California

California is a land of contrasts. You can find the highest mountain (Mount Whitney 4,418 metres)
only some miles away from the lowest point on the western hemisphere in Death Valley (86 metres
below sea level). There the hottest temperature in the USA (56,7C) was recorder. But it's only hot in
the South of California. The North of this state is cool, the middle has got a mild climate (San
Francisco). There are lots of National Parks in this state like Yosemite or Redwood Forest. The largest
living tree you can find in Sequoia National Park (General Sherman 86 m tall). The oldest living thing,
a pine in Inyo National Forest, is over 4,600 years old.
In California you can find the world's most fertile valley (cotton, sugar beets, barley, wheat, rice, fruit,
grapes, vegetables). The biggest problems of California are water and the air pollution in the big
cities. In 1906 there was a big earthquake in San Francisco. Most of the city was destroyed. The last
big eathquake was in 1989. Lots of people are afraid of another big one today. It is only a question of
time.
California became a US territory in 1847. On January 24th, 1848 gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill,
starting the Californian Gold Rush and bringing settlers to the state in large numbers. On 9th
September 1850 California became a member of the Union.
California was hard hit by the Great Depression. However, San Francisco's great bridges were opened
in 1936-1937. In 1945 the United Nations was founded at San Francisco. By 1963, California could
claim to be the nation's most populous state. Los Angeles hosted the Olympic Games of 1984. Today
California is famous for its computer and film industry (Silicon Valley, Hollywood)
capital Sacramento
nickname Golden State
land area 155,973 square miles
population 35,893,799
cities
(Metropolitan areas)
Los Angeles 4,157,377
San Diego 3,051,280
San Francisco 4,157,377
motto Eureka (I have found it.)
number of counties 58
state symbols
flower (golden poppy)
tree (California redwoods)
bird (California valley quail)
animal (California grizzly bear)
fish (California golden trout)
stone (serpentine)
colours (blue and gold)
song "I Love You California"
legal driving age 18
marriage age without
parental consent
18
death penalty yes, by lethal gas