Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks


The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks are a collection of protected areas in Orange County, California near Irvine. They encompass almost of land which was once a part of the Irvine Ranch owned by the Irvine Company. Almost of the landmarks were designated a National Natural Landmark in 2006 and a California Natural Landmark in 2008.
Irvine Ranch contains a remarkably complete stratigraphic succession ranging in age from late Cretaceous to the present. The primary biological features at the site include coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities, including rare Tecate cypress woodlands.

History

The Irvine Ranch started out as a cattle ranch in the 1860s. By the late 1970s the cattle business had been sold.

Natural landmarks