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Sierra Nevada Mountains, California and Nevada

The Sierra Nevada Mountains, often simply called "the Sierras", run very roughly north-north-west to south-south-east for about 400 miles in the central part of eastern California. They also extend a short way into Nevada near Lake Tahoe.

The Cascade Mountains lie to the north of the Sierras, and the Mojave Desert lies to the south. The Great Basin lies to the east.

The Sierras are often stated as ending in the north at the gap immediately to the south of Lassen Peak, making Lassen the southernmost peak in the Cascades. However, there appears to possibly be some controversy over whether Lassen lies in the Cascades or the Sierras. In the south the Sierras end at the Tehachapi pass (California State Highway 58 from Bakersfield to Mojave and then Barstow).

The highest peak in the Sierras is Mount Whitney, which at 14,491 feet is the highest peak in the lower 48 states.

Highlights of the Sierras include Lake Tahoe, Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park.

The Mother Lode runs along part of the western slope of the Sierras and the Comstock Lode is located on the eastern slope.

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Most recently modified 6-Mar-01