Soap Lake Region - Second Overflight, approaching from Hollister

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(Map) These are views of the Soap Lake region taken during the second overflight. We are approaching from Hollister and then turning left towards Highway 101 and Chittenden Gap

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Here we are approaching the Soap Lake area from the south. Right in front of us is the ridge delineating the southern part of the region. On the left we can see a hilltop that has been shaved off - this is Lomeras Muertas.

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Crossing over Lomeras Muertas we get a clearer view of the Soap Lake region, looking approximately north-east and with the edges of Gilroy just visible in the distance on the left. The top of Lomas Muertas is being quarried and spoils are hauled to the San Benito riverbed. A developement site is being planned here.

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Here we are looking at the downstream end of Soap Lake. On the left of the picture is Highway 101 going north to Gilroy in the distance. To the right of the highway (in the upper part of the picture) is the railroad line which can be seen crossing under highway 101 on its way to Aromas and Watsonville. Just south of this railroad crossing (lower in the picture) we can see the Pajaro River just before it too goes under Highway 101 on its way to the ocean. Upstream from that point we can see the Uvas/Carnadero (middle of the picture) joining the Pajaro which is coming from the right.

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Looking a little further to the right (east) we get a better view of the main extent of the Soap Lake region. The Pajaro river is crossing the picture diagonally from top right to lower left with the Uvas/Carnadero joining it as it from Gilroy in the north

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Looking even further to the right (east) we can now see just about the whole extent of the Soap Lake region as we cross over the top of Lomas Muertas

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This is the junction of the Uvas and Pajaro Rivers. The Uvas is coming in from the left of this picture, while the body of open water leading towards the upper-right of the picture is the Pajaro. In both cases we are looking upstream.

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A closer view...

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Turning left slightly, we pass over where the railway line crosses under Highway 101. The Uvas is coming down the center of the picture and joins the Pajaro in the bottom right-hand corner of the picture.

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Continuing our left-hand turn, we see Highway 101 going to the north, with the railway line just to the left (east) of it. Gilroy is in the upper-left corner of the picture.

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Looking east, we see the Uvas coming in from the left of the pictureto join the Pajaro which is coming from the top of the picture (body of water). In the bottom left of the picture is Tar Creek which flows under Highway 101 to join the Uvas just upstream from its confluence with the Pajaro.

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Triple junction... The Uvas coming in from about half-way up on the left of the picture, the Pajaro (larger body of water) comes in from the left slightly higher up, and Tar Creek comes in after passing under Highway 101 to join the Uvas.

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A final look at the Soap Lake Region - looking approximately south. The stream in the bottom-left of the picture is the Uvas and the one exiting the picture at the right-hand edge is the Pajaro. Highway 25 is visible in the background, heading south toward Hollister.