Colorado River water reaches Southern California through the "Colorado River Aqueduct," which starts near Parker Dam on the Colorado River, travels through the Mojave Desert, and ends at Lake Mathews in Riverside County, California, delivering water to cities like Los Angeles and San Diego via a network of canals, siphons, and tunnels; with a significant portion of the water for San Diego being diverted through the San Diego Canal along the way.
Key points about the route:
- Starting point: Near Parker Dam on the Colorado River.
- Major feature: The Colorado River Aqueduct, which runs for approximately 242 miles.
- Terrain crossed: Mojave Desert
- Mountain passage: Through the San Gorgonio Pass and San Jacinto Mountains, often utilizing tunnels
- End point: Lake Mathews in Riverside County
