Ca geog intro
- 1. California: Much more than missions and a Gold Rush
- 2. Naming California California as an Island: circa 1650, Johannes Vingboons Know that to the right hand of the Indies exists an island called California, very near the Terrestrial Paradise... And there ruled over that island a queen of majestic proportions, who accomplished great deeds. She was valiant and courageous and ardent with a brave heart—Queen Califa. García Ordóñez de Montalvo (1510)
- 3. Introduction This program uses the Atlas of California to investigate the geographic factors that make Queen Califa’s ―terrestrial paradise‖ unique.
- 4. What makes the land of Queen Califa unique?
- 5. What makes the land of Queen Califa unique? Location Size Topography Climate Population Economy
- 6. Unique California: LOCATION temperate mid-latitude (32° - 42° North) even daylight: 10 – 14 hours Pacific Rim influences climate, settlement, trade Tom Patterson, Natural Earth II; Evnir Sys Res Inst
- 7. CA Geol Survey; UC Seismological Lab; NorCal Earthquak Catalog; USGS Earthquakes and Fault Zones But fault zones riddle western North America
- 8. Tom Patterson, Natural Earth II; Evnir Sys Res Inst The first Californians crossed the Bering Straits from Asia, then traveled south along the Pacific Rim. Others may also have crossed the Pacific Ocean. The Spaniards were the first Europeans to reach California when Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo arrived in San Diego by ship in 1542. In 1769, they established San Diego de Alcala, the first non-native settlement. American fur trappers entered California overland from the east during 1820s, at the height of the Mission Period.
- 9. WAN Conservancy Cabrillo Arrives ~ 1542
- 10. Unique California: Size 100 million acres: 3rd after AK and TX 800 miles long 250 miles wide
- 11. Land Cover These 100 million acres provide tremendous diversity of … Topography Climate Plants Animals Opportunities for human settlement North to South UC Davis East to West In Rainshadows More than any other area of comparable size in North America
- 12. Unique California: Topography divided into mountains & valleys exceeds 14,000 ft. ~ drops 200 ft. below sea level coastline of rocky headlands and broad beaches
- 13. There are 12 Physiographic Regions Physiography the shape of the land surface Low physiographic diversity FL, OK, IA High physiographic diversity AK, CA, VA Atlas of California (1979)
- 14. The Klamath Mountains dominate sparsely populated northwestern California
- 15. Mt. Shasta (14,162’) and Mt. Lassen (not shown) are the southern terminus of the Cascade Range that stretches north to Oregon and Washington, and includes Mts. Hood, St. Helens, and Rainier
- 16. Goose Lake on the Modoc Plateau is one of many saline lakes in eastern California with no outlet to the sea. Evaporating water leaves salt and other minerals behind.
- 17. Chamoismoon.com Rocky headlands and coarse sand beaches typify California’s north coast. Stinson Beach is one of many barrier beaches that block the mouth of Coast Range streams in summer. In winter, rain-filled lagoons combined with pounding surf reopen the channels.
- 18. Mountains cloaked in oak and chaparral rise above fertile valleys of the Northern and Southern Coast Range
- 19. Johnson (1971) The Sierra Nevada is the geologic backbone of California, and separates the Great Central Valley from the Basin & Range. The range tilts westward, is 400 miles long and between 40-80 miles wide.
- 20. Although popular for winter recreation, the Sierra snowpack is a water reservoir for cities and fields throughout lowland California
- 21. Great Central Valley This 400-mile long valley—the most level part of California— is the most productive agricultural region in the world. A network of canals, aqueducts, and pumps sustains fields and livestock. San Francisco Bay is the only outlet to the sea.
- 22. The Basin & Range stretches from eastern California to the Rocky Mountains. There is no outlet to the sea.
- 23. Death Valley is the lowest (-282 ft.) and hottest location in the Mojave Desert
- 24. The Transverse and Peninsular Ranges separate the coastal plains of Southern California and San Diego from the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. The red line is the boundary with Mexico.
- 25. Mojave Desert Mt. San Gorgonio (11,501’) The Transverse Ranges stretch from the Santa Monica Mountains to the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, and bisect the Southern California coastal plain from the Mojave Desert
- 26. Arid winds from the interior Mojave Desert rush through low gaps in the Transverse Ranges, then flow across Southern California’s densely populated coastal plains.
- 27. J. Zorn Periodic fires are a natural part of the chaparral life cycle
- 28. Unique California: Climate Mediterranean climate covers only 2% of world unreliably wet winters ~ reliably dry summers mountains catch moisture for parched lowlands Grabov Rat; F. DiCastri, Goodall, Specht (1981)
- 29. Annual Precipitation Most precipitation falls in a giant horseshoe-shaped ring of mountains that surround the Sacramento Valley. This includes the northern Coast Range, Klamath and Trinity Mountains, Mt. Shasta and Lassen Peak, and the northern Sierra. Over 90% of the moisture falls during the winter months as rain or snow in the higher elevations. PRISM © 2010
- 30. California precipitation decreases: North to South West to East In rainshadows on the leeward sides of mountains North to South East to West In Rainshadows
- 31. Pearson Education/Cummings (2003) The windward west side of the Sierra Nevada blocks Pacific storms, leaving the Great Basin in an arid ―rainshadow‖
- 32. Precipitation Transect: Sierra Nevada Rainshadow San Francisco: 21‖ Sacramento: 17‖ Auburn: 40‖ Blue Canyon: 60‖ Donner Summit: 70‖ Truckee: 25‖ Reno: 7‖ Ely: 3‖ Elevation Profile
- 33. Mountains catch and retain moisture… July snowpack at Tioga Pass, Yosemite
- 34. … for transport to cities and farms—80% of California water goes to crops and livestock. The Los Angeles Aqueduct carries water south from the eastern Sierra Nevada
- 35. Hydrology before human settlement. Spring rains and melting snow once flooded the Central Valley (right). The meandering Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers would overflow to form an enormous seasonal swamp 4 million acres in size. Today, less than 10 percent of these wetlands remain, but much of that water now irrigates crops and livestock. Irrigation Growth Bowen CA Dept Water Res (1979)
- 36. Unique California: Population most diverse native populations in the Americas 26% of present Californians were born outside the USA now the most diverse large-population in world history Homeland Security; CA Public Policy Inst; INS Stat Yrbk; CA Dept Finance Legal Imm Summary
- 37. Settlement History California’s varied landscapes were home to the greatest density and diversity of indigenous people in the New World UC Publ.AmArch.and Ethn, V 38; Atlas CA (1979); CA Patterns (1983); UC CA Indian Lib. Coll.
- 38. The Gold Rush was the epic and lasting immigration event—one that proved rare in world history Enduring impacts Native decline Global immigration Univ. California CA statehood County boundaries Wildlife decimation Sedimentation Hg in SF Bay/Delta US Postal Service
- 39. California’s 58 Counties The initial Gold Rush and Bay Area counties are smaller because mountain terrain and water bodies made travel and communication difficult. Population Division Estimate, US Census (2008)
- 40. Settlement History After the Gold Rush, 4 of 5 lived between SF and the Sierra foothills After WWII & the 1960’s baby boom, CA topped USA in population Since 1990, domestic out-migration has exceeded in-migration Century Population Post Post Gold Rush Baby Boom Change 1860 ~ 1960 US Census (2000) US Census (2000)
- 41. Latin America is currently the largest area of origin for new Californians Pearson Education (2005)
- 42. As foreign immigration grows, native Californians dwindle Annual Net Domestic Migrations: 2000 - 2004 Incoming domestic immigration Outgoing domestic immigration
- 43. Southern California is among the most diverse places on Earth
- 45. Century Change
- 46. In 1900 Bodie was one of the largest towns in eastern California. A century later 99 percent of its residents had moved on…
- 47. ... while Los Angeles blossomed into the largest North American Pacific Rim city.
- 48. Unique California: Economy 8th largest economy in the world 106 billion in foreign exports per year 10 of 15 top markets are Pacific Rim countries J. Cunha International Trade Admin; US Dept Commerce; CA Technology, Trade &Commerce Agency
- 49. Top 10 World Economies
- 50. Silicon Valley is the nerve center of Digital Age innovation Stanford University
- 51. Manufacturing a Future? currently shedding manufacturing jobs jobs going to Latin America and Asia high technology remains productive and promising A Televisa crew in Mexico City records on a MacBook International Trade Admin; US Dept Commerce; CA Technology, Trade & Commerce Agency
- 52. Agricultural Exports of California and the Top 15 Importing Countries UC Agric Issues Center (2009) California is the fifth largest provider of food in the world
- 53. In 2006, California international agricultural exports totaled 9.8 billion dollars Nuts to Iran (from Chico), via the United Arab Emirates UC Agric Issues Center (2009)
- 54. Prof. Wm. Bowen Sustained by irrigation from mountain snow and groundwater, the Great Central Valley is the most productive agricultural region in the world.
- 55. R. Campbell Sacramento Valley rice fields Provide habitat for waterfowl
- 56. But our agricultural lands are succumbing to urbanization Central Valley urban centers: Are replacing croplands Will eventually rival So Cal Increase regional temperatures Provide more affordable housing Use much less water than crops Farmland Mapping & Monitoring Pgm; CDC; CDF; CDWR
- 57. Review… The land of Queen Califa is unique due to… Location Size Topography Climate Population Economy
- 58. For more on California geography refer to:
- 59. California: Much more than missions and a Gold Rush ~~~~ The California Atlas was produced by the California Geographic Alliance with generous support from: Education Foundation Author: Stephen F. Cunha, Ph.D Supervising Editors: Roni Jones and Emily Schell, Ed.D Cartography: Institute for Cartographic Design, Humboldt State University Cartography Team Director: Mary Beth Cunha, M.A. Administrative Manger: Mary Hackett