Editing Tehachapi Mountains (section)

==Geography==
The Tehachapis form a geographic, [[Drainage divide|watershed]], [[habitat]], and [[rain shadow]] divide separating the [[San Joaquin Valley]] to the northwest and the [[Mojave Desert]] to the southeast. The Tehachapis' crest varies in height from approximately {{convert|4000|-|8000|ft|m}}. They are southeast of [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]] and the [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], and west of [[Mojave, California|Mojave]] and the [[Antelope Valley]].  The range runs southwest to northeast (SW-NE) connecting the Southern [[Sierra Nevada (U.S.)|Sierra Nevada]] range on their northeast with the [[San Emigdio Mountains]] on the west and [[Sierra Pelona Mountains]] on the southwest.

The Tehachapis are delineated from the San Emigdio Mountains by [[Tejon Pass]] at the range's western end. The dramatic incline of [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] from the San Joaquin Valley floor up to the pass, is regionally referred to as ''The Grapevine'', after Grapevine Canyon which it follows between the northern slopes of the two mountain ranges and is sometimes extended to include the portion of Interstate 5 on the southern side of Tejon Pass, especially during snow closures. <!-- OK, folks. . .  (dated ?) please don't edit this paragraph saying The Grapevine's name comes from the winding road, OK?  I've thoroughly debunked that, and so has [[User:Lucky 6.9]] with me. Thanks. --> The canyon was named after [[native plant|native]] grapevines, the [[Vitis californica|California grapevine (''Vitis californica'')]], found at [[Spring (hydrosphere)|spring]]s on its slopes. The [[California State Water Project]] is to the east, with the [[California Aqueduct]] pumped by the [[Edmonston Pumping Plant]] over/through the Tehachapis to [[Castaic Lake]] reservoir.

The Tehachapis are delineated from the Sierra Pelona Mountains by [[California State Route 138]] at the range's southwestern end, connecting Interstate 5 and the Antelope Valley.

The Tehachapis are delineated from the Sierra Nevada by [[Tehachapi Pass]] and [[California State Route 58|State Route 58]] at the range's northeastern end, connecting the San Joaquin Valley and Mojave Desert. The [[Union Pacific]] north/south railroad line, with the famous [[Tehachapi Loop]], crosses here also. The [[Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm]] is on its eastern side.

The Tehachapis, though neither as long or high as other California mountain ranges, are often considered the topographic feature that separates this part of [[Northern California]] from [[Southern California]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gunther|first=John|author-link=John Gunther|title=[[Inside U.S.A. (book)|Inside U.S.A.]]|pages=3–4|location=[[New York City|New York]], [[London]]|publisher=[[Harper & Brothers]]|year=1947}}</ref> with the geographic boundary often being [[Kern County, California|Kern County]].  Some historians consider that California averted a potential split into two separate states – "North California" and "South California" – from the early 20th century [[Ridge Route]] construction, the first highway crossing these mountains to connect the [[Greater Los Angeles Area|Greater Los Angeles]] and San Joaquin Valley regions.<ref>Note: there have been two occasions in California state history, in 1860 and 1965, when the split into two separate states was proposed in the state legislature, both using the crest of the Tehachapi Mountains as the new border, and both proposals failing.</ref>