Places, Earth
Gaviota Pass
|
|
Places, Earth
|
|
|
State Parks, Historic Sites, and Museums need your help. Throughout the country, state parks, historic sites, museums, and similar institutions are struggling to continue operating. Because of general financial problems, many of these institutions are operating on a reduced schedule or in danger of closing. Some are being forced to sell off artifacts and property. Many will not weather these hard times without your help. Places Earth urges everyone to support these vital and important public resources any way you can. Please donate your treasure, time, and talent. Write to your governor and other elected officials telling them to find a way to keep state parks open. It will be your loss. Public Service Announcement |
Test space for future ad if donations don't increase. I have one used custom designed & built entertainment center to a good home. If you know anyone who needs a Local 800 Set Designer, pass along this link. |
|
This web site contains no paid advertising. Donations help.
|
| Back | Santa Barbara County Main Page |
| Gaviota Pass was once where El Camono Real, the Kings Highway, passed inland from the coast. Missionaries took this route between Mission Santa Barbara to the south and Missions La Purrisima and Santa Ines to the north. When |
 Road Trip Article |
|
water in the river was high, a pass through Refugio was used. Today, Highway 101 uses Gaviota Pass. In California, most mountain ranges trend north-south, but the area around Gaviota Pass trends east-west. The Santa Ynez Mountains, which surround the pass, were once the floor of an ancient sea which were uplifted millions of years ago. The steep rugged outcrops of the pass are of sandstone beds tilted almost vertically. The rest areas are in the sandstone area adjacent to the abrupt transition to clay shales which continues to the coast. This transition of rock base also marks a transition in vegetation. The sandstone zone is covered with chaparral while the shale is covered with grasses and annual herbs. There are several vegetative zones in this small pass. Along Gaviota Creek is a riparian (streamside) zone with sycamores, cottonwoods, and willows. The steep and rocky slopes are covered with scattered life oak and chaparral such as chamise, ceanothus, manzanita, and redberry. Chaparral covers most of Santa Barbara County because they are adapted to long periods of drought. Small leathery leaves covered with a resinous coating reduces water loss while roots penetrate deep into the soil. Chaparral recovers quickly after fires that are common, aided by burls, underground root crowns that survive the fire. Seeds that survive the fire grow quickly in the soil enriched by the fresh ash and many seeds require fire and can germinate after a half century of dormancy. Animal life can be divided into two main categories, human and non-human. Red-tailed hawks and American Kestrels hunt for prey including mice, gophers, and grass hoppers. Southern Pacific Rattlesnakes hide in the brush. The Chumash people lived in the area for thousands of years before Europeans arrived in 1769. An abundance of food allowed the Chumash time to develop skills and a complex and sophisticated culture. The Chumash made boats to travel to the Channel Islands and for fishing. Chumash rock art is considered among the best in California using as many as six pigments. Chumash were also skilled basket weavers and created intricate designs. They were also expert and making flat shell beads that were used in trade. | |
|
|
| Highway 101 cuts through the pass. North bound passes through a tunnel, lost here in the shadows. | |
 Rest Area. |
 Information kiosk. |
 Information labels. |
 Fencing protects the north bound lanes from falling rocks. |
 Looking south toward the Pacific. |
 Hillside to the northwest of the south bound rest area. |
|
|
|
| Santa Barbara County Main Page |
| Note:This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
|
Support this Web Site This web site started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History. This web site is for your benefit and I make no profit on it. I don't allow paid advertising. This site is supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer and there haven' been many this year. I sell art at www.klimages.com. A non-tax deductable donation to help cover the cost of operating this web site may be made to Kesign Design Consulting through PayPal ... | ||
 Buy Avon from my wife. |
 Or donations can be mailed to the address on the contact page. |
 Buy my art. |
 |
This site maintained by Kenneth A. Larson. Copyright © 2004 - 2013, Kenneth A. Larson. All Rights Reserved. Website content including photographic and graphic images may not be redistributed for use on another website. |
| This site is a non-commercial alternative to my commercial design portfolio site. This site's only purpose is for your enjoyment. There is no advertising and I make no profit. If you are in the need of a designer, please check my commercial site www.kesigndesign.com. |
|
|
Links |
|
|