Porterville is situated on the eastern edge of the San Joaquin Val ley, just where it begins to rise into the foothills of the Sierra Ne vadas. To the north, south and west lies the nearly level ?oor of the great valley; a few minutes drive to the east takes one among the outposts of the snowy range. Right here the Tule river emerges from its long but lively course among the mountains to a more de liberate progress through the plain.