees, one of the rare species of pines in the world, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Seacliffs, Torrey Pines State Reserve, La Jolla, aerial photo.
Aspen trees cover Bishop Creek Canyon above Aspendel, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains

Aspen, Bishop Creek Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains

 Bryozoan grows on a red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island

Bryozoan grows on a red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Lophogorgia chilensis, California.

 Aerial photo of Catalina Island, West End

Aerial Photo Of Catalina Island
San Diego city skyline at sunset, showing the buildings of downtown San Diego rising above San Diego Harbor, viewed from Harbor Island. A panoramic photograph, composite of thirteen separate images

San Diego City Skyline Panorama
Brown pelican in flight. The wingspan of the brown pelican is over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican In Flight, La Jolla

 Hotel del Coronado, known affectionately as the Hotel Del. It was once the largest hotel in the world, and is one of the few remaining wooden Victorian beach resorts. It sits on the beach on Coronado Island, seen here with downtown San Diego in the distance. It is widely considered to be one of Americas most beautiful and classic hotels. Built in 1888, it was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977

Hotel del Coronado, Coronado Island, aerial photo.

 San Diego Coronado Bridge, known locally as the Coronado Bridge, links San Diego with Coronado, California. The bridge was completed in 1969 and was a toll bridge until 2002. It is 2.1 miles long and reaches a height of 200 feet above San Diego Bay. Coronado Island is to the left, and downtown San Diego is to the right in this view looking north

Aerial photo of the San Diego Coronado Bridge, which links San Diego with Coronado Island.
Vogelsang Peak (11516') at sunset, reflected in a small creek near Vogelsang High Sierra Camp in Yosemite's high country, Yosemite National Park, California

Vogelsang Peak At Sunset From Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, Yosemite National Park

 Mobius Arch at sunrise, with Mount Whitney (the tallest peak in the continental United States), Lone Pine Peak and snow-covered Sierra Nevada Range framed within the arch. Mobius Arch is a 17-foot-wide natural rock arch in the scenic Alabama Hills Recreational Area near Lone Pine, California

Mobius Arch At Sunrise, Alabama Hills Recreational Area

 A large, powerful wave breaks with offshore winds at the Wedge in Newport Beach, The Wedge

The Wedge, Newport Beach, California.
Crystal Pier, 872 feet long and built in 1925, extends out into the Pacific Ocean from the town of Pacific Beach. Mission Bay and downtown San Diego are seen in the distance

Aerial photo of Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach.

 New Point Loma Lighthouse, situated on the tip of Point Loma Peninsula, marks the entrance to San Diego Bay. The lighthouse rises 70' and was built in 1891 to replace the "old" Point Loma Lighthouse which was often shrouded in fog

New Point Loma Lighthouse, San Diego

 Eureka Valley Dune Evening Primrose. A federally endangered plant, Oenothera californica eurekensis is a perennial herb that produces white flowers from April to June. These flowers turn red as they age. The Eureka Dunes evening-primrose is found only in the southern portion of Eureka Valley Sand Dunes system in Indigo County, California, Oenothera californica eurekensis, Death Valley National Park

Eureka Valley Dune Evening Primrose, Eureka Dunes
Giant redwood, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park. The coastal redwood, or simply 'redwood', is the tallest tree on Earth, reaching a height of 379' and living 3500 years or more. It is native to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon within the United States, but most concentrated in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California, found close to the coast where moisture and soil conditions can support its unique size and growth requirements, Sequoia sempervirens

Giant Redwood, Redwood National Park

 Bull elephant seal exits the water to retake his position on the beach. He shows considerable scarring on his chest and proboscis from many winters fighting other males for territory and rights to a harem of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon

Male elephant seal with considerable scarring from fighting other males for territory and mates. Central California. Mirounga angustirostris.

 A sliding rock of the Racetrack Playa. The sliding rocks, or sailing stones, move across the mud flats of the Racetrack Playa, leaving trails behind in the mud. The explanation for their movement is not known with certainty, but many believe wind pushes the rocks over wet and perhaps icy mud in winter, Death Valley National Park, California

A Sliding Rock Of The Racetrack Playa
Brittlebush at sunrise, dawn, springtime bloom, Palm Canyon, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Encelia farinosa, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Brittlebush At Sunrise, Anza-borrego Desert State Park

 Sunset on the Last Chance Mountain Range, seen from Eureka Valley Sand Dunes, Eureka Dunes, Death Valley National Park, California

Sunset On The Last Chance Mountain Range, Eureka Dunes

 Roosevelt elk, adult bull male with large antlers. This bull elk has recently shed the velvet that covers its antlers. While an antler is growing, it is covered with highly vascular skin called velvet, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone; once the antler has achieved its full size, the velvet is lost and the antler's bone dies. This dead bone structure is the mature antler, which is itself shed after each mating season. Roosevelt elk grow to 10' and 1300 lb, eating grasses, sedges and various berries, inhabiting the coastal rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, Cervus canadensis roosevelti, Redwood National Park, California

Roosevelt Elk, Redwood National Park
Sunset and boulders, Joshua Tree National Park. Sunset lights the giant boulders and rock formations near Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree N.P

Sunset and boulders, Joshua Tree National Park, panorama.
Boulders and sunset in Joshua Tree National Park. The warm sunlight gently lights unusual boulder formations at Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Boulders And Sunset In Joshua Tree National Park

 The Milky Way galaxy arcs above Arch Rock, panoramic photograph, cylindrical projection, Joshua Tree National Park, California

The Milky Way galaxy arcs above Arch Rock in Joshua Tree National Park in this high resoluiton panoramic photograph.

 Joshua Trees silhouetted against predawn sunrise light, Yucca brevifolia, Joshua Tree National Park

Joshua Trees Silhouetted Against Predawn Sunrise Light, Joshua Tree National Park
Red gorgonian on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The red gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Lophogorgia chilensis, San Clemente Island

Lophogorgia chilensis, red gorgonian, grows below a towering forest of giant kelp, San Clemente Island, California.

 Kelp fronds and pneumatocysts. Pneumatocysts, gas-filled bladders, float the kelp plant off the ocean bottom toward the surface and sunlight, where the leaf-like blades and stipes of the kelp plant grow fastest. Giant kelp can grow up to 2' in a single day given optimal conditions. Epic submarine forests of kelp grow throughout California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

Kelp Fronds And Pneumatocysts, San Clemente Island

 Eureka Dunes. The Eureka Valley Sand Dunes are California's tallest sand dunes, and one of the tallest in the United States. Rising 680' above the floor of the Eureka Valley, the Eureka sand dunes are home to several endangered species, as well as "singing sand" that makes strange sounds when it shifts. Located in the remote northern portion of Death Valley National Park, the Eureka Dunes see very few visitors

Eureka Dunes
Blue whale, exhaling as it surfaces from a dive, aerial photo. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth, exceeding 100' in length and 200 tons in weight, Balaenoptera musculus, Redondo Beach, California

Blue whale, exhaling as it surfaces from a dive, aerial photo. Redondo Beach, California. Balaenoptera musculus.

 Roosevelt elk, adult bull male with large antlers. This bull elk has recently shed the velvet that covers its antlers. While an antler is growing, it is covered with highly vascular skin called velvet, which supplies oxygen and nutrients to the growing bone; once the antler has achieved its full size, the velvet is lost and the antler's bone dies. This dead bone structure is the mature antler, which is itself shed after each mating season. Roosevelt elk grow to 10' and 1300 lb, eating grasses, sedges and various berries, inhabiting the coastal rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, Cervus canadensis roosevelti, Redwood National Park, California

Roosevelt Elk, Redwood National Park

 Paraglider soaring at Torrey Pines Gliderport, sunset, flying over the Pacific Ocean, La Jolla, California

Paraglider Soaring At Torrey Pines Gliderport, La Jolla
Ancient bristlecone pine tree, rising above the arid, dolomite-rich slopes of the Schulman Grove in the White Mountains at an elevation of 9500 above sea level, along the Methuselah Walk. The oldest bristlecone pines in the world are found in the Schulman Grove, some of them over 4700 years old. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Pinus longaeva, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Tree, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest

 Blue whale, exhaling as it surfaces from a dive, aerial photo. The blue whale is the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth, exceeding 100' in length and 200 tons in weight, Balaenoptera musculus, Redondo Beach, California

Aerial photo of blue whale, Los Angeles, California.

 Parry's Nolina, or Giant Nolina, a flowering plant native to southern California and Arizona founds in deserts and mountains to 6200'. It can reach 6' in height with its flowering inflorescence reaching 12', Nolina parryi, Joshua Tree National Park

Parry's Nolina, Nolina parryi, Joshua Tree National Park.
Brown pelican. This large seabird has a wingspan over 7 feet wide. The California race of the brown pelican holds endangered species status, due largely to predation in the early 1900s and to decades of poor reproduction caused by DDT poisoning. In winter months, breeding adults assume a dramatic plumage with brown neck, yellow and white head and bright red gular throat pouch, Pelecanus occidentalis, Pelecanus occidentalis californicus, La Jolla

Brown Pelican, La Jolla

 Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca brevifolia

Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park.

 Eureka Dunes. The Eureka Valley Sand Dunes are California's tallest sand dunes, and one of the tallest in the United States. Rising 680' above the floor of the Eureka Valley, the Eureka sand dunes are home to several endangered species, as well as "singing sand" that makes strange sounds when it shifts. Located in the remote northern portion of Death Valley National Park, the Eureka Dunes see very few visitors

Eureka Dunes
Pacific harbor seal on wet sandy beach, Phoca vitulina richardsi, La Jolla, California

Pacific Harbor Seal, La Jolla

 Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca brevifolia

Sunrise in Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca brevifolia.

 Freediver photographing pelagic gelatinous zooplankton, adrift in the open ocean, Phacellophora camtschatica, San Diego, California

A freediving underwater photographer hovers above jellyfish Phacellophora camtschatica and salp chain Cyclosalpa affinis, drifting in the open ocean, San Diego, California.
Boulders and sunset in Joshua Tree National Park. The warm sunlight gently lights unusual boulder formations at Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Marble boulders and fading light, sunset.

 Boulders and sunset in Joshua Tree National Park. The warm sunlight gently lights unusual boulder formations at Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Jumbo Rocks, boulders, Joshua Tree National Park.

 Cathedral Rocks at sunrise, reflected in a spring meadow flooded by the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California

Cathedral Rocks is reflected at sunrise in a sidewater of the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California.
Vernal Falls and Merced River in spring, heavy flow due to snow melt in the high country above Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

Vernal Falls and Merced River in complete spring flood, heavy flow due to snow melt in the high country above Yosemite Valley.

 A hiker admires an ancient bristlecone pine tree, on the Methuselah Walk in the Schulman Grove in the White Mountains at an elevation of 9500 above sea level. The oldest bristlecone pines in the world are found in the Schulman Grove, some of them over 4700 years old. Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, Pinus longaeva, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest

A Hiker Admires An Ancient Bristlecone Pine Tree, White Mountains, Inyo National Forest

 Salt polygons. After winter flooding, the salt on the Badwater Basin playa dries into geometric polygonal shapes, Death Valley National Park, California

Salt Polygons, Badwater
Dried mud, arid land, Eureka Valley, Death Valley National Park, California

Dried Mud, Eureka Valley

 California sea lion hauled out on rocks beside the ocean, Zalophus californianus, La Jolla

California Sea Lion, La Jolla

 International Space Station flys over Death Valley shortly after sunset, Earth Orbit, Solar System, Milky Way Galaxy, The Universe

The International Space Station flys over Death Valley shortly after sunset.
Joshua tree at sunrise. Joshua trees are found in the Mojave desert region of Joshua Tree National Park, Yucca brevifolia

Sunrise, Joshua Tree, Yucca brevifolia

 Freediving photographer in a cloud of salps, gelatinous zooplankton that drifts with open ocean currents, San Diego, California

Freediving Photographer In A Cloud Of Salps, San Diego

 Paraglider soaring at Torrey Pines Gliderport, sunset, flying over the Pacific Ocean, La Jolla, California

Paraglider Soaring At Torrey Pines Gliderport, La Jolla
Sunrise at Zabriskie Point, Manly Beacon is lit by the morning sun while dark clouds lie on the horizon, Death Valley National Park, California

Sunrise At Zabriskie Point
Yosemite Falls reflected in flooded meadow. The Merced River floods its banks in spring, forming beautiful reflections of Yosemite Falls, Yosemite National Park, California

Upper Yosemite Falls is reflected in a flooded meadow created by heavy spring water levels in the Merced River, Yosemite National Park, California.

 A sea otter, resting on its back, holding its paw out of the water for warmth. While the sea otter has extremely dense fur on its body, the fur is less dense on its head, arms and paws so it will hold these out of the cold water to conserve body heat, Enhydra lutris, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California

Sea Otter, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve

 A giant sequoia tree, soars skyward from the forest floor, lit by the morning sun and surrounded by other sequioas. The massive trunk characteristic of sequoia trees is apparent, as is the crown of foliage starting high above the base of the tree, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California

A giant sequoia tree soars skyward from the forest floor. Sequoiadendron giganteum. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park.
Lonely road, Death Valley, Badwater, Death Valley National Park, California

Lonely Road, Badwater

 Sky Rock petroglyphs near Bishop, California. Hidden atop an enormous boulder in the Volcanic Tablelands lies Sky Rock, a set of petroglyphs that face the sky. These superb examples of native American petroglyph artwork are thought to be Paiute in origin, but little is known about them

Sky Rock Petroglyphs, Volcanic Tablelands, Bishop, California.

 Brittlebush, ocotillo and various cacti and wildflowers color the sides of Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months, Encelia farinosa, Fouquieria splendens, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California

Brittlebush, Anza-borrego Desert State Park
Barrel cactus, brittlebush and wildflowers color the sides of Glorietta Canyon. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Encelia farinosa, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California

Red Barrel Cactus, Anza-borrego Desert State Park

 Sandstone cliffs rise above the beach at Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Torrey Pines Sandstone Cliffs, Torrey Pines State Reserve

 Zabriskie Point, sunrise. Manly Beacon rises in the center of an eroded, curiously banded area of sedimentary rock, with the Panamint Mountains visible in the distance, Death Valley National Park, California

Zabriskie Point Sunrise, Death Valley National Park
Racetrack Playa, an ancient lake now dried and covered with dessicated mud, Death Valley National Park, California

Racetrack Playa

 Racetrack Playa, an ancient lake now dried and covered with dessicated mud, Death Valley National Park, California

Racetrack Playa

 A view of an underwater forest of giant kelp. Giant kelp grows rapidly, up to 2' per day, from the rocky reef on the ocean bottom to which it is anchored, toward the ocean surface where it spreads to form a thick canopy. Myriad species of fishes, mammals and invertebrates form a rich community in the kelp forest. Lush forests of kelp are found through California's Southern Channel Islands, Macrocystis pyrifera, San Clemente Island

A View Of An Underwater Forest Of Giant Kelp, San Clemente Island
Camp Pendleton, Pacific coastline, north of San Diego county and the city of Oceanside. Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

Camp Pendleton, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton

 San Clemente Island, steep cliffs and mountainous terrain on the south eastern shore of the island

San Clemente Island

 Red barrel flower bloom, cactus detail, spines and flower on top of the cactus, Glorietta Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Ferocactus cylindraceus, Anza Borrego, California

Red Barrel Flower Bloom, Anza-borrego Desert State Park
Eroded hillsides near Zabriskie Point and Gower Wash, Death Valley National Park, California

Eroded Hillsides Near Zabriskie Point And Gower Wash.

 Sunset over the Racetrack Playa. The Cottonwood Mountains rise above the flat, dry, ancient lake bed, Death Valley National Park, California

Sunset Over The Racetrack Playa.

 Mammoth Peak (12,117') reflected in small tarn pond at sunrise, viewed from meadows near Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park, California

Mammoth Peak (12,117') reflected in small tarn pond at sunrise, viewed from meadows near Tioga Pass.
Joshua tree, moonlit night. The Joshua Tree is a species of yucca common in the lower Colorado desert and upper Mojave desert ecosystems, Yucca brevifolia, Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree at night with full moon.

 Gray whale, blow, Eschrichtius robustus, Big Sur, California

Gray Whale, Big Sur

 Eureka Dunes. The Eureka Dunes are California's tallest sand dunes, and one of the tallest in the United States. Rising 680' above the floor of the Eureka Valley, the Eureka sand dunes are home to several endangered species, as well as "singing sand" that makes strange sounds when it shifts, Death Valley National Park

Eureka Dunes
Arid and barren mud flats, dried mud, with the tall Eureka Dunes in the distance, Eureka Valley, Death Valley National Park, California

Arid And Barren Mud Flats, Eureka Valley

 Unicorn Peak at sunset, seen from Tuolumne Meadows. Cockscomb Peak rises in the distance, Yosemite National Park, California

Unicorn Peak at sunset, seen from Tuolumne Meadows. Cockscomb Peak rises in the distance.

 Mammoth Peak and alpine meadows in the High Sierra are reflected in Tioga Lake at sunrise. This spectacular location is just a short walk from the Tioga Pass road. Near Tuolumne Meadows and Yosemite National Park

Mammoth Peak, Yosemite, Tioga Lake
Dune primrose (white) and sand verbena (purple) bloom in spring in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, mixing in a rich display of desert color. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Oenothera deltoides, Abronia villosa, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Dune Primrose, Anza-borrego Desert State Park

 Sunset on North Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada, autumn, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Sunset On North Lake In The Eastern Sierra Nevada, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

 Ferns grow below coastal redwood and Douglas Fir trees, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park. The coastal redwood, or simply 'redwood', is the tallest tree on Earth, reaching a height of 379' and living 3500 years or more. It is native to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon within the United States, but most concentrated in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California, found close to the coast where moisture and soil conditions can support its unique size and growth requirements, Sequoia sempervirens

Ferns Grow Below Coastal Redwood And Douglas Fir Trees, Redwood National Park
Giant redwood, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park. The coastal redwood, or simply 'redwood', is the tallest tree on Earth, reaching a height of 379' and living 3500 years or more. It is native to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon within the United States, but most concentrated in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California, found close to the coast where moisture and soil conditions can support its unique size and growth requirements, Sequoia sempervirens

Giant Redwood, Redwood National Park

 Bottlenose dolphin, breaching the surface of the ocean, offshore of San Diego, Tursiops truncatus

Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) skims the ocean surface.

 Fletcher Peak is reflected in Vogelsang Lake at sunset, viewed from near summit of Vogelsang Peak, Yosemite National Park, California

Fletcher Peak is reflected in Vogelsang Lake at sunset viewed from near summit of Vogelsang Peak.
Convict Lake sunrise reflection, Sierra Nevada mountains

Convict Lake Sunrise Reflection

 Giant sequoia trees, roots spreading outward at the base of each massive tree, rise from the shaded forest floor, Sequoiadendron giganteum, Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, California

Giant sequoia trees (Sequoiadendron giganteum), roots spreading outward at the base of each massive tree, rise from the shaded forest floor. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park.

 Devil's Postpile, a spectacular example of columnar basalt. Once molten and under great pressure underground, the lava that makes up Devil's Postpile cooled evenly and slowly, contracting and fracturing into polygonal-sided columns. The age of the formation is estimated between 100 and 700 thousand years old. Sometime after the basalt columns formed, a glacier passed over the formation, cutting and polishing the tops of the columns. The columns have from three to seven sides, varying because of differences in how quickly portions of the lava cooled, Devils Postpile National Monument, California

Devil's Postpile, Devils Postpile National Monument
North Lake lit by alpenglow before sunrise, a three frame panorama, with groves of yellow and orange aspen trees on the side of Paiute Peak, Bishop Creek Canyon, Sierra Nevada Mountains

North Lake alpenglow sunrise, Autumn, panorama, Bishop Creek Canyon, California, USA
Joshua trees, a species of yucca common in the lower Colorado desert and upper Mojave desert ecosystems, Yucca brevifolia, Joshua Tree National Park, California

Yucca brevifolia.

 A walking path through Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park. The coastal redwood, or simply 'redwood', is the tallest tree on Earth, reaching a height of 379' and living 3500 years or more. It is native to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon within the United States, but most concentrated in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California, found close to the coast where moisture and soil conditions can support its unique size and growth requirements, Sequoia sempervirens

A Walking Path Through Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park

 Sunrise and storm clouds over Convict Lake and Laurel Mountain, Eastern Sierra Nevada

Sunrise and storm clouds over Convict Lake and Laurel Mountain, Eastern Sierra Nevada, California.
Point Loma peninsula, with scalloped sandstone cliffs edging the Pacific Ocean, looking south. Navy facilities are scattered along this section of Point Loma, San Diego, California

Point Loma Peninsula, San Diego

 Coast Highway 101, looking south from Del Mar, with Los Penasquitos Marsh on the left and the cliffs of Torrey Pines State Reserve and La Jolla in the distance, San Diego, California

Coast Highway 101, San Diego

 Roosevelt elk, adult bull male with large antlers. Roosevelt elk grow to 10' and 1300 lb, eating grasses, sedges and various berries, inhabiting the coastal rainforests of the Pacific Northwest, Cervus canadensis roosevelti, Redwood National Park, California

Roosevelt Elk, Redwood National Park
A large natural sea cave lies below a sandstone bluff in La Jolla at sunrise with a pink sky, Black's Beach in the distant

La Jolla Cave

 California poppies cover the hillsides in bright orange, just months after the area was devastated by wildfires, Eschscholzia californica, Eschscholtzia californica, Del Dios, San Diego

Explosion of California Poppies, San Diego.

 Main Street buildings, Dechambeau Hotel (left) and I.O.O.F. Hall (right), Bodie State Historical Park, California

Main Street Buildings, Bodie State Historical Park
Mt. Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States with an elevation of 14,505 feet (4,421 m). It lies along the crest of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Composed of the Sierra Nevada batholith granite formation, its eastern side (seen here) is quite steep. It is climbed by hundreds of hikers each year

Mount Whitney, this highest point in the contiguous United States (14,505').
San Clemente Island Pyramid Head, the distinctive pyramid shaped southern end of the island

San Clemente Island Pyramid Head

 Sunset and boulders, Joshua Tree National Park. Sunset lights the giant boulders and rock formations near Jumbo Rocks in Joshua Tree N.P

Sunset In Joshua Tree National Park

 Tenaya Peak and Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park's high country, with Pywiack Dome, Medlicott Dome and Mount Conness in the distance

Tenaya Peak and Tenaya Lake lie below spring clouds in Yosemite National Park's high country. Yosemite National Park.
The Milky Way galaxy above Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park, night star field exposure

The Milky Way Galaxy Above Arch Rock, Joshua Tree National Park

 UCSD Library glows at sunset (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla

UCSD Library At Sunset, University Of California, San Diego

 Sage brush and aspen trees, autumn, in the shade of Bishop Creek Canyon in the Sierra Nevada, Populus tremuloides, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains

Sage Brush And Aspen Trees, Bishop Creek Canyon Sierra Nevada Mountains
Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs reflected in the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, California

Mount Dana and Mount Gibbs reflected in the Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park, California.

 The Morro Bay Power Plant, with its distinctive three stacks, rises above fishing boats in Morro Bay harbor. Morro Bay

The Morro Bay Power Plant, with its distinctive three stacks, rises above fishing boats in Morro Bay harbor. Morro Bay, California.

 Dune primrose (white) and sand verbena (purple) bloom in spring in Anza Borrego Desert State Park, mixing in a rich display of desert color. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Oenothera deltoides, Abronia villosa, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Dune Primrose, Anza-borrego Desert State Park
Sunrise lights Telescope Peak as it rises over the salt flats of Badwater, Death Valley. At 11,049 feet, Telescope Peak is the highest peak in the Panamint Range as well as the highest point in Death Valley National Park. At 282 feet below sea level, Badwater is the lowest point in North America

Badwater, Death Valley

 Merced River reflections and textures, Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California

Merced River reflections and textures, Yosemite Valley.

 Wagon and interior of County Barn, Brown House and Moyle House in distance, Bodie State Historical Park, California

Wagon And Interior Of County Barn, Bodie State Historical Park
Double rainbow forms in storm clouds, over Swall Meadows and Round Valley in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, Bishop, California

A double rainbow forms in storm clouds over Swall Meadows and Round Valley, at sunrise in the Eastern Sierra Nevada, California.
Barber shop, front porch and facade, Main Street, Bodie State Historical Park, California

Barber Shop, Bodie State Historical Park

 Clusters of desert poppy climb the steep sides of the Borrego Valley. Heavy winter rains led to a historic springtime bloom in 2005, carpeting the entire desert in vegetation and color for months, Eschscholzia parishii, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Anza Borrego, California

Desert Poppy, Anza-borrego Desert State Park

 Devils Golf Course, California. Evaporated salt has formed into gnarled, complex crystalline shapes in on the salt pan of Death Valley National Park, one of the largest salt pans in the world. The shapes are constantly evolving as occasional floods submerge the salt concretions before receding and depositing more salt

Devil's Golf Course, Death Valley National Park, Devils Golf Course
UCSD Library glows with light in this night time exposure (Geisel Library, UCSD Central Library), University of California, San Diego, La Jolla

UCSD Library At Night, University Of California, San Diego

 Dune primrose blooms in spring following winter rains. Dune primrose is a common ephemeral wildflower on the Colorado Desert, growing on dunes. Its blooms open in the evening and last through midmorning. Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Oenothera deltoides, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park

Dune Primrose, Anza-borrego Desert State Park

 Cholla cactus, sunrise, dawn, Palm Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, Opuntia, Anza Borrego, California

Cholla Cactus, Anza-borrego Desert State Park
Wind turbines, rise above the flat floor of the San Gorgonio Pass near Palm Springs, with snow covered Mount San Jacinto in the background, provide electricity to Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley

Wind Turbines, San Gorgonio Pass

 Torrey Pines seacliffs, rising up to 300 feet above the ocean, stretch from Del Mar to La Jolla. On the mesa atop the bluffs are found Torrey pine trees, one of the rare species of pines in the world, Torrey Pines State Reserve, San Diego, California

Torrey Pines Seacliffs, Torrey Pines State Reserve

 Giant redwood, Lady Bird Johnson Grove, Redwood National Park. The coastal redwood, or simply 'redwood', is the tallest tree on Earth, reaching a height of 379' and living 3500 years or more. It is native to coastal California and the southwestern corner of Oregon within the United States, but most concentrated in Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California, found close to the coast where moisture and soil conditions can support its unique size and growth requirements, Sequoia sempervirens

Giant Redwood, Redwood National Park
Tenaya Lake in Yosemite National Park's high country, with Pywiack Dome, Medlicott Dome and Mount Conness in the distance

Tenaya Lake In Yosemite National Park's High Country

 The Scripps Institution of Oceanography research pier is 1090 feet long and was built of reinforced concrete in 1988, replacing the original wooden pier built in 1915. The Scripps Pier is home to a variety of sensing equipment above and below water that collects various oceanographic data. The Scripps research diving facility is located at the foot of the pier. Fresh seawater is pumped from the pier to the many tanks and facilities of SIO, including the Birch Aquarium. The Scripps Pier is named in honor of Ellen Browning Scripps, the most significant donor and benefactor of the Institution, La Jolla, California

Sio Pier, Scripps Institution Of Oceanography

 Sand Dunes, California. Near Stovepipe Wells lies a region of sand dunes, some of them hundreds of feet tall, Death Valley National Park

Death Valley Sand Dunes, Stovepipe Wells
Ripples in sand dunes at sunset, California. Winds reshape the dunes each day. Early morning walks among the dunes can yield a look at sidewinder and kangaroo rats tracks the nocturnal desert animals leave behind, Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley National Park

Death Valley Sand Dunes, Stovepipe Wells

 A Sierra Nevada Peak reflected in small tarn (pond), near Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park, California

A Sierra Nevada Peak reflected in small tarn (pond), near Tioga Pass. Yosemite National Park.

 Dana Fork of the Tuolumne River, near Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Park, California

Dana Fork Of The Tuolumne River, Yosemite National Park
Morro Rock and Morro Bay

Morro Rock, Morro Bay

 Tufa towers rise from Mono Lake. Tufa towers are formed when underwater springs rich in calcium mix with lakewater rich in carbonates, forming calcium carbonate (limestone) structures below the surface of the lake. The towers were eventually revealed when the water level in the lake was lowered starting in 1941. South tufa grove, Navy Beach

Mono Lake And Tufa Towers

 Downtown San Diego bayfront, Marina District, with the USS Midway Navy aircraft carrier (right), cruise ship terminal (left) and high rise office buildings towering over North Harbor Drive along San Diego Bay

Downtown San Diego Bayfront
The La Jolla Coast, sometimes referred to as the Riviera of San Diego, is some of the most beautiful residental coastline in all of Southern California

The La Jolla Coast

 Pacific Beach, Crystal Pier and Mission Bay, looking south. Downtown San Diego is seen in the distance

Pacific Beach, San Diego

 San Diego Skyline at sunset, North Harbor Drive running along the waterfront, high rise office buildings, with cruise ship terminal (right)

San Diego Skyline At Sunset