Plenty of sunshine along the fault line in California Valley

California Valley is famous for its dry, sunny climate.

That makes this isolated and sparsely populated area attractive to nature lovers and solar farms. Two large commercial solar farms have been built in the area, and the valley is the gateway to the Carrizo Plain National Monument, a 246,812-acre park dedicated to preserving its arid grasslands.

The California Valley also attracts geologists who are interested in seeing the most visible section of the San Andreas Fault, which cuts along the eastern edge of the valley.

This story was originally published August 15, 2014 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Plenty of sunshine along the fault line in California Valley."