Editing Laguna Niguel, California (section)

==Geography==
[[Image:Laguna Niguel and Saddleback crop.JPG|thumb|right|Evening view over Niguel Summit, with the San Joaquin Hills neighborhood in the distance]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the [[city]] has a total area of {{convert|14.9|sqmi|km2}}. {{convert|14.8|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.05|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.35%) is water.

Laguna Niguel consists of mostly hilly terrain, being located within the [[San Joaquin Hills]]. The average elevation is {{convert|400|ft|m}}; elevations range from near sea level to {{convert|936|ft|m}} at the summit of Niguel Hill, in the southwest corner of the city.<ref name="ACME">{{cite map|publisher=ACME Mapper|title=USGS Topo Maps for United States
|cartography=[[United States Geological Survey]]|access-date=October 29, 2009|url=http://mapper.acme.com/}}</ref> Neighboring cities are [[Aliso Viejo]] and [[Laguna Hills]] to the north, [[Mission Viejo]] and [[San Juan Capistrano]] to the east, and [[Laguna Beach]] and [[Dana Point]] to the south. On the west, it borders the significant unincorporated acreage of [[Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park]].<ref>{{cite map|title=County of Orange, California City Boundaries|publisher=Orange County Department of Public Works|cartography=Kevin Velasco, Orange County Public Works GIS Mapping Unit|date=October 25, 2011|access-date=July 25, 2016|url=http://ocpublicworks.com/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=8438}}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

The main watercourses in Laguna Niguel are [[Salt Creek (Orange County)|Salt Creek]], which flows through the southern part of the city, and [[Sulphur Creek (California)|Sulphur Creek]], which drains much of the northern half. Sulphur Creek is a tributary of [[Aliso Creek (Orange County)|Aliso Creek]], which flows through the wide and deep [[Aliso Canyon]] before reaching the Pacific Ocean. [[Laguna Niguel Lake]], formed by damming Sulphur Creek, is the largest body of water in the city.<ref name="ACME" /> Although Laguna Niguel is located very close to the Pacific, it does not border it, the result of a controversy over the coastline with Dana Point in 1989 (see [[#History]]).

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|Laguna Niguel, California
|44|68|2.9
|45|68|3.4
|47|69|2.0
|50|72|0.9
|54|73|0.3
|58|75|0.1
|61|79|0.1
|60|80|0.0
|59|80|0.3
|54|77|0.7
|48|72|1.1
|43|67|2.4
|source=Weather.com / NWS
|float=right
|clear=right
|units=imperial
}}

Like much of coastal Southern California, Laguna Niguel has pleasant weather year-round. On average, August is the hottest month and December the coolest. The highest recorded temperature was {{convert|108|F|C}}, which occurred in 1963, and the lowest temperature was {{convert|21|F|C}}, which was recorded in 1949. Precipitation is sparse in Laguna Niguel, as only five months out of the year receive rainfall greater than one inch, with an annual average of {{convert|14.2|in|mm}}. The highest monthly rainfall on average occurs in February and is {{convert|3.4|in|mm}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USCA0575?from=36hr_bottomnav_undeclared|title=Average Weather for Laguna Niguel, CA - Temperature and Precipitation|publisher=Weather.com|access-date=September 19, 2013}}</ref>
[[File:Viewfrombadlands.jpg|left|thumb|View of [[Laguna Beach]] and [[Dana Point]] from Badlands Park, Laguna Niguel. March 2021.]]

===Neighborhoods===
Neighborhoods include Bear Brand Ranch, San Marin, El Niguel Heights and Golf Course, Ocean Ranch, Laguna Crest, Laguna Sur. Coronado Pointe,
South Peak, Crest de Ville, Niguel Coast, Palmilla, Beacon Hill, Monarch Point, and the Highlands, which offer city, canyon, and ocean views. Other neighborhoods include Rancho Niguel, Marina Hills, Concord Hill, Niguel West, Niguel Summit, Kite Hill, Rolling Hills, and [[San Joaquin Hills (Laguna Niguel, California)|San Joaquin Hills]].

===Roads===
[[File:I-5 (CA).svg|27px|link=Interstate 5 in California]] [[Interstate 5 in California|Interstate 5]] travels along the eastern border of Laguna Niguel, forming the border with [[Mission Viejo, California|Mission Viejo]]. I-5 has two interchanges in the city: Avery Parkway and Crown Valley Parkway.

[[File:California 73.svg|27px|link=California State Route 73]] [[California State Route 73|The San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor]] is a major toll road travelling through Laguna Niguel, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, [[Newport Beach, California|Newport Beach]], and [[Irvine, California|Irvine]], respectively. The toll road, managed by the [[Transportation Corridor Agencies]] and maintained by [[Caltrans]], starts as a toll road at Interstate 5, and becomes a freeway at Bison Avenue, and provides a toll alternative to the busy [[Interstate 405 in California|Interstate 405]], terminating in [[Costa Mesa, California|Costa Mesa]] at said freeway.

In addition to the highways listed above, Alicia Parkway and Crown Valley Parkway are major north-south thoroughfares and the Street of the Golden Lantern/Moulton Parkway is a major east-west thoroughfare. Minor thoroughfares include Camino del Avion, Marina Hills Drive, Aliso Creek Road, Niguel Road, Cabot Road, La Paz Road, and Pacific Park Drive (Oso Parkway at the Laguna Hills-Laguna Niguel border).