California: Difference between revisions

'''California''' is a big place. It's the third-largest and most populous state in the USA, nearly [[American Customary Measurements|800 miles]] from the northern border with Oregon to the southern border with Baja California, Mexico. To the west is the Pacific Ocean, and to the east is the state of Nevada on the northern half and Arizona on the southern half. In between these borders lies some of the most gorgeous geography on the face of the Earth, but also nightmarish urban hellscapes and artery-clogging atmosphere. Summing up California in one article would be extremely difficult. It is home to the highest peak of the lower 48 states (Mt. Whitney) and, 76 miles away, the lowest point in North America (Death Valley). California is home to 15 of the 17 types of biomes: vast elevated deserts, beautiful forests of mighty redwoods, valleys of sun-soaked vineyards nestled in golden hills, and majestic snow-capped mountains.

 

 

On that note, despite its reputation, California is a very politically mixed place. The California coast, particularly [[Los Angeles]] and [[San Francisco]], is indeed characterized by social liberalism, although they are more moderate/conservative on fiscal issues. Its inland counties, meanwhile, are made up of provincial backwaters and farming communities that retain very traditionalist views of politics and culture and vote strongly Republican. This leads to a certain amount of internal political conflict split down rural vs. urban and coastal vs. inland lines, while producing a political culture that is generally quite averse to high taxes. Beyond that, the northern and southern parts of the state are always arguing over who gets the water. One thing almost all Californians agree on, however, is a desire for greater autonomy within the Union. This may have something to do with California's economy, which is the eighth-largest ''in the world'' (behind only the United States itself, Japan, Germany, China, Great Britain, India and Brazil), and its population, which is the 35th-largest.

* Strong social liberalism and activism.

* [[New Age Retro Hippie|Hippies.]]

* [[Hollywood]].

* [[Disney Theme Parks|Disneyland]].

=== Major Cities ===

==== Northern and Central California (NorCal) ====

* '''Sacramento:''' The state capital and county seat [[Department of Redundancy Department|of the Sacramento County]]. Known colloquially as [[Embarrassing Nickname|Sactown]], which pretty much sums up all you need to know. The city's official nickname is "The City of Trees". Also home to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento, Sutter's Fort, the Tower Bridge, and the California State Fair. The area is also one of the least seismically prone regions of California, though it floods occasionally. Sacramento has an NBA team (the Kings) and a ziggurat. Does ''your'' state or provincial capital have a ziggurat? We thought not.

* '''[[San Francisco]]:''' The financial and legal center of the West Coast and the fourth largest city in the state. The cultural heart of Northern California, well known for its progressive politics, highly educated population, and [[Gayborhood|the size of its LGBT population]]. Its hills, iconic bridges, Victorian architecture, cable cars, and the surrounding natural beauty of San Francisco Bay all around it lead to it regularly being regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in America, if not the most beautiful. Also, it's a county ''as well as'' a city. By order of His Imperial Highness Emper or Joshua Norton I: ''Whoever after due and proper warning shall be heard to utter the abominable word "Frisco", which has no linguistic or other warrant, shall be deemed guilty of a High Misdemeanor, and shall pay into the Imperial Treasury as penalty the sum of twenty-five dollars.'' San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the country after New York City, with nearly 800,000 people living in only 49 square miles, and is also one of the most expensive to live in. Its perpetual cold fogginess [[SoCalization|often surprises visitors.]]

* '''Mojave (or High) Desert:''' That place you have to fly over/drive through/tunnel under to get from [[Los Angeles]] to [[Las Vegas]]. More rocky than sandy, there are a few decent sized towns (including Lancaster and Palmdale close to LA, and Mojave, Barstow and Baker further out), some military bases (including Edwards Air Force Base, where more than one [[Cool Plane]] was tested), and of course the occasional [[Crazy Survivalist]]. Further south, near the California/Nevada/Arizona border, there are a bunch of man-made lakes which are popular spring break vacation spots for the rest of Southern California.

** '''Antelope Valley:''' A valley that is located between the Tehachapi and the San Gabriel Mountains and comprises the western tip of the Mojave Desert. It's named for the pronghorns that are said to have roamed there until being eliminated in the 1880s by hunters and bad weather. Overlaps with the Greater [[Los Angeles]] Area.

*** '''Death Valley:''' One of the hottest, driest, lowest, and deadest places on Earth. A popular vacation spot! It constitutes much of Death Valley National Park and is located near the California/Nevada border. Features sand dunes and the Badwater Basin.

** '''Joshua Tree National Park:''' A national park in southeastern California that is named after the Joshua Tree. The eastern part lies in the Colorado Desert and the southeastern part lies in the Coachella Valley.

 

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