CaliCalifornforniaia CoastCoastllineine• The coastline of California The coastline of California

stretches for 1,264 miles from stretches for 1,264 miles from the Oregon border in the north the Oregon border in the north to Mexico in the south. Some to Mexico in the south. Some of the most breathtaking of the most breathtaking scenery in all of California lies scenery in all of California lies along the Pacific coastalong the Pacific coast..

• Standing alone on the Standing alone on the spectacular coast of the spectacular coast of the Monterey peninsula, this Monterey peninsula, this windswept Monterey windswept Monterey cypress has long been a cypress has long been a favorite subject for artists favorite subject for artists and photographersand photographers.

SanSan FranciscoFrancisco BayBay• San Francisco Bay, one of the San Francisco Bay, one of the

finest natural harbors in the world, finest natural harbors in the world, covers some 450 square miles. It is covers some 450 square miles. It is two hundred feet deep at some two hundred feet deep at some points, most of the harbor is less points, most of the harbor is less than twelve feet deep. than twelve feet deep.

• The bay region, the only real break The bay region, the only real break in the coastal mountains, is the in the coastal mountains, is the ancestral homeland of the Ohlone ancestral homeland of the Ohlone and and Coast Miwok IndiansCoast Miwok Indians. It became . It became the gateway for newcomers heading the gateway for newcomers heading to the state's interior in the 1800’s to the state's interior in the 1800’s and 1900’s.and 1900’s.

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San Diego BaySan Diego Bay• A variety of the Kumeyaay people have lived around the shores A variety of the Kumeyaay people have lived around the shores

of San Diego Bay for thousands of years. of San Diego Bay for thousands of years. • European settlement began in 1769 with the arrival of the first European settlement began in 1769 with the arrival of the first

Spanish missionaries. Spanish missionaries. • The bay was seized by United States Marines during the The bay was seized by United States Marines during the

Mexican-American War in 1846-1848. Mexican-American War in 1846-1848. • The coming of the Santa Fe railroad in 1885 spurred population The coming of the Santa Fe railroad in 1885 spurred population

growth as did the establishment of major army and navy bases growth as did the establishment of major army and navy bases during World War I.during World War I.

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Los Angeles BasinLos Angeles Basin• It’s the largest lowland area It’s the largest lowland area

in California that directly in California that directly fronts the ocean.fronts the ocean.

• Longtime home of the Longtime home of the Tongva people.Tongva people.

• During 1880s, the population During 1880s, the population of Los Angeles swelled from of Los Angeles swelled from 11,000 to 50,000.11,000 to 50,000.

• Construction of a huge Construction of a huge breakwater along the harbor breakwater along the harbor at San Pedro began in 1899 at San Pedro began in 1899 and was later made larger to and was later made larger to protect both the harbors of protect both the harbors of

San Pedro and Long BeachSan Pedro and Long Beach. .

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San Diego Bay

Los Angeles Basin

San Francisco Bay

Map of Map of California #1California #1

MounMountaintainss of of CalifCaliforniaornia • Mountains cover most of the Mountains cover most of the

surface of California. surface of California. • Mountain ranges isolated the Mountain ranges isolated the

different Native American different Native American cultures that prospered within cultures that prospered within these boundaries.these boundaries.

• The mountains also were The mountains also were formidable barriers during formidable barriers during the early decades of the early decades of European American European American exploration and settlement.exploration and settlement.

MounMountaintainss of of CalifCalifornia ornia ContinuedContinued

• Mount Whitney is the highest point inside the contiguous United is the highest point inside the contiguous United States and is 14,495 feet above sea level.States and is 14,495 feet above sea level.

• Mount Shasta is a dormant volcano whose summit is 14,162 feet is a dormant volcano whose summit is 14,162 feet above sea level.above sea level.

• Mount Lassen is just to the south of Mount Shasta and stands is just to the south of Mount Shasta and stands 10,457 feet above sea level. Mt. Lassen was an active volcano 10,457 feet above sea level. Mt. Lassen was an active volcano in the early 1900’s. in the early 1900’s.

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Sierra NevadaSierra Nevada• The largest mountain The largest mountain

range in California. It range in California. It occupies 1/5 of the total occupies 1/5 of the total area of the state. area of the state.

• It runs more than 400 It runs more than 400 miles along California'smiles along California's eastern border.eastern border.

• The eastern side of the The eastern side of the Sierra Nevada rises Sierra Nevada rises steeply, whereas the steeply, whereas the western side has a more western side has a more gentle slope. gentle slope.

Sierra Nevada -Sierra Nevada -ContinuedContinued

• Forests of pine, fir, and Forests of pine, fir, and cedar cover the lower cedar cover the lower elevations.elevations.

• Rushing mountain rivers Rushing mountain rivers have cut dozens of deep have cut dozens of deep canyons in the western canyons in the western Sierra.Sierra.

• The gold that was The gold that was discovered in 1848 was discovered in 1848 was eroded from rock in the eroded from rock in the high Sierra and deposited high Sierra and deposited in stream banks and in stream banks and ancient riverbeds of the ancient riverbeds of the western foothills. western foothills.

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Coast RangesCoast Ranges

• The Coast Ranges extend from The Coast Ranges extend from Cape Mendocino in the north to Cape Mendocino in the north to Point Conception in the south. They Point Conception in the south. They average less than 4,000 feet in average less than 4,000 feet in heightheight

• They are made up of uplifted They are made up of uplifted sedimentary material, and sedimentary material, and metamorphic rock. On the seaward metamorphic rock. On the seaward slopes of the northern ranges are slopes of the northern ranges are forests of coast redwoods, greatly forests of coast redwoods, greatly reduced by more than a century of reduced by more than a century of commercial logging.commercial logging.

• Mount Hamilton, a 4,261-foot peak Mount Hamilton, a 4,261-foot peak located east of San Jose, is the site located east of San Jose, is the site of the Lick Observatory, built in of the Lick Observatory, built in 1888. 1888.

• Mount Diablo, rising to 3,849 in Mount Diablo, rising to 3,849 in eastern Contra Costa County, was eastern Contra Costa County, was the scene of coal-mining activity in the scene of coal-mining activity in the 1860s. the 1860s.

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Mount Shasta

Mount Lassen

Mount Whitney

Sierra Nevada

Map of Map of California - #2California - #2

Coastal Ranges

CeCentrntralal VaValllleyey • The Central Valley lies between the Coast Ranges and the Sierra The Central Valley lies between the Coast Ranges and the Sierra

Nevada. More than four hundred miles long and about fifty miles wide, Nevada. More than four hundred miles long and about fifty miles wide, the Central Valley is the most productive agricultural area in the Central Valley is the most productive agricultural area in California.California.

• Oak woodlands and bunchgrass prairies once covered the valley floor Oak woodlands and bunchgrass prairies once covered the valley floor and great tule marshes extended over the flood plain. Beavers in the and great tule marshes extended over the flood plain. Beavers in the inland streams first lured European Americans across the continent to inland streams first lured European Americans across the continent to California in the 1820s.California in the 1820s.

• Irrigated cropland today covers most of the valley and produces more Irrigated cropland today covers most of the valley and produces more agricultural products than any comparable region in the world. agricultural products than any comparable region in the world.

San Joaquin ValleySan Joaquin Valley• Ancestral home of the Yokuts and Ancestral home of the Yokuts and

Miwok Indians, the San Joaquin Valley Miwok Indians, the San Joaquin Valley extends southward from the extends southward from the Sacramento River to the Tehachapi Sacramento River to the Tehachapi Mountains.Mountains.

• European Americans first entered the European Americans first entered the valley in the 1770’s, pursuing deserters valley in the 1770’s, pursuing deserters from the coastal missions.from the coastal missions.

• After the gold rush European settlers After the gold rush European settlers established vast wheat farms on the established vast wheat farms on the valley's fertile soils. The coming of the valley's fertile soils. The coming of the Southern Pacific Railroad triggered Southern Pacific Railroad triggered further agricultural development.further agricultural development.

• The great Central Valley Project, The great Central Valley Project, constructed in the mid-twentieth constructed in the mid-twentieth century, guaranteed sufficient water for century, guaranteed sufficient water for the diversification of crops. the diversification of crops.

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Sacramento ValleySacramento Valley

• Flowing through the heart of the valley is the four hundred-mile long Flowing through the heart of the valley is the four hundred-mile long Sacramento River. The Sacramento River carries one-third of the Sacramento River. The Sacramento River carries one-third of the annual runoff of all California streams, the largest river in the state.annual runoff of all California streams, the largest river in the state.

• Many Native American cultures flourished in the Sacramento Valley Many Native American cultures flourished in the Sacramento Valley prior to European exploration in the late eighteenth century. prior to European exploration in the late eighteenth century.

• Johann Sutter established the first European settlement in the valley Johann Sutter established the first European settlement in the valley where the Sacramento and American rivers join. During the gold rush where the Sacramento and American rivers join. During the gold rush many people heading for the mines in the Sierra Nevadas crossed the many people heading for the mines in the Sierra Nevadas crossed the valley. Sacramento, Marysville, Yuba City, and other towns flourished valley. Sacramento, Marysville, Yuba City, and other towns flourished as supply centers for the miners.as supply centers for the miners.

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CalCaliforifornia nia DesDesertertss

• Much of the eastern half of southern California is a large desert Much of the eastern half of southern California is a large desert triangle--a large area of sandy valleys, dried lake beds, and triangle--a large area of sandy valleys, dried lake beds, and short ranges of rugged mountains. short ranges of rugged mountains.

• These southern deserts were as much a barrier to overland These southern deserts were as much a barrier to overland migration to California in the 1700’s as the steep eastern face migration to California in the 1700’s as the steep eastern face of the Sierra Nevada was in the 1800’s. of the Sierra Nevada was in the 1800’s.

Mojave DesertMojave Desert • The Mojave is the largest desert in The Mojave is the largest desert in

California, covering some 25,000 California, covering some 25,000 square miles. square miles.

• Active volcanoes erupted long ago, Active volcanoes erupted long ago, depositing layers of lava, mud, and ash depositing layers of lava, mud, and ash onto the desert floor.onto the desert floor.

• Native American cultures, including the Native American cultures, including the Quechan (Yuma) and Mojave, lived Quechan (Yuma) and Mojave, lived along the Colorado River. The Cahuilla along the Colorado River. The Cahuilla and Serrano, lived farther west. and Serrano, lived farther west.

• The Old Spanish Trail crossed the The Old Spanish Trail crossed the region in the late eighteenth century, as region in the late eighteenth century, as did the Santa Fe railroad in the did the Santa Fe railroad in the nineteenth.nineteenth.

• Dry lake beds contain rich deposits of Dry lake beds contain rich deposits of boron, a valuable mineral used for jet-boron, a valuable mineral used for jet-engine and rocket fuels. engine and rocket fuels.

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Colorado DesertColorado Desert• The Colorado Desert stretches The Colorado Desert stretches

over 4,000 square miles in over 4,000 square miles in southeastern California. Part of southeastern California. Part of the desert lies 245 feet below sea the desert lies 245 feet below sea level at some points.level at some points.

• The Colorado Desert includes the The Colorado Desert includes the Coachella and Imperial valleys Coachella and Imperial valleys with the Salton Sea between. with the Salton Sea between.

• The Salton Sea was formed in The Salton Sea was formed in 1905-1907 when waters from the 1905-1907 when waters from the Colorado River overflowed an Colorado River overflowed an irrigation system. irrigation system.

• Palm Springs is an rich resort Palm Springs is an rich resort community, famous for its warm community, famous for its warm winter sunshine and star-studded winter sunshine and star-studded population.population.

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Death ValleyDeath Valley

• The most well known of the California deserts. It is a deep trough The most well known of the California deserts. It is a deep trough about 130 miles long and six to fourteen miles wide. about 130 miles long and six to fourteen miles wide.

• In the center of the valley is Badwater, the lowest point in the Western In the center of the valley is Badwater, the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level.Hemisphere at 282 feet below sea level.

• Death Valley was named by a group of gold-miners who struggled Death Valley was named by a group of gold-miners who struggled through the area in 1849. through the area in 1849.

• After large amounts of borax was discovered in 1873, the valley After large amounts of borax was discovered in 1873, the valley became famous for its twenty-mule teams hauling out wagon-loads of became famous for its twenty-mule teams hauling out wagon-loads of this valuable mineral.this valuable mineral.

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Sacramento Valley

San Joaquin Valley

Death Valley

Colorado Desert

Mojave Desert

Map of California #3Map of California #3