(kalifôr´nye) , Californis is the most populous state in the USA and located on the West Coast bordered by Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico at the Pacific Coast.
Area, 158,693 square miles (411,015 sq km).
Pop. in 2000 was 33,871,648, a 13.8% increase since the 1990 census.
Capital, Sacramento.
Largest city, Los Angeles
Nickname, Golden State.
Motto,Eureka "I Have Found It".
State bird, California Valley Quail.
State flower, Golden Ppoppy.
State tree, California Redwood
California is third in the United States in area. It has a diverse topography and climate. The mountains along the coast extend 1,200-miles (1,930-km). From Point Arena, North of San Francisco to the Southern part of the state is subject to small sometimes severe earthquakes. These are caused by tectonic stress along the San Andreas Fault. The giant redwood forests are located in the Coastal Ranges mountains that receive heavy rainfall, but these mountains are are considerably drier in the South. There are no major rivers that reach the ocean South of the Golden Gate Bridge. The Great Central valley lies behind the Coastal Ranges in the center of the state which is a long alluvial valley drained by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. The Mojave Desert is located in the southeast where you will find Joshua Tree National Park.
The Sierra Nevada Mountain Range rises as an almost impenetrable granite barrier east of the Central Valley. which includes Mt. Whitney, Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite National Parks. The Cascade Range,or Northern Sierra Nevada, includes Lassen Volcanic National Park. East of the Sierra Nevada is Death Valley National Park. If Califor nia were a nation, it would be one of the ten largest countries in the world. Agriculture is gradually yielding to industry as the core of the state's economy but California still leads the nation in the production of fruits and vegetables, including carrots, lettuce, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, strawberries, and almonds. Grapes, cotton, flowers, and oranges are California's most valuable crops, however, California is the largest producer of dairy products and leads the nation in the dairy industry. The state produces the major share of the United States' domestic wine. California's farms are highly productive as a result of good soil, a long growing season, and modern agricultural methods. Irrigation is critical in the San Joaquin Valley and Imperial Valley. The gathering and packing of crops is done largely by seasonal migrant labor, primarily Mexicans. California continues to be a major U.S. center for motion-picture, television film, and related entertainment industries, especially in Hollywood and Burbank. Tourism also is an important source of revenue. Disneyland,Sea World, and other theme parks draw millions of visitors every year, as well as San Francisco with its numerous attractions and several entertainment-dominated Los Angeles-area communities.
*Information from Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition |