Santa Ana River, River in San Bernardino Mountains, United States
The Santa Ana River flows roughly 100 miles from the San Bernardino Mountains through San Bernardino and Riverside counties toward the Pacific Ocean. The river shapes the landscape of this region with its riparian banks and serves today as an important natural corridor through southern California.
Yuhaviatam, Payomkowishum, Cahuilla, and Tongva peoples lived along these riverbanks for thousands of years before European colonists arrived in the region. These early communities relied on the river's resources to sustain their ways of life and develop their societies.
The river shaped the founding and growth of cities like Santa Ana, Riverside, and Anaheim, which evolved from ranchland into agricultural centers. People in the region have long relied on its water and fertile banks to build their communities.
A trail follows the river through the region and connects communities along its path to the sea. Visitors find various access points and parks along the route, with conditions that vary depending on the season and weather.
The river crosses a basin with many different landscape types, from mountains to valleys, and provides habitat for hundreds of animal and plant species. This biodiversity makes it a valuable natural corridor connecting ecosystems across the region.
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