California

Subject: California Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:25 am

California, America’s “Golden State” is about 300 km wide and 1400 km
long, stretching along the west coast of the Pacific Ocean. It borders
on Mexico to the south and Oregon to the north. Its western beaches are
in direct contrast to its deserts which border on the states of Arizona
and Nevada to the east. To the south the warm Pacific waters attract
countless surfing freaks, but further north the coastline becomes more
rugged and the water temperature tempts only the toughest.
Except for a gap near San Francisco, California’s coastal mountains run
the whole length of the state and separate the coast from the Central
Valley. This feature has a tremendous effect on the climate. Pacific
storms bring rain to the western slopes, while the eastern slopes stay
relatively dry. Frequent coastal fogs cool the hot, southern inland
valleys to the east where vineyards and fruit and nut orchards are
cultivated. California produces many millions of litres of wine each
year. The best-known come from the more northerly Sonoma and Napa
Valleys, and the neighbouring Mendocino and Lake Counties to the north
of San Francisco.
The Central Valley, 90 -150 km wide, runs between the coastal mountains
and the Sierra Nevada mountain range to the east. Thanks to wide-spread
irrigation, this once desolate desert plain is now some of the richest
farmland in the USA, home to orchards and vineyards. The snow-capped
Sierra Nevada peaks form a 650-km-long barrier running north to south.
A wilderness with few roads and difficult access. To the east of this
mountain range is a narrow strip of parched desert – the beginning of
the barren Basin and Range Country which includes the notorious Death
Valley.

Subject: Re: California Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:25 am

Subject: Re: California Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:26 am