Yosemite National Park, located in the Sierra Nevada, offers iconic landscapes and outdoor recreational activities. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco remains a prominent architectural marvel. Coastal destinations like Malibu and Santa Monica attract visitors with their beaches and pier attractions. You may download, print or use the above map for educational, personal and non-commercial purposes. For any website, blog, scientific research or e-book, you must place a hyperlink (to this page) with an attribution next to the image used.
Central Valley
Napa Valley, situated north of the San Francisco Bay Area, serves as a premier wine country recognized globally for its vineyards and wineries. Additionally, Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada, offers year-round attractions, including skiing in winter and water sports in summer. The above blank map represents the State of California, located in the western (Pacific) region of the United States. The map can be downloaded, printed and used for geography education purposes like map-pointing and coloring activities. California, nicknamed the Golden State, sits on the United States Western coast. Additionally, it extends southward to Mexico and is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west.
- The Republic’s only president was William B. Ide,61 who played a pivotal role during the Bear Flag Revolt.
- The former is the culminating summit of the Sierra Nevada, one of the major mountain ranges of North America.
- Los Angeles County, with over 10 million residents, ranks as the most populous, while Alpine County, with fewer than 1,200 residents, remains the least populous.
- The above blank map represents the State of California, located in the western (Pacific) region of the United States.
- The State of California is located in the western (Pacific) region of the United States.
- Subsequent locations included Vallejo (1852–1853), and nearby Benicia (1853–1854); these locations eventually proved to be inadequate as well.
California has also experienced disputes over water rights; and a tax revolt, culminating with the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, limiting state property taxes. California voters have rejected affirmative action on multiple occasions, most recently in November 2020. California has a large Catholic population due to the large numbers of Mexicans and Central Americans living within its borders. California has twelve dioceses and two archdioceses, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the former being the largest archdiocese in the United States. California’s large number of endemic species includes relict species, which have died out elsewhere, such as the Catalina ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus). The table below lists average temperatures for January and August in a selection of places throughout the state; some highly populated and some not.
Main Cities: Redding, Chico, Eureka
The agricultural heartland of California, the Central Valley provides a significant portion of the nation’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts. This expansive flat region stretches nearly 450 miles, bordered by the Sierra Nevada to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west. Despite its urban hubs, the Central Valley retains a rural charm and is deeply connected to the land. California’s history encompasses indigenous cultures, colonial periods, and rapid development. Indigenous peoples, including the Chumash, Miwok, and Yurok, inhabited the region for thousands of years before European contact. Spanish explorers claimed California in the 16th century, establishing missions and settlements by the 18th century.
Climate
Sea lions, seals, otters, humpback whales, and blue whales are a few of this region’s notable species. California is bounded by the U.S. state of Oregon to the north, by the states of Nevada and Arizona to the east, by the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. From the rainy northern coast to the parched Colorado Desert in the south, and from the Mediterranean-like central and southern littoral to the volcanic plateau of the far northeast, California is a land of stunning physical contrasts.
Regions of California
The 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill propelled the Gold Rush, leading to significant population growth and economic expansion. Subsequent development included the rise of the agricultural industry, establishment of major urban centers, and the growth of the entertainment and technology sectors. With a population exceeding 39 million, California california tax brackets 2023 ranks as the most populous state in the United States.
The Sierra Nevada
- The Central Valley, a major agricultural hub, lies between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges.
- In the southeast lies the Mojave Desert, which, at more than 25,000 square miles (65,000 square km), occupies one-sixth of the land area of California.
- Like most states, California is divided into counties, of which there are 58 (including San Francisco) covering the entire state.
The Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas are the nation’s second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, with 19 million and 10 million residents respectively.11 Los Angeles is the state’s most populous city and the nation’s second-most. Two-thirds of the nation’s earthquake risk lies in California.12 The Central Valley, a fertile agricultural area, dominates the state’s center. The large size of the state results in climates that vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north to arid desert in the interior, as well as snowy alpine in the mountains. Droughts and wildfires are an ongoing issue,13 while simultaneously, atmospheric rivers are turning increasingly prevalent and leading to intense flooding events—especially in the winter. Water is chronically scarce in southern California and the desert regions, but excesses of rain and snowmelt cause winter flooding along the rivers of the northern coast. Complex systems of dams and aqueducts transport water from north to south, but not without the protests of those who regard the export of water from their regions as a bar to future growth or as a threat to environmental balance.
San Diego
Nineteen years later, and seven years after it was greenlighted by President Lincoln, the first transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. Among the first tasks of the convention was a decision on a location for the new state capital. Subsequent locations included Vallejo (1852–1853), and nearby Benicia (1853–1854); these locations eventually proved to be inadequate as well. The capital has been located in Sacramento since 185469 with only a short break in 1862 when legislative sessions were held in San Francisco due to flooding in Sacramento.Once the state’s Constitutional Convention had finalized its state constitution, it applied to the U.S. On September 9, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850, California became a free state and September 9 a state holiday.
Elsewhere in the Sierra lie hundreds of smaller lakes, some above the timberline in regions of tumbled granite and smooth-walled canyons. West of the Sierra Nevada is Clear Lake; at 67 square miles (174 square km), it is the largest natural lake wholly within the state. On the eastern flank of the Sierra are Mono Lake and Owens Lake, both long endangered by agricultural development.
Numerous major cities in California grew out of missions, including San Francisco (Mission San Francisco de Asís), San Diego (Mission San Diego de Alcalá), Ventura (Mission San Buenaventura), and Santa Barbara (Mission Santa Barbara), among others. In conclusion, California isn’t just one experience; it’s a multifaceted adventure waiting to be explored. Whether you’re drawn to the glitz and glam of Hollywood, the tech-driven buzz of Silicon Valley, the agricultural richness of the Central Valley, or the natural wonders of its parks and coastlines, there’s something in the Golden State for everyone. With its dense redwood forests, the rugged Pacific coastline, and the volcanic landscapes of Mount Shasta, it’s a place of untamed beauty. This region is less populated, giving it an untouched feel, perfect for those seeking solitude and connection with nature. Renowned attractions include Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, drawing millions annually.
Major rivers like the Sacramento and San Joaquin run through the Central Valley, providing essential water resources. These varied landscapes contribute to California’s unique climate zones, from Mediterranean along the coast to alpine in the Sierra Nevada, supporting its rich biodiversity and varied ecosystems. The roughly 1,100-mile- (1,800-km-) long coastline of California is mountainous, most dramatically so in the Santa Lucia Range south of San Francisco, where towering cliffs rise about 800 feet (240 meters) above the ocean. Hills of lesser elevation flank entrances to the coast’s three major natural harbors, at San Diego, San Francisco, and Eureka. Coastal mountains, made up of many indistinct chains, are from about 20 to 40 miles (30 to 65 km) in width and from 2,000 to 8,000 feet (600 to 2,400 meters) in elevation.
