According to abbreviationfinder, California is located on the west coast of the United States, with Oregon (north), Nevada and Arizona (east), and Mexico (south) as neighbours. The state is divided into twelve regions, the largest being the Deserts, Central Coast, High Sierra, Central Valley, and Shasta Cascade.
‘Since the weather is almost always nice here, there is only a difference between busy and less busy times’
Most people live on the coast, as there is a cool sea breeze blowing under the temperate maritime climate. It is very warm in California, with average temperatures of 18 ° C in Los Angeles and 14 ° C in San Francisco in the north. In the south and inland there is a subtropical climate. Precipitation falls mainly on the western side of the mountain ranges.
Best time to travel to California
Since the weather is almost always nice here, there is only a distinction between busy and less busy times. Expect that July to September is the high season and airline tickets are therefore considerably more expensive and the queues for the attractions are a lot longer.
Flora and fauna in California
This state is one of contradictions. Between the humid coastal forests and the harsh deserts of the east lies a rich palette of landscapes. After Alaska, California has the longest coastline in the USA. In addition, the state manages to accommodate both the highest point (Mount Whitney, 4,418 m.) and the lowest point in America (Death Valley, 86 m below sea level).
Between the two mountain ranges – the Coast Ranges along the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range to the east – the fertile Sacramento Valley unfolds. An interesting detail is that the 1,000-kilometre-long San Andreas Fault line runs through the earth’s crust here, which has often terrified the inhabitants.
Main cities in California
According to countryaah, Sacramento is the state capital, but by far the most famous cities in California are San Francisco (PHOTO BELOW), Oakland, San Diego and Los Angeles.
National Parks in California
Like neighboring Arizona, California is bursting with National Parks; no less than eight beautiful parks, each with their own appeal, receive many millions of visitors every year. The most famous is the breathtaking Yosemite National Park, but Death Valley NP and Joshua Tree NP (PHOTO ABOVE) are also very worthwhile.
Amusement parks in California
Pleasure is central to this state, in all shapes and forms. For example, the very first Disneyland, so unmissable, is located in Anaheim. But also real-life Hollywood should not be missed, and can be experienced in a spectacular way in Universal Studios Hollywood.
Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park has little to do with berries, but boasts more than 165 attractions. Finally, San Diego has two main attractions for children of all ages: Sea World and the excellent San Diego Zoo.
Pacific Coast Highway in California
US Highway 101 is a highway that runs from Los Angeles deep into Washington State. The California section is also called the Pacific Coast Highway and is a beautiful route along the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
In particular, the stretch of the Coastal Range known as Big Sur, about 125 miles below Monterey, is an experience to remember.
Cabrillo National Monument
Part of the coast around San Diego is the Point Loma Peninsula, on the southern tip of which we find the remains of the original military fortress Fort Rosecrans. In the past, it protected the entrance to the port from uninvited guests. In addition to this fortress, there is also a monument dedicated to the discovery of the bay and the founding of the city – Cabrillo National Monument.
The place is named after the Spanish sailor Juan Rodríguez Cabrill, who in 1542 was the first European to reach the California coast. Above the bay rises his white statue, which looks far into the bay. Today, the memorial summarizes the history of the area and the city into a well-arranged exposition.
The area is rich in natural resources and has become home to numerous species of plants and animals. In the spring, you can watch the migrating whales returning from their winter quarters in the warm Mexican waters back to the coast of Alaska.
California National Historic Trail
The California Trail is one of the most important historical routes along the western United States. The road is closely connected with the Oregon Trail and thus the Oregon – California Trail was created, along which hundreds of thousands of settlers and adventurers set in motion after 1841. They were headed for fertile land on the Pacific coast and later for gold, which was discovered in California at the time.
John Bidwell was responsible for the construction of the California Trail. who began building it from the city of Independence in Missouri to Sacramento. In 120 days he managed to cross the Rocky Mountains. The route measured a total of 3,200 km and led through today’s states of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Oregon to California.
About two and a half thousand people walked the California Trail during the first seven years of its existence, but during the gold rush of 1849-1850 it was an incredible 69 thousand people. In 1851, however, there was stagnation, mainly due to the danger of cholera infection, so only a thousand people walked along the route. A year later, however, everything returned to normal and around 50,000 gold diggers traveled along the route again. In addition to people, about 50,000 donkeys, mules, horses, cows and 7,000 wagons passed through here. However, the trip was quite challenging, which also took its toll. Between 1841 and 1859, approximately 20,000 immigrants died.
