California
"Growing up in northern California has had a big influence on my love and respect for the outdoors. When I lived in Oakland, we would think nothing of driving to Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz on day and then driving to the foothills of the Sierras the next day." -Tom Hanks
Being a California native myself, I have a great appreciation for diversity of all forms. Environmentally, you can reach a beach, a mountain top, a glassy lake, and an arid desert within an hour or less. Essentially, us spoiled Californians can experience all kinds of dynamic environments in one day. This region of the Golden State is home to 21 missions, the first being founded in San Diego in 1769 and the last in San Francisco in 1823. California did not acquire statehood until 1850. With Mediterranean climates in most areas of the state, especially So-Cal, the people of this state are very rarely couped up inside due to weather issues. This very-well may be the reason 12% of Americans live here! With the highest urbanization rate in all of the U.S., California is culturally diverse and innovative. Tectonic plate activity inevitably results in frequent earthquakes. These natural disasters can range from mild to catastrophic as indicated by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Northridge earthquake in 1994. The marine west coast climate of San Francisco and further north maintain an increased average annual precipitation & mild temperatures with little variation. Although the benefits of this state are endless, there are a few drawbacks. Environmentally, we suffer; 50% of the land is devoted to automobiles and we have the smog to prove it! In Los Angeles we depend partly on the entertainment industry, the tertiary sector, for economic success.
Resources :
Hardwick, Susan, Fred M. Shelley, and Donald G. Holtgrieve.
The Geography of North America. Illinois: Pearson College Division.
Being a California native myself, I have a great appreciation for diversity of all forms. Environmentally, you can reach a beach, a mountain top, a glassy lake, and an arid desert within an hour or less. Essentially, us spoiled Californians can experience all kinds of dynamic environments in one day. This region of the Golden State is home to 21 missions, the first being founded in San Diego in 1769 and the last in San Francisco in 1823. California did not acquire statehood until 1850. With Mediterranean climates in most areas of the state, especially So-Cal, the people of this state are very rarely couped up inside due to weather issues. This very-well may be the reason 12% of Americans live here! With the highest urbanization rate in all of the U.S., California is culturally diverse and innovative. Tectonic plate activity inevitably results in frequent earthquakes. These natural disasters can range from mild to catastrophic as indicated by the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and the Northridge earthquake in 1994. The marine west coast climate of San Francisco and further north maintain an increased average annual precipitation & mild temperatures with little variation. Although the benefits of this state are endless, there are a few drawbacks. Environmentally, we suffer; 50% of the land is devoted to automobiles and we have the smog to prove it! In Los Angeles we depend partly on the entertainment industry, the tertiary sector, for economic success.
Resources :
Hardwick, Susan, Fred M. Shelley, and Donald G. Holtgrieve.
The Geography of North America. Illinois: Pearson College Division.