Sierra Nevada (USA)

Mountain range in eastern California, USA, extending for about 640 km/400 mi, with a general ridge line at over 2,500 m/8,202 ft. Its highest point is Mount Whitney, which rises to 4,418 m/14,494 ft. The Sierra Nevada includes the King's Canyon, Yosemite, and Sequoia national parks.

The range forms the eastern wall of the Central Valley of California, separating the state from the Great Basin and the rest of the continent. A small portion runs into Nevada, near Lake Tahoe. There are no easy passes, and the mountains formed a formidable barrier to early travel; the Donner Pass, which carries the main road and rail routes, lies at 2,150 m/7,050 ft. The mountains are heavily forested, and groves of giant sequoias grow on the western slopes. In 1848 settlers found gold in the western foothills, touching off the great 1849 gold rush. Silver mines have been opened on its eastern side.