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Geological Formation

Cuyama Valley

Structural and Tectonic Formations

The Cuyama Valley is an alluvium filled synclinal basin in central California, spanning parts of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Kern and Ventura counties. Its name comes from the Chumash word kuyam, meaning clam or freshwater mollusk. The valley's southern foothills expose outcrops of the Miocene age Monterey Formation, and the basin floor sits roughly 2,000 to 2,500 feet above sea level across about 300 square miles. Ranching, agriculture and oil and gas production, discovered there in the late 1940s, are the valley's main economic activities.

Connections

Associated With

Miocene, Eras
Source Cuyama Valley (Wikipedia)
Pleistocene, Eras
Source Cuyama Valley (Wikipedia)
Pliocene, Eras
Source Cuyama Valley (Wikipedia)

Caused By

Erosion, Processes

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to formative process Erosion via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Cuyama Valley

In Discipline

Wikidata P31 formation-type mapped to discipline Geomorphology via reviewed judgment map (earth atlas); source citation is this entity's own cited Wikidata item.

Source Wikidata: Cuyama Valley
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Wikidata: Cuyama Valley
Sources
Cuyama Valley (Wikipedia)
  • Lead section
    The Cuyama Valley (Chumash: Kuyam, meaning "Clam") is a valley along the Cuyama River in Central California, spanning northern Santa Barbara County, southern San Luis Obispo County, southwestern Kern County, and northwestern Ventura counties.
  • Associated With: Miocene, Article text, age Miocene
    Most of the rocks are sedimentary, and the Miocene-age Monterey Formation outcrops to the south, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre.
  • Associated With: Pliocene, Article text, age Pliocene
    Most of the rocks are sedimentary, and the Miocene-age Monterey Formation outcrops to the south, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. Pliocene and Pleistocene sedimentary formations occur in the foothills along the south side of the valley as well.
  • Associated With: Pleistocene, Article text, age Pleistocene
    Most of the rocks are sedimentary, and the Miocene-age Monterey Formation outcrops to the south, in the foothills of the Sierra Madre. Pliocene and Pleistocene sedimentary formations occur in the foothills along the south side of the valley as well.
View the Source
Wikidata: Cuyama Valley
Wikidata Q1146713, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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