State of California
Flag of California Seal Nickname(s): The Golden State Motto(s): Eureka![1] Before Statehood Known as The California Republic
Official language(s)	English
Demonym	Californian
Capital	Sacramento
Largest city	Los Angeles
Largest metro area	Greater Los Angeles
Area	Ranked 3rd in the US
- Total	163,696 sq mi (423,970 km²)
- Width	250 miles (400 km)
- Length	770 miles (1,240 km)
- % water	4.7
- Latitude	32° 32′ N to 42° N
- Longitude	114° 8′ W to 124° 26′ W
Population	Ranked 1st in the US
- Total	36,553,215 (2007 est.)
- Density	233.8/sq mi  90.27/km² (12th in the US)
- Median income	US$49,894 (13th)
Elevation
- Highest point	Mount Whitney[2] 14,505 ft  (4,421 m)
- Mean	2,900 ft  (884 m)
- Lowest point	Death Valley[2] -282 ft  (-86 m)
Admission to Union	September 9, 1850 (31st)
Governor	Arnold Schwarzenegger (R)
Lieutenant Governor	John Garamendi (D)
U.S. Senators	Dianne Feinstein (D) Barbara Boxer (D)
Congressional Delegation	List
Time zone	Pacific: UTC-8/-7
Abbreviations	CA Calif. US-CA
Website	ca.gov

California Portal

California (IPA: /ˌkælɪˈfɔrnjə/) is a state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is the most populous U.S. state. Its four largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. It is known for its varied climate and geography as well as its diverse population. The name California can refer to many places and things. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_California. ... Image File history File links Seal_of_California. ... The modern Bear Flag of California The flag of California was first flown during the Bear Flag Revolt as the flag of the California Republic, and a modified version was then adopted by the California state legislature in 1911 as the state flag. ... The Great Seal of the U.S. state of California. ... This is a list of U.S. state nicknames -- both official and traditional (official state nicknames are in bold). ... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Eureka (Eureka!, or Heureka; Greek (later ); IPA: (modern Greek), (ancient Greek, both former and later forms), Anglicised as ) is a famous exclamation attributed to Archimedes. ... The Bear Flag Capital Sonoma, California Language(s) English and Spanish (de facto) Government Republic President William B. Ide History  - Independence from Mexico June 14, 1846  - Annexation by the United States of America July 9, 1846 The California Republic, also called the Bear Flag Republic, was the result of a... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links Map_of_USA_CA.svg‎ File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): California ... The United States does not have an official language, but English is spoken by about 82% of the population as a native language. ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... A demonym or gentilic is a word that denotes the members of a people or the inhabitants of a place. ... Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, site of first U.S. capital. ... Sacramento redirects here. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... In the United States, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has produced a formal definition of metropolitan areas. ... Walt Disney Concert Hall, Frank Gehry, architect The Greater Los Angeles Area, or the Southland, (not to be confused with the Los Angeles Metro Area which includes only Los Angeles and Orange Counties) is the agglomeration of urbanized area around the county of Los Angeles, California, United States. ... This article is about the physical quantity. ... This is a complete list of the states of the United States ordered by total area, land area, and water area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... “km” redirects here. ... Map of states populations (2007) This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2007, according to the 2007 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. ... Map of states showing population density This is a list of the 50 U.S. states, ordered by population density. ... For information on the income of individuals, see Personal income in the United States. ... This is a list of United States states by elevation. ... Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ... The order which the original 13 states ratified the constitution, then the order that the others were admitted to the union This is a list of U.S. states by date of statehood, that is, the date when each U.S. state joined the Union. ... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the game, see: 1850 (board game) 1850 (MDCCCL) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... For other uses, see Governor (disambiguation). ... Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (German IPA: ; born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian-American bodybuilder, Golden Globe-winning actor, businessman and politician currently serving as the 38th Governor of the U.S. state of California. ... This is a complete and current List of United States Lieutenant Governors. ... John Raymond Garamendi (born January 24, 1945) is a U.S. politician and a member of the Democratic Party. ... Type Upper House President of the Senate Richard B. Cheney, R since January 20, 2001 President pro tempore Robert C. Byrd, D since January 4, 2007 Members 100 Political groups Democratic Party Republican Party Last elections November 7, 2006 Meeting place Senate Chamber United States Capitol Washington, DC United States... Dianne Goldman Berman Feinstein (IPA: ) (born June 22, 1933) is the senior U.S. Senator from California, having held office as a senator since 1992. ... Barbara Levy Boxer (born November 11, 1940) is an American politician and the current junior U.S. Senator from the State of California. ... Type Bicameral Houses Senate House of Representatives President of the Senate President pro tempore Dick Cheney, (R) since January 20, 2001 Robert C. Byrd, (D) since January 4, 2007 Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, (D) since January 4, 2007 Members 535 plus 4 Delegates and 1 Resident Commissioner Political... These are tables of congressional delegations from California in the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives. ... Map of U.S. time zones with new CST and EST areas displayed This is a list of United States of America States by time zone. ...  PST or UTC-8 The Pacific Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting eight hours from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC-8). ... UTC redirects here. ... Although DST is common in Europe and North America, most of the worlds people do not use it. ... The following is a list of abbreviations used by the United States Postal Service. ... U.S. states This is a list of traditional abbreviations for U.S. states and territorries, which were in wide use prior to the U.S. postal abbreviations. ... ISO 3166-2 codes for the United States of America cover 50 states, 1 district, 6 outlying areas (including 9 minor outlying islands under separate ISO 3166-1 country code UM). ... A website (alternatively, web site or Web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or more web servers, usually accessible via the Internet. ... Image File history File links WPCF.svg‎ (All user names refer to en. ... Federal courts Supreme Court Circuit Courts of Appeal District Courts Elections Presidential elections Midterm elections Political Parties Democratic Republican Third parties State & Local government Governors Legislatures (List) State Courts Local Government Other countries Atlas  US Government Portal      A U.S. state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of... Regional definitions vary from source to source. ... Map of states populations (2007) This is a list of states of the United States by population (with inhabited non-state jurisdictions included for comparison) as of July 1, 2007, according to the 2007 estimates of the United States Census Bureau. ... A city is an urban area, differentiated from a town, village, or hamlet by size, population density, importance, or legal status. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... San Diego redirects here. ... For other uses, see San José. Nickname: Location of San Jose within Santa Clara County, California Location of San Jose with the state of California Coordinates: , Country State County Santa Clara Pueblo founded November 29, 1777 Incorporated March 27, 1850 Government  - Type charter city, mayor-council  - Mayor Chuck Reed  - Vice... San Francisco redirects here. ... The term multiculturalism generally refers to a state of both cultural and ethnic diversity within the demographics of a particular social space. ...

The area known as Alta California was colonized by the Spanish Empire beginning in the late 18^th century. It and the rest of Mexico became an independent republic in 1821. In 1846 California broke away from Mexico, and after the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded California to the United States. It was admitted to the Union on September 9, 1850. Alta California (Upper California) was formed in 1804 when the province of California, then a part of the Spanish colony of New Spain, was divided in two along the line separating the Franciscan missions in the north from the Dominican missions in the south. ... An anachronous map of the overseas Spanish Empire (1492-1898) in red, and the Spanish Habsburg realms in Europe (1516-1714) in orange. ... Combatants United States Mexico Commanders Zachary Taylor Winfield Scott Stephen W. Kearney Antonio López de Santa Anna Mariano Arista Pedro de Ampudia José Mariá Flores Strength 78,790 soldiers 25,000–40,000 soldiers Casualties KIA: 1733 Total dead: 13,271 Wounded: 4,152 AWOL: 9,200+ 25,000... is the 252nd day of the year (253rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the game, see: 1850 (board game) 1850 (MDCCCL) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday [1] of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

It is the third-largest U.S. state by land area. Its geography ranges from the Pacific coast to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, to desert areas in the southeast and the forests of the northwest. The center of the state is dominated by the Central Valley, one of the most productive agricultural areas in the world. This article is about the mountain range in the Western United States. ... This article is about arid terrain. ... This article is about a community of trees. ... The California Central Valley Part of the Valley as seen from overhead A typical Central Valley scene at ground level The California Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of the U.S. state of California. ...

The California Gold Rush began in 1848, dramatically changing California with a large influx of people and an economic boom. The early 20th century was marked by Los Angeles becoming the center of the entertainment industry, in addition to the growth of a large tourism sector in the state. Along with California's prosperous agricultural industry, other industries include aerospace, petroleum, and computer and information technology. California ranks among the ten largest economies in the world, and were it a separate country, it would be 35th among the most populous countries, just behind Kenya. The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began shortly after January 24, 1848 (when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill in Coloma). ... US states shown with other countries on map of nominal GDP This is a comparison between US states and countries nominal Gross Domestic Product. ... Map of countries by population for the year 2007 This is a list of countries ordered according to population. ...

[edit] Etymology

Main article: Origin of the name California

California state insignia
Motto	Eureka! (I've found it!)[1]
Slogan	Find Yourself Here
Bird	California Quail
Animal	California grizzly bear (extinct/subspecies extinct in this range) [1]
Fish	Golden Trout
Insect	California Dogface Butterfly
Flower	California Poppy
Tree	California Redwood
Song	"I Love You, California"
Quarter	2005
Butterfly	California Dogface Butterfly
Grass	Purple Needlegrass
Reptile	Desert Tortoise
Wildflower	California Poppy
Beverage	Wine
Colors	Blue & Gold
Dance	West Coast Swing
Fossil	Sabre-toothed cat
Gemstone	Benitoite
Mineral	Native Gold
Soil	San Joaquin
Tartan	California State Tartan

The word California originally referred to the entire region composed of the current U.S. state of California, plus all or parts of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, and the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California. It has been suggested that Califas be merged into this article or section. ... These are lists of U.S. state insignia as designated by tradition or the respective state legislatures List of U.S. state amphibians List of U.S. state beverages List of U.S. state birds List of U.S. state butterflies List of U.S. state colors List of U... Here is a list of state mottos for the states of the United States. ... Eureka (Eureka!, or Heureka; Greek (later ); IPA: (modern Greek), (ancient Greek, both former and later forms), Anglicised as ) is a famous exclamation attributed to Archimedes. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Binomial name Callipepla californica (Shaw, 1798) The California Quail, Callipepla californica, is a small ground-dwelling bird in the New World quail family. ... A state mammal is the official or representative animal of a U.S. state. ... For the Brooklyn-based indie rock band, see Grizzly Bear (band). ... For other uses, see Extinction (disambiguation). ... This is a list of official U.S. state fish: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... Binomial name Oncorhynchus aguabonita (Jordan, 1892) The pink trout (Oncorhynchus aguabonita), is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family (family Salmonidae) of order Salmoniformes. ... It has been suggested that List of U.S. state butterflies be merged into this article or section. ... Binomial name Zerene eurydice Boisduval, 1855 The California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice, or Colias eurydice Boisduval) has been the state insect of the U.S. state of California since 1972. ... This is a list of U.S. state flowers: List of U.S. state trees Lists of U.S. state insignia ^ State Flower of Alabama. ... Binomial name Cham. ... This List of U.S. state trees includes official trees of the following states and U.S. possessions: See also Lists of U.S. state insignia National Grove of State Trees External link USDA list of state trees and flowers Categories: | | ... This article is about the species commonly called Coast Redwood. For the species commonly called Giant Sequoia, see Sequoiadendron. ... Forty-nine states of the United States (all except New Jersey) have one or more state songs, selected by the state legislature as a symbol of the state. ... Californias official state song I Love You, California was written by F. B. Silverwood, a Los Angeles merchant. ... Obverse of redesigned quarter The 50 State Quarters program (Pub. ... Download high resolution version (1167x1189, 158 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into List of U.S. state insects. ... Binomial name Zerene eurydice Boisduval, 1855 The California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice, or Colias eurydice Boisduval) has been the state insect of the U.S. state of California since 1972. ... This is a list of official U.S. state grass: See also Lists of U.S. state insignia Categories: U.S. state insignia ... Species Stipa arundinacea Stipa avenacea - black oat grass Stipa brachytricha - Korean feather grass Stipa calamagrostis - Spear Grass Stipa canadensis Stipa capillata Stipa comata Stipa gigantea - giant feather grass, golden oats Stipa joannis Stipa mollis Stipa pennata - feather grass Stipa pulchra - purple stipa Stipa spartea - porcupine grass Stipa splendens Stipa tenacissima... This is a list of official U.S. state reptiles: Lists of U.S. state insignia ^ Official Alabama Reptile. ... Binomial name Gopherus agassizii Cooper, 1863 The desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) is a species of tortoise native to the Mojave desert and Sonoran desert of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. ... This article needs cleanup. ... Binomial name Cham. ... This is a list of official state beverages:[1] This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... For other uses, see Wine (disambiguation). ... This is a list of U.S. state colors:[1] This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... This article is about the colour. ... Gold is a shade of the color yellow closest to that of gold metal. ... This is a list of official U.S. state dances:[1] This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... West Coast Swing (WCS) is a partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. ... Though every state in the United States has a State Bird and a State Flower, not every state in the United States has a State Fossil. ... For the record label, see Smilodon Records. ... // Not every state has an official state mineral, rock, stone or gemstone. ... Benitoite is a rare blue silicate mineral, found in hydrothermally altered serpentinite. ... // Not every state has an official state mineral, rock, stone or gemstone. ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ... This is a list of official U.S. state soils: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... San Joaquin soil profile San Joaquin is an officially designated state insignia, the State Soil of California. ... This is a list of official U.S. state tartans: This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it. ... The California State Tartan is the official tartan of the State of California. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Official language(s) English Capital Cheyenne Largest city Cheyenne Area  Ranked 10th  - Total 97,818 sq mi (253,348 km²)  - Width 280 miles (450 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 0. ... Baja California (highlighted) Alternative use: Baja California (state) Baja California or Lower California is a peninsula in the west of Mexico. ...

The name California is most commonly believed to have derived from a storied paradise peopled by black Amazons and ruled by Queen Califia. The myth of Califia is recorded in a 1510 work The Exploits of Esplandian, written as a sequel to Amadís de Gaula by Spanish adventure writer García Ordóñez Rodríguez de Montalvo.^[3] The kingdom of Queen Califia, according to Montalvo, was said to be a remote land inhabited by griffins and other strange beasts and rich in gold. Though most indigenous Africans possess relatively dark skin, they exhibit much variation in physical appearance. ... The Amazons (in Greek, ) were a mythical ancient nation of all-female warriors. ... Califia (or Calafia) is the name of a legendary Black Amazon warrior queen, associated with the mythical Island of California. ... Las Sergas de Esplandián (The Adventures of Esplandián) is the fifth book in a series of novels on Spanish chivalry by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, which began with Amadís de Gaula. ... Amadís de Gaula (English, Amadis of Gaul) is a landmark work among the knight-errantry tales which were in vogue in 16th century Spain, and formed the earliest reading of many Renaissance and Baroque writers. ... Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo (or Garci Ordoñez de Montalvo) was a Spanish author (d. ... For other uses, see Griffin (disambiguation). ... GOLD refers to one of the following: GOLD (IEEE) is an IEEE program designed to garner more student members at the university level (Graduates of the Last Decade). ...

[edit] Geography and environment

Main article: Geography of California

California's Central Valley, the agricultural hub of the state and the primary agricultural provider of the nation

California adjoins the Pacific Ocean, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Baja California. With an area of 160,000 mi² (411,000 km²) it is the third largest state in the United States in size, after Alaska and Texas. If it were a country, California would be the 59th largest in the world, between Iraq and Paraguay. Digitally colored elevation map of California The Geography of California is rich and diverse. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 880 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 880 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... This article is about the U.S. State of Nevada. ... Official language(s) English Spoken language(s) English 74. ... Location within Mexico Municipalities of Baja California Country Capital Municipalities 5 Largest City Tijuana Government  - Governor José Guadalupe Osuna Millán (PAN)  - Federal Deputies PAN: 8  - Federal Senators Alejandro González (PAN) Rafael Díaz (PAN) Fernando Castro (PRI) Area Ranked 12th  - Total 69,921 km² (26,996. ... This is a complete list of the states of the United States ordered by total area, land area, and water area. ... Countries by area. ...

In the middle of the state lies the California Central Valley, bounded by the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the Sierra Nevada to the east, the Cascade Range in the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. The Central Valley is California's agricultural heartland and grows approximately one-third of the nation's food.^[5] Divided in two by the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the northern portion, the Sacramento Valley serves as the watershed of the Sacramento River, while the southern portion, the San Joaquin Valley is the watershed for the San Joaquin River; both areas derive their names from the rivers that transit them. With dredging, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin Rivers have remained sufficiently deep that several inland cities are seaports. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta serves as a critical water supply hub for the state. Water is routed through an extensive network of canals and pumps out of the delta, that traverse nearly the length of the state, including the Central Valley Project, and the State Water Project. Water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta provides drinking water for nearly 23 million people, almost two-thirds of the state's population, and provides water to farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley. The Channel Islands are located off the southern coast. The California Central Valley Part of the Valley as seen from overhead A typical Central Valley scene at ground level The California Central Valley is a large, flat valley that dominates the central portion of the U.S. state of California. ... The Pacific Coast Ranges are the series of mountain ranges that stretch along the west coast of North America from Alaska to northern and central Mexico. ... This article is about the mountain range in the Western United States. ... “Cascades” redirects here. ... The Tehachapi Mountains (IPA: ) are a short transverse range in southern California in the United States, running SW-NE connecting the Coast Ranges on the west with the southern end of the Sierra Nevada mountains on the east. ... The San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta. ... The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta. ... The Sacramento River is the longest river in the U.S. state of California. ... The Central Valley of California The San Joaquin Valley (English pronunciation in IPA: [sæn wɑˈkin]) refers to the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in Stockton. ... The San Joaquin River, 330 miles (530 km) long, is the second-longest river in California, United States. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Port. ... The San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta. ... The San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta. ... The Channel Islands of California, also called the Santa Barbara Islands, are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America. ... This article is about the region of Southern California. ...

Yosemite Valley

The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for "snowy range") include the highest peak in the contiguous forty-eight states, Mount Whitney, at 14,505 ft (4,421 m).^[2] The range embraces Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the giant sequoia trees, the largest living organisms on Earth, and the deep freshwater lake, Lake Tahoe, the largest lake in the state by volume. Tunnel View, 4/14/2002 -- Claude A. Muncey -- released under GFDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Tunnel View, 4/14/2002 -- Claude A. Muncey -- released under GFDL File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... Yosemite Valley with Half Dome in the distance. ... Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron) trees in the Giant Forest Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada, east of Visalia, California in the United States of America. ... Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... This article is about the lake in California/Nevada. ...

The state is home to Mount Whitney, the highest point in the contiguous United States, as well as the second lowest and hottest place in the Western Hemisphere, Death Valley. Mount Whitney is the highest point in the contiguous United States at elevation 14,505 feet (4,421 meters). ... The continental United States refers (except sometimes in U.S. federal law and regulations) to the largest part of the U.S. that is delimited by a continuous border. ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ...

To the east of the Sierra Nevada are Owens Valley and Mono Lake, an essential migratory bird habitat. In the western part of the state is Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake by area entirely in California. Though Lake Tahoe is larger, it is divided by the California/Nevada border. The Sierra Nevada falls to Arctic temperatures in winter and has several dozen small glaciers, including Palisade Glacier, the southernmost glacier in the United States. Owens Valley is the arid ranching valley of the Owens River in southeastern California in the United States. ... Mono Lake is an alkaline and hypersaline lake in California, United States that is a critical nesting habitat for several bird species and is one of the most productive ecosystems in North America[citation needed]. // Satellite photo of Mono Lake Mono Craters to the right of the image are rhyolitic... Flock of Barnacle Geese during autumn migration Bird migration refers to the regular seasonal journeys undertaken by many species of birds. ... For other uses, see Clear Lake (disambiguation). ... The Palisade Glacier and the Middle Palisade Glacier are two glaciers on the northeast side of the Palisades in the central Sierra Nevada of California. ...

Rolling hills of California

About 35% of the state's total surface area is covered by forests, and California's diversity of pine species is unmatched by any other state. California contains more forestland than any other state except Alaska. Many of the trees in the California White Mountains are the oldest in the world; one Bristlecone pine has an age of 4,700 years. Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2448 × 3264 pixel, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Metadata Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (2448 × 3264 pixel, file size: 1. ... The White Mountains along the east side of the Owens Valley The White Mountains of California are a small mountain range that runs along the eastern side of the upper Owens Valley, just across from the Sierra Nevada. ... Species Pinus aristata Pinus longaeva Pinus balfouriana Gnarled bristlecone pine wood The bristlecone pines are a small group of pine trees (Family Pinaceae, genus Pinus, subsection Balfourianae) that can reach an age far greater than that of any other single living organism known, up to nearly 5,000 years. ...

In the south is a large inland salt lake, the Salton Sea. Deserts in California make up about 25% of the total surface area. The south-central desert is called the Mojave; to the northeast of the Mojave lies Death Valley, which contains the lowest, hottest point in North America, Badwater Flat. The distance from the lowest point of Death Valley to the peak of Mount Whitney is less than 200 miles (322 km). Indeed, almost all of southeastern California is arid, hot desert, with routine extreme high temperatures during the summer. For the film, see The Salton Sea. ... For the indigenous American tribe, see Mohave. ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ... North American redirects here. ... Badwater Basin elevation sign Badwater is a site in Californias Death Valley noted as the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, with an elevation of 282 feet (86 m) below sea level. ...

Along the California coast are several major metropolitan areas, including Greater Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, and San Diego. The Greater Los Angeles Area is the suburban area around the city of Los Angeles, California. ... Bay Area redirects here. ... San Diego redirects here. ...

California is famous for earthquakes due to a number of faults, in particular the San Andreas Fault. It is vulnerable to tsunamis, floods, droughts, Santa Ana winds, wildfires, and landslides on steep terrain, and has several volcanoes. View of the San Andreas Fault on the Carrizo Plain in central California, 35°07N, 119°39W The San Andreas Fault is a geological fault that runs a length of roughly 800 miles (1300 kilometres) through western and southern California in the United States. ... For other uses, see Tsunami (disambiguation). ... Flooding near Key West, Florida, United States from Hurricane Wilmas storm surge in October 2005 For other uses, see Flood (disambiguation). ... Fields outside Benambra, Victoria, Australia suffering from drought conditions A drought is an extended period of months or years when a region notes a deficiency in its water supply. ... Santa Ana Winds may refer to: 1. ... This article is about geological phenomenon. ...

[edit] Climate

Main article: Climate of California

California climate varies from Mediterranean to subarctic. Much of the state has a Mediterranean climate, with cool, rainy winters and dry summers. The cool California Current offshore often creates summer fog near the coast. Further inland, one encounters colder winters and hotter summers. Fog at the Golden Gate Bridge Californias climate changes varies widely, from arid to subarctic, depending on latitude, elevation, and proximity to the coast. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide. ... The subarctic is a region in the Northern Hemisphere immediately south of the true Arctic and covering much of Canada and Siberia, the north of Scandinavia, northern Mongolia and the Chinese province of Heilongjiang. ...  Areas with Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate is one that resembles the climate of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, which includes over half of the area with this climate type world-wide. ... The California Current is a Pacific Ocean current that moves south along the western coast of North America, beginning off southern British Columbia, and ending off southern Baja California. ... For other uses, see Fog (disambiguation). ...

Northern parts of the state average higher annual rainfall than the south. California's mountain ranges influence the climate as well: some of the rainiest parts of the state are west-facing mountain slopes. Northwestern California has a temperate climate, and the Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate but with greater temperature extremes than the coast. The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have a mountain climate with snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer. In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. ... This article is about the mountain range in the Western United States. ... Mountain climate (also highland climate) is something of a crude geographical term used for the kind of climate in the mountains and generally in the high country. ... For other uses, see Snow (disambiguation). ...

The east side of California's mountains has a drier rain shadow. The low deserts east of the southern California mountains experience hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters; the higher elevation deserts of eastern California see hot summers and cold winters. In Death Valley, the highest temperature in the Western Hemisphere, 134 °F (56.6 °C), was recorded July 10, 1913. For the Australian television series see Rain Shadow (TV series). ... Eastern California is not a well-defined term. ... For other uses, see Death Valley (disambiguation). ... The geographical western hemisphere of Earth, highlighted in yellow. ... is the 191st day of the year (192nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1913 (MCMXIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

[edit] Ecology

Main article: Ecology of California

Ecologically, California is one of the richest and most diverse parts of the world and includes some of the most endangered ecological communities. California is part of the Nearctic ecozone and spans a number of terrestrial ecoregions. The ecology of California is diverse. ... The Nearctic is one of the eight terrestrial ecozones dividing the Earths land surface. ... An ecozone or biogeographic realm is the largest scale biogeographic division of the earths surface based on the historic and evolutionary distribution patterns of plants and animals. ... Ecoregions are defined by the World Wildlife Fund as relatively large units of land or water containing a distinct assemblage of natural communities and species, with boundaries that approximate the original extent of natural communities prior to major land-use change. Terrestrial ecoregions are land ecoregions, as distinct from freshwater...

Calaveras Big Trees State Park

California's large number of endemic species includes relict species which have died out elsewhere, such as the Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus). Many other endemics originated through differentiation or adaptive radiation, whereby multiple species develop from a common ancestor to take advantage of diverse ecological conditions such as the California lilac (Ceanothus). Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, logging, overgrazing, and the introduction of exotic species have encroached on their habitat. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 727 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo By John J. OBrien 28AUG2005 I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 450 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1200 × 1600 pixel, file size: 727 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Photo By John J. OBrien 28AUG2005 I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby release it into the public domain. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... Look up relict in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Four of the 13 finch species found on the Galápagos Archipelago, and thought to have evolved by an adaptive radiation that diversified their beak shapes to adapt them to different food sources. ... Species See text Ceanothus L., is a genus of about 50-60 species of shrubs or small trees in the buckthorn family Rhamnaceae. ... For other uses, see Log. ... // In the dictionary and agriculture, overgrazing is when plants are exposed to grazing for too long, or without sufficient recovery periods. ... Sweet clover (Melilotus sp. ...

California boasts several superlatives in its collection of flora; the largest trees, the tallest trees, and the oldest trees. California's native grasses are perennial plants.^[6][7] After European contact, these were generally replaced by invasive species of European annual grasses; and, in modern times, California's hills turn a characteristic golden brown in summer. Binomial name Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl. ... Binomial name Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl. ... Binomial name Pinus longaeva D.K.Bailey The Great Basin Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) is one of the bristlecone pines, a group of three species of pine found in the higher mountains of the southwest United States. ... Red Valerian, a perennial plant. ... Lantana invasion of abandoned citrus plantation; Moshav Sdey Hemed, Israel The term invasive species refers to a subset of introduced species or non-indigenous species that are rapidly expanding outside of their native range. ...

[edit] Rivers

Main article: List of California rivers

Arguably, the two most prominent rivers within California are the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River, which drain the Central Valley and flow to the Pacific Ocean through San Francisco Bay. Two other important rivers are the Klamath River, in the north, and the Colorado River, on the southeast border. The following is a partial listing of rivers in the state of California, United States of America. ... The Sacramento River is the longest river in the U.S. state of California. ... The San Joaquin River, 330 miles (530 km) long, is the second-longest river in California, United States. ... San Francisco Bay, San Pablo Bay, and the Golden Gate San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean. ... The Klamath River, approximately 263 miles (400 km) long, is a major river in southern Oregon and northern California in the United States. ... The Colorado River from the bottom of Marble Canyon, in the Upper Grand Canyon Colorado River in the Grand Canyon from Desert View The Colorado River from Laughlin Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped meander of the Colorado River located near the town of Page, Arizona The Colorado River is...

[edit] Protected areas

Main article: List of protected areas within California

The following is a list of protected territories within the State of California. ...

[edit] History

History of California
To 1899
Gold Rush (1848)
American Civil War (1861-1865)
1900 to present
Maritime
Railroad
Slavery
Los Angeles
Sacramento
San Diego
San Francisco
San Jose

Main articles: History of California to 1899 and History of California 1900 to present

Settled by successive waves of arrivals during the last 10,000 years, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America; the area was inhabited by more than 70 distinct groups of Native Americans. Large, settled populations lived on the coast and hunted sea mammals, fished for salmon, and gathered shellfish, while groups in the interior hunted terrestrial game and gathered nuts, acorns, and berries. California groups also were diverse in their political organization with bands, tribes, villages, and on the resource-rich coasts, large chiefdoms, such as the Chumash, Pomo and Salinan. Trade, intermarriage, and military alliances fostered many social and economic relationships among the diverse groups. Download high resolution version (700x900, 118 KB)Image of a California Poppy flower. ... Californias Yosemite Valley. ... The California Gold Rush (1848–1855) began shortly after January 24, 1848 (when gold was discovered at Sutters Mill in Coloma). ... Among the states, remote California played the least role in the American Civil War. ... This article continues the history of California in the years 1900 and later; for events through 1899, see History of California to 1899. ... Map showing Island of California, circa 1650 Maritime history of California is a term used to describe significant past events relating to the U.S. State of California in areas concerning shipping, shipwrecks, and military installations and lighthouses constructed to protect or aid navigation and development of the state. ... The establishment of Americas transcontinental rail lines securely linked California to the rest of the country, and the far-reaching transportation systems that grew out of them during the century that followed contributed to the state’s social, political, and economic development. ... Slavery in California existed among the native peoples of that region long before the arrival of the first European colonists. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... // Pre-Sutter History – Through 1838 Indigenous people such as the Miwok and Maidu Indians had dwelt in the present-day Sacramento area for perhaps as long as thousands of years (the precise length of time is subject to dispute among historians, anthropologists, and Native American studies scholars, although no sources... The recorded history of the San Diego , California region goes back to the Spanish penetration of California in the 16th century. ... The history of San Francisco, California, has been greatly influenced by its coastal location, which has made it a natural center for maritime trade and military activity. ... // For thousands of years before the arrival of European settlers, the area now known as San Jose was inhabited by several groups of Ohlone Native Americans. ... Californias Yosemite Valley. ... This article continues the history of California in the years 1900 and later; for events through 1899, see History of California to 1899. ... North American redirects here. ... // Classification of Native Americans: United States and Canada Ethnographers commonly classify the native peoples of the United States and Canada into ten geographical regions with shared cultural traits (called cultural areas). ... This article is about the people indigenous to the United States and their history after European contact, chiefly in what is now the United States. ... Rafael, a Chumash in the 1800s Pre-contact distribution of the Chumash The Chumash are a Native American tribe who historically inhabit mainly the southern coastal regions of California, in the vicinity of what is now Santa Barbara and Ventura, extending as far south as Malibu. ... The Pomo people are a linguistic branch of Native American people of Northern California. ...