| Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks | |
| Map: | USA California#USA |
| Location: | Orange County, California |
| Nearest City: | Irvine |
| Coordinates: | 33.7315°N -117.693°W |
| Url: | http://www.irlandmarks.org/ |
The Irvine Ranch Natural Landmarks (also known collectively as Irvine Ranch Open Space[1]) are a collection of protected areas in Orange County, California in and around 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.[2]
Irvine Ranch contains a remarkably complete stratigraphic succession ranging in age from late Cretaceous (80 million years ago) to the present. The primary biological features at the site include coastal sage scrub and chaparral communities, including rare Tecate cypress woodlands.[3]
The Irvine Ranch started out as a cattle ranch in the 1860s. By the late 1970s the cattle business had been sold.[4]