San Bernardino Mountains

The San Bernardino Mountains are a rugged mountain range located in Southern California, east of the city of San Bernardino. The range is characterized by steep, forested slopes, deep canyons, and numerous peaks reaching over 10,000 feet in elevation. The mountains were formed by tectonic activity along the San Andreas Fault and are composed primarily of granite and metamorphic rock. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and cool, snowy winters at higher elevations. The range provides crucial habitat for a diverse array of plant and animal life, including the endangered San Bernardino kangaroo rat.