have taken full advantage of the Transverse Ranges. The Ranges create a number of coastal plains and valleys which have become densely populated because of their prime living conditions. These valleys include Oxnard Plain, San Fernando Valley, Simi Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and the Inland Valley. The mountain ranges create recreation and living areas and have several ski resorts and provide several hiking and off-road vehicle use areas. Many people reside in the hills of the Transverse Ranges, where they may work locally or commute to work in more populated areas 'down the hill.' Such communities provide an alternative to city and suburban living in southern California. Peninsular Ranges The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch over 900 miles from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula. They are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico. Elevations range from 500 ft to 11,500 ft (150 m to 3,500 m) and vegetation in these ranges varies from coastal sage scrub to chaparral, and from oak woodland to conifer forest. The Peninsular Ranges of southern California include the Santa Ana Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, and the Laguna Mountains. The Peninsular Ranges of Baja California include the Sierra Juarez, Sierra San Pedro Martir, Sierra de la Giganta, and Sierra de la Laguna. These ranges run from north to south. The Santa Ana Mountains are the largest natural landscape along the coast of southern California. These mountains peak at about 5,689 feet, on Santiago Peak. This range starts in the north, in the Corona area heading southeast of the Puente Hills region. The San Jacinto Mountains are located in the desert areas in the north and east side of southern California. They peak at about 10,833 feet. They run from the San Bernardino Mountains southeast to the Santa Rosa Mountains. This mountain range is the northernmost part of the Peninsular Range. The Santa Rosa Mountains are located at the southern end of the San Jacinto Mountains, where they connect to it. The range extends for approximately 30 miles (48 km) through Riverside, San Diego and Imperial counties, along the western side of the Coachella Valley, where they bound the Anza-Borrego portion of the Colorado Desert. The highest peak in the range is Toro Peak (8,717 feet). The