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Children’s Ages Student up WRITTEN BY Gregory Lewis McNamee See All Contributors Contributing Editor Encyclop dia Literary Critic Hollywood Reporter Author Moveable Feasts Lore Food others Alternative Title Golden constituent America It was admitted as st union on September by early it populous U No version origin name been fully accepted but there is wide support contention that derived an th-century Spanish novel Las sergas de Esplandi n Adventures described paradisiacal island full gold precious stones called influence settlers th centuries evident architecture place-names capital Sacramento Inc Big SurMountainous coastline eastern Pacific Ocean Sur Jeremy Woodhouse Getty ImagesCaliforniaEncyclop Quiz American Who drafted Declaration Independence wrote national anthem From Constitution chambers Hill learn more about politics taking quiz Discover contrasting landscapes Mount Whitney Death ValleyThe diverse Valley bounded Oregon north states Nevada Arizona east Mexican Baja south west rainy northern coast parched Colorado Desert Mediterranean-like central southern littoral volcanic plateau far northeast land stunning physical contrasts Both highest lowest points conterminous are respectively former culminating summit Sierra one major mountain ranges North Sand dunes at National Monument Corbis Experience public art trolleys boardwalks San FranciscoTime-lapse video Francisco Mattia Bicchi Photography mattiabicchiphotography A articleListen extreme biker Hans Rey billionaire James Goldstein activist Julia Butterfly demonstrating CalifornicationCalifornia’s eclectic population demonstrated through interviews with Contunico ZDF Enterprises GmbH MainzSee fluid nature economic political life shaped so largely influx people other countries made laboratory testing new modes living concentrated mostly along urban than three-fourths Los Angeles Diego metropolitan areas Despite its urbanization loss industry still leads country agricultural production About one-half federally owned parks located throughout devoted preservation natural resources Area square miles km Population est Downtown cityscape Digital Vision Images Land Relief heartland Central runs centre forming trough between Coast Ranges valley Its single opening delta Joaquin rivers drain into Bay sealed off Cascade Range Klamath Mountains northwest terrain rugged heavily forested becoming wetter coastal side drier barren higher closed transverse notably Tehachapi regarded dividing wall CaliforniaCalifornia Get exclusive access content First Edition subscription today Most desert sparsely settled northeastern corner jumble plains mountains well east-central region Trans-Sierra extends sheer escarpment range comprises part vast interstate Great Basin Province feet metres above sea level largest towns Owens fertile farmland until groundwater flow diverted mammoth series conduits built rises just slope dropping within -mile -km stretch near Lake slopes gradually declining foothills toward comprising river valleys Lassen Peak fringes Aside peaks exceed elevation East-west passes few found There three Kings Canyon Sequoia Yosemite last designated UNESCO Heritage site purplish Mother Lode Country ice-carved Merced Tuolumne feature waterfalls granite domes Dana Tioga Pass Park Index OpenSequoia ForestSequoia Forest dgrilla Fotolia southeast lies Mojave occupies one-sixth area landmarks broad basins eroded fault blocks alluvial surfaces Vegetation includes evergreen creosote bush yucca saltbush burroweed encelia cottonwood mesquite Higher juniper pi pine brittlebushBrittlebush Encelia farinosa Copyright Louisa Preston Photo Researchers Just lower extension Sonoran begins Coachella descends Imperial adjacent border irrigated known winter crops lie below including -square-mile -square-km Salton Sea lake no outlet created when nearby River broke channel SeaSalton Daniel Mayer mav roughly -mile- -km- long mountainous dramatically Santa Lucia where towering cliffs rise ocean Hills lesser flank entrances harbours Eureka Coastal many indistinct chains width Pillar Point Monterey NOAALaguna Beach CaliforniaLaguna Tquist Southern dense settlement ranging inland Along becomes sparser though grown rapidly around gives way less-developed lumbering fishing villages beside creeks flowing redwood forests Redwood trees northwestern Comstock Thinkstock Andreas Fault line running Tectonic movement caused massive earthquakes earthquake Hayward Gabriel zone produced several destructive quake centred suburb Northridge occurred larger secondary faults Separate systems tectonically active FaultAt Plate slide past each giant fracture Earth’s crust Geological SurveyKlamath Trinity AlpsThe Alps subrange Ottofunk Drainage Water chronically scarce regions excesses rain snowmelt cause flooding Complex dams aqueducts transport water not without protests those who regard export their bar future growth threat environmental balance Aqueduct carries across serve Project launched water-transfer system ever undertaken designed deliver daily Feather tributary north-central communities AqueductAerial view section Ian KluftLos droughtA affected drought Joshua Rainey iStock Editorial Tahoe astride California-Nevada mountain-ringed alpine among world greatest average depth maximum Elsewhere hundreds smaller lakes timberline tumbled smooth-walled canyons West Clear wholly Mono both endangered development LakeTufa towers Corel flag CaliforniaSeal bird quail golden poppy flower CapitalSacramentoPopulation Total sq mi GovernorGavin Newsom Democrat nicknameGolden StateDate admissionSeptember motto I Have Found birdCalifornia quailState flowerCalifornia poppyState song Love You senatorsDianne Feinstein Kamala D Harris Seats House Representatives Time zonePacific GMT hours Excluding military abroad Load Next Page Inspire inbox ndash Sign fun day updates special offers Enter email By signing agreeing news information Encyclopaedia Click here Privacy Notice Easy unsubscribe links provided 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