Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

Simi Valley is located in Southern Califronia, at 34°16'16" North, 118°44'22" West. The city is approximately 40 miles North from downtown Los Angeles, and 350 South from the State's capital Sacramento. Simi Valley borders the Santa Susana Mountains to the north and Simi Hills to the east and south.

Simi Valley surrounded by the the Santa Susana mountains, with the snowy mountains of Los Padres National Forest beyond.

One of my personal favorite geographical features of Simi Valley are the Santa Monica Mountains. The Santa Monica Mountains are about seven and a half miles wide, and are about forty-six miles long; they extend from Griffith Park in Los Angeles to Point Mugu, just outside Oxnard in Ventura County. The average elevation of these mountains is 1,000 feet, the highest point, Sandstone Peak, is over 3,000 feet. My favorite feature of these mountains are the trails, most of the mountains are layered with different trailers for hikers to explore.

Picture of me at the beginning of the Rocky Peak trails in Simi Valley

The Climate in Simi Valley tends to be warmer, and for longer, than most areas. Not too much rain fall hits this city during the year, usually an average of about 17 inches per year.

Average Monthly Temperatures of Simi Valley

Average Monthly Precipitation of Simi Valley

Due to its high temperatures and low humidity Simi Valley, as is most of Southern Califonia, is especially suseptable to wildfires. The dry brush of the mountains is the perfect start for wildfires. In 2005 a wildfire burned more that 17,000 in the area.

Credit:
http://www.betweenwaters.com/etc/usrain.html
http://www.city-data.com/city/Simi-Valley-California.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simi_Valley,_California#Climate
http://nps.gov/samo/planyourvisit/index.htm