California is a state on the west coast of the USA. It is also the third largest state by area and the largest state by population in the USA. The state offers something for everyone: Southern California is home to such popular attractions as Disneyland, Hollywood and the beaches that inspired the television show Baywatch, while the northern part of the state offers the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, the hills of San Francisco, and the vineyards of Napa Valley. Further away from the state's major cities California is home to some of America's most rugged national parks, incredible skiing opportunities, and quiet northern forests.
California varies greatly, ranging from the forested northern coastal regions to the rugged interior mountains to the harsh southern desert. Sandwiched in the centre of the state is the fertile Central Valley, home to a massive amount of agriculture.
The state of California was home to thirty different tribal groups prior to the arrival of European explorers in the 1500's. The Spanish were the first European power to build a settlement in California, establishing twenty-one missions in the state by the late 1700's. Many of these missions survive today, with examples including the mission in Santa Barbara.
After the Mexican War for Independence in 1821 California became a part of Mexico, and remained a part of that country until it was annexed by the United States in 1847 following the Mexican-American War. In 1848 the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada mountains kicked off the California Gold Rush, and the state's non-native population surged from 15,000 to over 300,000 within two years, resulting in statehood for California in 1850. During the 1900's the state population increased steadily, and today California is the most populous state in the United States with over 33 million residents.
With over 160,000 square miles (411,000 km2) the landscape of California is vast and varied. The state contains extremes in elevation, with Mount Whitney at 14,505 feet being the tallest mountain in the lower-48 states, while less than 200 miles away Death Valley, at 282 feet below sea level, is North America's lowest point.
The state's border to the west is made up of a rugged coastline along the Pacific Ocean. The coastal mountains rise up from the ocean and are home to redwood trees in the state's northern half. The Central Valley bisects the state from north-to-south before giving way to the Sierra Nevada mountains, home of Yosemite National Park, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks and other natural wonders. The south eastern part of the state is dominated by desert, which covers 25% of California's total area. The Mojave is a high desert, with elevations ranging from 3,000 to 6,000 feet above sea level. This area receives less than six inches of rain each year.
The state's climate varies from temperate at the coast to the brutal winters of the mountains, to one of the world's hottest regions in the desert. Rainfall is more common in the northern part of the state than in the south, and snow is rare except in the mountains.
The hottest temperature ever recorded in the Western Hemisphere, 134°F (56.6°C) was at Death Valley in 1913, and temperatures regularly exceed 120°F (49°C) during the summer. In contrast, winter temperatures in the mountains can drop below freezing.
California is a very diverse state with many ethnic groups. California large immigrant populations of Mexicans, Salvadorans, Guatemalans, Armenians, Iranians, Jews, Chinese, Filipinos, Asian Indians, Koreans, Japanese, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Thai's, and Hmong's. California also has large populations of African Americans and Native Americans.
Californian's have a wide variety of political views. The Central Valley and Orange County tend to be more conservative, while the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area (except for Orange County) and the San Francisco Bay area tend to be more liberal.
The regions of California are:
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Southern California - Home to Los Angeles, San Diego, Disneyland, and miles of famous beaches.
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Desert - Palm trees, blazing sun, and quirky resorts.
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Central Coast - An isolated stretch of land that features cool mountains and rugged coastline.
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San Joaquin Valley - Breadbasket of California and home to a large percentage of America's fruit and vegetable supply.
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Sacramento Valley - Home of the State Capital.
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Sierra Nevada - California's alpine and skiing region, including Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.
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Gold Country - Historic foothills to the Sierras.
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Bay Area - Home to San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose/Silicon Valley.
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North Coast - Home to the world's tallest trees, the coast redwoods as well rugged coastline and remote nature adventures.
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Shasta Cascades - Hills and mountains in the state's northeast corner that are off the beaten path for most visitors.
Other tourist destinations in California include:
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Disneyland
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Lake Tahoe - A large, gorgeous lake great for water sports and excellent skiing in the winter.
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Napa Valley - Spas, wine tasting, wine tours.
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Big Sur - one of the most scenic spots along the Pacific Coast Highway
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California National Historic Trail - road to California carried over 250,000 gold-seekers & farmers to the gold fields & rich farmlands of California during the 1840's and 1850's
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Juan Bautista de Anza National Historic Trail - first overland route established to connect New Spain with San Francisco
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Old Spanish National Historic Trail - journey across the South west between Santa Fe and Los Angeles for history, culture, and scenic beauty
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Pony Express National Historic Trail - used by young men on fast horses to carry the nation's mail from Missouri to California in the unprecedented time of only ten days
National Parks in California include:
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Channel Islands National Park - five remarkable islands (Anacapa, Santa Cruz, Santa Rosa, San Miguel, and Santa Barbara) and their ocean environment
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Death Valley National Park - A place of legend and a place of trial
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Joshua Tree National Park
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Lassen Volcanic National Park - witness a brief moment in the ancient battle between the earth shaping forces of creation and destruction
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Redwood National Park - Stand at the base of a coast redwood and even the huckleberry bushes tower over you
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Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks - These twin parks hold monuments to nature's size, beauty, and diversity
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Yosemite National Park - one of the first wilderness parks in the United States
California State Parks include
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and the Richardson Grove State Park
Text from Wikitravel California where additional general information can be found. Please share your knowledge by editing the pages of Wikitravel.
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