The geography of California is rich and very diverse. Larger third State (410 000 km ²) of the the United States after the Alaska and the Texas, California extend in Latitude from 42° NR to 32° 30' NR, which confers to him a North-South length of approximately 1 000 km, and are between 114° 8' at 124° 24' of Longitude western. It belongs to the Western American and the area of the Sun Belt. Bordered in the west by the Pacific Ocean, in north by the Oregon, in the east by the Nevada and the Arizona, it has a common border with the Mexico (State of Low-California), in addition one of the most uneven borders in the world from an economic point of view. The Californian landscapes are very contrasted, with a misty northern littoral, mountainous and timbered, a very fertile central valley, snow-covered mountains and Désert S extreme. Its culminating point is the Mont Whitney (4 420 meters).
One generally distinguishes the California from the North (whose San Francisco is the metropolis) and the California of the South polarized by Los Angeles, nearer to the Mexican border. The capital of the State is Sacramento, but the city which is populated is Los Angeles.
The economic power of California comes from its multiple natural and human assets as well as positive image conveyed by the Cinéma and the televised series. The most dynamic area and richest of Sun Belt, it always attracts many Americans and foreigners.
Physical geography: general information
California stretches itself on ten degrees of latitude, that is to say the same variation which separates Paris from the south of the Italy, which can partly explain climatic contrasts which mark its territory. The latter are amplified by the differences in altitudes.
The State holds several records in the United States: the hottest spot low and of the country (Badwater, Valley of Dead the); the highest trees (Sequoia S) and oldest (pines of Bristlecone); the most population (34 million inhabitants).
The last erosion glacial carved the boxed Vallée S of the Nevada Sierra, like that of the Yosemite. The Central Valley is a tectonic depression of origin, covered by the Molasse S resulting from the erosion of the mountains which frame it. In the east finally, the Large Basin was deformed by the rise in the Nevada Sierra and the Laramide orogenesis, which gave rise to the Rocky Mountains, at the end of the Cretaceous.
Hydrology
See also: Rivers of California, Lakes California
The boundary line of water is in the Nevada Sierra: the majority of the rivers throws itself in the Pacific Ocean; the others have flow of a endoreic type and finish in the Neighboring state of Nevada, in the Large Basin. The coastal rivers and rivers run in a way parallel with the chains, until they clear a passage towards the Central Valley or the Pacific. The majority of the Californian rivers have a hydrological Régime of flow in high mountain. Only the rivers of the desert areas have a specific scheme and some are dry in a final or temporary way.
The Colorado mark the border enters California and Arizona. Two larger run in the Central Valley of California: in north, the Sacramento takes its source close to the Shasta Mount and traverses approximately 620 km to be thrown in the Baie of San Francisco by forming a delta. In the south, the San Joaquin is navigable to the town of Stockton. It takes its source in the west of the Nevada Sierra, close to Mammoth Mountain.
California counts several lakes: widest is the Salton Sea, in the Imperial Valley. The Lac Owens was completely drained because of the human taking away and the long-term climate changes. The lakes of mountain are numerous in California of North.
Climates of California
It is generally admitted that California has a Mediterranean Climat of a particular type, since the summers are fresh and misty. The maximum of the temperatures arrives late, in September. Precipitations are relatively weak during half of the year. However, the differences with large scales are important. Three elements come into play to include/understand the Californian climate: the Current of California, relief and the latitude.A marine Running cold, from Alaska, maintains along the coast a moderate Climat. Above the grounds, the ascending currents aspire the sea air, whose moisture condenses and forms tough fogs. The summer, it is all the basin of the Central Valley which is used as vacuum cleaner: the more the weather is hot in the valley and the more durable the fogs are strong and. The longitudinal provision of the relief is in question in the distribution of precipitations and the temperatures. Thus, the coastal chains make obstacle with the oceanic winds which bring rain and freshness. As one moves away towards the interior of the continent, precipitations decrease: the Central Valley receives only little water. While arriving on the buttresses of the Nevada Sierra, the clouds go up in altitude and pour their abundant precipitations on the assembly line: thus, in Blue Canyon close to the Lake Tahoe, the total of precipitations is of: 1685 mm per annum. These precipitations feed the rivers and work the Canyon S.
If the situation of the relief acts on precipitations, the temperatures evolve/move according to altitude, but also according to the latitude: California of the South is drier and more heat that California of North. To the south-east of the State extend from the desert or semi-desert areas, very dissimilar according to their latitude: for example, the imperial Valley receives 76 mm of rain per annum
, of the gray Whale ( Eschrichtius robustus ) and of the Hake of California (bird).
A fragile environment
See also: American National parks
The Californian environment is returned fragile by the intensive exploitation of the resources and the natural environment in order to support the economic growth; however, an ecological awakening develops and modifies timidly the development model of the State.
The management of the Water resources is a major stake in California. Today, half of consumed water comes from the outside of the State, thanks to infrastructures financed by the Federal state. Water is an object of competition between the farmers and the townsmen. Three million hectares is irrigated in California. The collecting of water is done by Aqueduc S and stoppings. There exist also factories of Dessalement. The rivers which go down from the Nevada Sierra are arranged to satisfy the urban and economic needs: the Hetch Hetchy valley, in the park of Yosemite, was ennoyée in order to constitute a tank for San Francisco (7 million inhabitants); the food of the agglomeration angeline (15 million inhabitants) is ensured by the Aqueduc of Los Angeles and the aqueduct of California ( Californian aqueduct ), which collects water more 700 km in north.
The effects on the ecosystems are dramatic: the lake Owens is drained since nearly thirty years; the Colorado river is only one brook when it enters to Mexico, which poses problems of renewal of water in the gulf of California. The water punctures in the Central Valley affect the migration of the Saumon S upstream.
The other major ecological problem of California relates to the quality of the air: the State is it twelfth pollutant of planet. The summer, the fog combined with atmospheric pollution gives rise to the Smog with the top of Los Angeles. Speed limits are then imposed. Lastly, of large fires touch the Californian forests and threaten the cities of the south each summer. They are in general started by the lightning.
California was of long time sensitive to the environmental questions. As of the XIXe century, men in love with nature such as John Muir challenged the public authorities on the need for protecting the natural wealths from the area. In the Years 1970, a current ecologist opens out in California, the movement Hippie. Today, 79% of Californian regard climate warming as a serious threat. The code of education of the State insists that the pupils receive an education with the environmental problems. Associations organize opinion campaigns and bring lawsuits, for example for the misuse of water. The State was the first to impose the unleaded gas and the catalytic Pot. In 2006, one counted 50.000 hybrid vehicles within the limits of the state.
About half of the Californian territory belongs to the State. California is the State which created the most national parks in the United States, with equality with Alaska. It counts eight, and manages of them several tens of parks of State ( State Parks ), natural reserves and navy. These parks are opened to the tourists and undergo a pressure denounced by the ecologists: some would like to completely prohibit the access of the park of Yosemite to make a natural sanctuary of it.
The August 30th 2006, the Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger sign an agreement with the Parliament of California to decrease the production of Gas to greenhouse effect, putting the State in conformity with the Protocol of Kyoto. Decision AB32 was made to reduce of a quarter the gas emissions to greenhouse effect from here to 2020. Financial sanctions will be taken against industries which do not respect this engagement. A market of license of emissions will be created and controlled by the Air Board Resources. September 20th, 2006, Bill Lockyer the Minister for the justice of California, launches legal proceedings against three American car manufacturers and three Japanese, and their request of the damages for the pollution which they generate.
Lastly, California develops the renewable energies: Geothermics, wind solar energy and , for which it holds the first place at the national level: with a production capacity of more than: 2040 MW installed in 2004, it position far in front of the Texas. The principal areas of production are in the north of the State, the east of San Francisco and the south (Tehachapi Mountains).
The maritime influences dominate the climate in the west of the coastal chains: soft temperatures and humidity of the atmosphere are constant in this part of California. The more one descends the coast towards the south, the more the annual average temperatures increase and the more precipitations decrease: thus, in Crescent City, they are of: 1689 mm, in San Francisco of 608 mm and San Diego of 201 Misters.
Coastal chains ( Coast Arrange )
See also: coastal Chains
The coastal chains ( Coast Arrange ), parallel with the shore and of meridian orientation, stretch Canada with the Mexico. They are between the central Valley of California and the ocean and are extended little in latitude (a few kilometers of west in is). They receive important precipitations in their northern part where the forests of Séquoia S could thrive, of the south of Monterey to Oregon. They are among largest and the oldest trees of planet. These forests were exploited for the structural timber, particularly resistant to the fires and the insects. Part of these forests from now on is protected in the three natural parks: Park of State de Humboldt Redwoods (county of Humboldt), National Redwood and State Parks (county of Del Norte) and Muir Woods National Monument (county of Sailor, just in the north of San Francisco). Generally, the flora of the coastal chains depends on the latitude and altitude: however, one finds the Chêne of California on the Western edge of the State. North and the center are the field of the Séquoia, the Pseudotsuga, of the Sapin Douglas, spruce and tanoak. One going towards the center appear the white Chêne of California, the blue Chêne and the Pin of Monterey, but the trees are less and less numerous. In the area of Los Angeles and San Diego, the coastal chain is covered with Chaparral, a maquis of bushes and undergrowth, particularly sensitive to the fires in summer, but which reappears easily. The fauna of the coastal chains is varied: north is the kingdom of the black Cerf to tail, of the black Ours, the Puma, the Coyote, the Raccoon, the marte, the Pékan and the common otter. More in the south, one finds the Cerf hémione, the lynx, the Renard, the Belette, the Opossum and the squirrel of California.
Reliefs of north
See also: Chain of the Cascades
In the North-West are the Klamath mountains (with the peak Thomson: 2744 meters), bordered in the east by the Chain of the Cascades (mount Shasta: 4317 meters) which extends on Oregon and the State from Washington. Several careers of Marbre and serpentine are exploited there.
The climate is hard and snow-covered in winter. The summers hot and are sprinkled little. The volcanic grounds of the Plate of Modoc, irrigated by small rivers and constellated with lakes, remain sufficiently sprinkled to allow the breeding and agriculture
The area offers a rare flora of pine S and Cyprès: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Pinus balfouriana, Picea breweriana and Kalmiopsis leachiana.
The Central Valley of California
See also: Central Valley of California
The Central Valley is a tectonic depression of origin, covered by the Molasse S resulting from the erosion of the mountains which frame it, i.e. the coastal chains and the Nevada Sierra. The two larger rivers of California run in the Central Valley: in north Sacramento, the south, San Joaquin. The longitudinal provision of the close chains has an influence on the climate of the central Valley. Thus, the coastal chains make obstacle with the oceanic winds which bring rain and freshness. As one moves away towards the interior of the continent, precipitations decrease: the Central Valley receives only little water: with Fresno the annual total of precipitations is of 260 mm for an average temperature of 16,8 °C. The southernmost area is sprinkled. These climatic differences determine the agricultural choices partly. Before the arrival of the white man, the meadows were the grounds of course of the antelopes of America (Pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana ) and of the Wapiti S. Aujourd'hui, the central valley is almost entirely cultivated. The oaks are spaced because the ground is poor and that water is rare. Moist environments which strongly regressed because of the urbanization and the agricultural development, shelter colonies of migratory birds. As for the Puma, he sees his habitat being reduced like a shagreen.
Chanel Islands
See also: Chanel Islands of California
The Chanel Islands (or islands of the strait) are a Archipel of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean at broad of Los Angeles and Santa Barbara at the south-west of California. Widest is the Île Santa Cruz (250 km ²). They are divided into two groups of four islands each one: the group more in north is separated from the coast by the strait of Santa Barbara. The group more in the south more is dispersed and separated from the littoral by the strait of San Pedro. During the last glaciation, the four septentrional islands formed only one named ground mass Santa Rosae. Many species of plants and animals are endemic.
Deserts of the south
California of South-east is a desert area which was formed with the shelter of the assembly lines: the clouds come from the Pacific Ocean pour their precipitations on the Nevada Sierra; the air which goes down again on the Grand Basin located at the back is dry and extreme. In these arid mediums, the flora is adapted to the dryness and fauna is often night, to escape heat. The Désert of Mojaves is closest to the Pacific Ocean and is with the doors of Los Angeles. It receives approximately 150 mm of rain per annum and is at a relatively high altitude, around: 1000 meters. The Désert of Sonora relates to especially the neighboring states of Arizona and Mexico, but overflows on the south-east of California. It is known for its imposing cacti in the shape of candle. The Désert of the Colorado, from which the greatest extension is in the Neighboring state, is the field of the trees of Josué, the Créosote and of cactées. It falls under the prolongation of the Gulf of California and occupies the imperial Vallée ( Imperial Valley ). The Amarante, whose bushes form balls pushed by the wind, is characteristic of this desert. The Vallée of Dead the belongs to the geological area of the Large Basin but is attached climatically to the desert of Mojaves. It is the hottest place of North America.
The Nevada Sierra
See also: Sierra Nevada (California)
The Nevada Sierra is stretched on approximately 650 km of the collar Fredonyer in north, with the collar Tehachapi in the south. It is framed in the west by the central valley of California and in the east by the Large Basin. The more one goes towards the east, the more altitudes increase to the watershed, then go down again abruptly on other side. The rivers which are born on this line in the east throw in the Pacific Ocean. The gradient of altitude increases when one moves towards the south. Several tops exceed: 4000 meters of altitude like the Mount Whitney (: 4421 meters). The shapes of relief of the chain are due to the rising of the area and the glacial erosion. The famous valley of the Yosemite is in the center of the Nevada Sierra. Other natural parks are located in this part of California, and attract many tourists and holiday makers of the close cities (Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park…). The climate is cold and snow-covered in winter: Sierra Nevada means chain covered with snow in Spanish. One measures more than five meters per annum with Truckee, in the north of the Lac Tahoe) which blocks the collars and the roads several October at June.
Is of California
See also: Large Basin (America)
Is State is occupied by an area of chains and basins ( Basin and Range or Large French Basin) where assembly lines (Horst S alternate: Chain desert Paramint for example) and basins (Graben S: the valley of dead). The valley of Owens ( Owens Valley ) is deepest of the United States with: 3000 meters of Uneven. The Mono Lake is of volcanic formation. It extends to the east from the national park from Yosemite.
Human geography
Disparities of settlement and urbanization
See also: List of the urban surfaces of California, Demography of California
The very great majority of the Californian population (70%) gathers in the five greater agglomerations. North, with a more rigorous climate and little of industrial activity, is populated little. The desert interior is also forsaken, except some oases.
In California, the Urbanisation was spectacular as from the 19th century. Many cities pushed like mushrooms and the urbanization was often brutal. The recent immigrants were established in districts with ethnic base which survived or in dilapidated sectors. The cities continue today to extend, by Mitage on the hills which surround them or towards the desert margins. The urban growth poses problems of pollution, management of waste and water provision. The urban spreading out is spectacular in the agglomeration of Los Angeles. A Mégalopole is in the course of formation in the west of the State: it is called SanSan, because this urban area extends from San Francisco in north, in San Diego in the south. Nearly a third the Californian ones reside in the agglomeration of Los Angeles and that of San Francisco gathers seven million people. The role of these two urban poles is determining in the organization of Californian space. The power and the administrative duty of the cities are represented by the Central Business District S : there are some apart from the mégapoles, for example with Oakland. The agglomeration of Los Angeles is characterized even by several centers of the businesses dispersed. The Skyscraper and architecture generally, were always innovators: that one thinks of the form of the Transamerica Pyramid or the Walt Disney Concert Hall. The principal agglomerations are located on an estuary or a bay or even on a river (Sacramento, Stockton). Inside the grounds, the central valley is presented as a chain of medium-sized cities which are as many highway nodes and of centers of redistribution of the productions Agroalimentaire S. Some cities settled in the desert: Palmdale, Palm Springs, Barstow, Victorville, etc These cities of the Vallée of Coachella are harbors where the pensioners come to seek the sun, far from the tumult of Los Angeles.
Population of the 10 towns of the most populated California (2004)
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from: start till: 3845.8 text: Los Angeles _ (3 845.541)
from: start till: 1263.2 text: San Diego _ (1 263.756)
from: start till: 904.5 text: San Jose _ (904 522)
from: start till: 744.2 text: San Francisco _ (744 230)
from: start till: 476.5 text: Long Beach _ (476 564)
from: start till: 457.7 text: Fresno _ (457 719)
from: start till: 454.3 text: Sacramento _ (454 330)
from: start till: 397.9 text: Oakland _ (397 976)
from: start till: 342.7 text: Santa Anna _ (342 715)
from: start till: 333.7 text: Anaheim _ (333 776)
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text: Many inhabitants (in thousands)
Economic geography
See also: Economy of California
California is the State of the United States which produces the most richnesses. Major economic hearth of world scale, it concentrates important production centres and diversified activities.
Californian assets
The explanations of this power are varied: California has abundant natural resources: the ores and wood are used as raw material. The rivers and the hydrocarbons are energy sources. The upwellings are at the origin of a rich watery fauna which feeds the sector Halieutique. The history also supported the State: California grew rich at the 19th century thanks to the gold rush and with the agricultural development. At the 20th century, the discovery of oil and the innovations (cinema, data processing) hoisted the area with the more world high levels. The human factors are also far from being marginal: ground of immigration, the climate, the natural wealths and employment Californian always attracted an abundant and young labor. The proximity of Mexico stimulated a whole part of agriculture and industry. Prestigious universities (Berkeley, Stanford…) and of the skilled workers are at the base of economic success. Lastly, the situation of California, on the Pacific Ocean, gave place to an intense sea traffic with the Japan and recently the China. Since the Years 1860, shoed connections connect the west coast to the urban hearths and industrial of the North-East of the United States.
Two principal economic poles
See the articles on these two cities, in particular the paragraphs on the economy.The two Californian metropolises concentrate the main part of the economic activities of the area. The most populated area State depends on the water of the Nevada Sierra (San Francisco) or the Colorado (Los Angeles). The two cities developed a powerful industry whose products are sent by Porte-conteneurs or by terrestrial way. Los Angeles is characterized by the production from hydrocarbons, the heavy industries and the importance of the complex militaro-industrialist. The area of San Francisco specializes in the High technology with the Silicon Valley.
The two cities share a maritime vocation: the port Length Beach-Los Angeles is the first American seaport with a traffic of 107 million tons in 1998. The imports of the south of the State are made up to 85% of products coming from Asia. 230 billion dollars of goods pass by the port of Los Beach Angeles-Length, with a growth rate of 15% per annum (given 2004). The port of Oakland, in bay of San Francisco, constitutes an interface between the interior of the State and the other countries of the Pacific Ocean. The tertiary sector is dominated by tourism and the finance departments in the two Californian metropolises which have each one an international airport.
Valleys: primarily agricultural
The central Vallée of California is the principal agricultural area of the State. It benefits from natural assets (flat ground, favorable climate, presence of river for the irrigation), human (cheap Mexican labor) and financial (concentration of the capital). It is the subject of a intensive farm, modern and diversified. The wet grounds of the alluvial floor were drained to emphasize new grounds. In the south, the irrigation is necessary to mitigate the lack of water. Thus, 71% of the irrigated perimeters of California are in the central Valley. Part of the agricultural produce are emphasized on the spot: wine exploitation, canning facilities, agribusiness industries provide a big part of employment. The other part is exported, which stimulates the economic sector of transport.
The agricultural produce is numerous: cotton is cultivated in the south of the valley, as well as the alfalfa, the barley and vegetables. The valley of San Joaquin produced of the grape, almonds and the Citrus fruits S. Plus in north, the valley of Sacramento produces fishings, plums, pears, grape, but also of potato and sugar beets. In the north of bay of San Francisco, the counties of Sonoma and Napa are famous for their wine production: with 16 million hectolitres, they ensure 90% of the production of wine of the United States. The other economic activities of the central Valley are oil and transport.
The imperial Vallée produces on irrigated grounds. The Bay of Monterey, the Valley of Salinas and the Vallée of Coachella are secondary agricultural areas.
The remainder of the State
The remainder of California, less populated, exploits its natural resources: the preserved landscapes attract the tourists and the townsmen. The forest (counties of Humboldt, Siskiyou and Shasta), the breeding, the exploitation of the ores and the energy sources (hydroelectricity, geothermics), mark the saving in these mountainous regions. The deserts of south-east are used as a basis for the American army and NASA (Base Edwards, Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex). The littoral saw tourism and fishing (Eureka, Monterey, Santa Barbara).
See too
Internal bonds
- Geography of the United States
- Economy of California
External bonds
In French
- Card of presentation
In English
- '' California Geographic Alliance ''
- '' California Geographic Society ''
- the library Humboldt propose a series of bonds towards charts sets of themes of Californie
- the '' California Geographica Survey '' propose a series of photographs: while clicking on the chart, one reaches the landscapes of all État
- California Climate Data ArchiveDes given and of the climatic charts for many cities californiennes
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