CALIFORNIA

REGIONS
STUDENT GUIDE
Name:__________________________

BACKGROUNDSHEET1

WHEREINTHEWORLDISCALIFORNIA?
WORLDGEOGRAPHY:
Geographyreferstothestudyoftheearthandallthethingsonit.Geographerspayattentiontowhat
thelandlookslikeandwherethingsarelocatedontheearth.
Ifyoulookedattheearthfromouterspace,youwouldeasilyseethattheearthisactuallyasphere
coveredwithlandandocean.Allofthelandontheearthcanbegroupedintosevengreatbiglandchunks.
Thesechunksaremadebynature,notbypeopleandtheyarecalledcontinents.Thesevencontinentsare:
NorthAmerica,SouthAmerica,Africa,Europe,Asia,Australia,andAntarctica.TheUnitedStatesofAmerica
islocatedonthecontinentofNorthAmerica.
Thelargebodiesofwaterthatdividethesechunksoflandcanbebrokenintofiveoceans.Thefive
oceansarethe:PacificOcean,AtlanticOcean,ArcticOcean,IndianOcean,andSouthernOcean.TheUSAis
borderedbythePacificOceanonthewestandtheAtlanticOceanontheeast.

FOCUSONNORTHAMERICA:
NorthAmericaisdividedintomanycountries.Sohowisacountrydifferentfromacontinent?A
continentismadebynatureanddoesntreallychange.Peoplehavedividedupcontinentsintosectionscalled
countries.Theshapeandplaceofallcountriesaredecidedbypeople,notnature.Sometimescountriescan
actuallychangesizeorplace.Sometimescountriesactuallychangenamesorevengoawaycompletely!All
countrieshavearuleroraboss(likeaqueen,king,dictator,president,primeminister)andlawsthateveryone
wholiveinthecountrymustobey.Ontheotherhand,continentsnevergoaway,andtheyarenotruledby
queensorpresidents!
Letsthinkofitlikethis.Youaresittingatatablegroup.Thistableislikeacontinent.But,each
personhashis/herowndesk,whichisaspacethatbelongstothatperson.Thedeskislikeacountry.Deskscan
movearoundandcanbelongtodifferentpeople.
AtthetopofNorthAmericaarethecountriesofGreenlandandCanada.Inthecenteriswhatisknown
asthecontinentalUnitedStates.SouthoftheUSAisthecountryofMexicoandmanyothersmallcountriesthat
makeupwhatisknownasCentralAmericaandtheCaribbeanIslands.Thetwocountriesthatareconsidered
neighborstotheUnitedStatesareCanadaandMexico.ThismeansthatthesecountriesbordertheUnited
States.Aborderisthelinewherepeopleagreeontoseparateoneplacefromanother.Anotherwayofsaying
borderisboundary.Aborderisdecidedbypeople,notbynature.Ifyoutravelfromonecountrytoanother,
youwillnotseeanactuallineontheground.

FOCUSONTHEUNITEDSTATES&CALIFORNIA:
IfyoulookatamapoftheUnitedStates,youcanseethatitismadeupofmanystates.Sohowisastate
differentfromacountry?Astateisasectionofacountrythatisallowedtomakesomeofitsownrules.Iteven
getstohaveitsownboss,whoiscalledagovernor.But,thestatestillhastoobeyallthelawsofthecountry.
Letsthinkofitlikethis.LincolnSchoolislikeacountry.EveryoneatLincolnhastoobeytheprincipal,who
isthebossofthewholeschool.Buteachclassroomislikeastate.Classroomshavetheirownrulesthatare
decidedbytheteacher,whoislikethegovernorofastate.But,everyoneintheclassroomstillhastoobey
schoolrules,eventheteacher!
ThestateweliveinisCalifornia.Californiabordersthreeotherstates.ThestatesthatborderCalifornia
areOregon,Nevada,andArizona.CaliforniassouthernbordertouchesthecountryofMexico.Onthewest,
CaliforniaisborderedbythePacificOcean.

FINDINGYOURWAY:

Youmayhavenoticedasymbolonthemapsinthisbackgroundsheetthatlookssimilartoanaddition
sign.Thisiscalledacompassrose.Acompassrosepointsindifferentdirectionstoshowdirectiononamap.
Acompassroseusuallyshowsnorth,south,east,andwest.Sometimesitmayonlyshownorthoritmayeven
shownortheast,southeast,northwest,andsouthwest.Youcanuseacompassrosetodecidewherethingsareon

amapinrelationtootherthings.Somemapsmayalsoincludealegendorakey.Alegend/keyisalistof
symbolsonamaporchartthatexplainswhatthesymbolsonthemapmean.

BACKGROUNDSHEET2
MAPS
PHYSICALFEATURES:
Aphysicalmaptriestoshowallthepartsofthelandthatarefoundinnature.Forexample,physical
mapsoftenhaveshadingtoshowwherethemountainsare.Theyalsoshownaturalfeaturessuchaslakes,
rivers,forests,bays,harbors,valleys,anddeserts.Physicalmapsareusuallycoloredtolookliketheland,using
shadesofgreensorbrowns.Ingeneral,eventhoughphysicalmapsmayincludebordersbetweenstatesor
countriesandmayalsoincludefeaturessuchascities,themainpointofaphysicalmapistoshowwhattheland
lookslike.
IfyoulookataphysicalmapofCalifornia,youwillseealotofvariety.Therearebeaches,and
mountains,andvalleys,andevenanenormousdesert!Californiaisfullofriversandlakestoo.Infact,
CaliforniaprobablyhasmorevarietythananyotherstateintheUSA!Ifyoulookcarefullyataphysicalmapof
California,youcanseethatitseemstobedividedintofourdifferentnaturalregions.Aregionisanareawith
commonfeaturesthatsetitapartfromotherareas.Onthephysicalmapbelowyoucanseethehighareas
(mountains)andlowareas(valleys)andothernaturalfeaturessuchaslakes.

POLITICALFEATURES:
Ontheotherhand,whenyoulookatapoliticalmapofCaliforniayoumayseelotsofbrightcolors.
ThesebrightcolorsarenottherealcolorofCalifornia,ofcourse!Mapmakersusethecolorstohelpusseethe
bordersmoreclearly.Thepointofapoliticalmapistoseewheremanmadeplacesarelocated.Usuallypeople
usepoliticalmapstofindthingslikecitiesandroadsandbordersbetweenstates,counties,andcountries.
Althoughobjectslikerivers,lakes,andmountainsshowuponpoliticalmaps,themainreasonforthemisto
findmanmadethingsandplaces.Onthemapbelowyoucanseemajorcitiesandmajorhighways.Even
thoughyoucanseelakesandriverstoo,thatisnotthemainfunctionofthispoliticalmap.

BACKGROUNDSHEET3
WEALLNEEDRESOURCES
WHATRESOURCESARE:
Thinkaboutallthebelongingsyouhavethathelpyourlifebemorecomfortable.Thingslikeyourhouse,
yourclothes,yourcomputer,andyourcar.Didtheygrowontrees?Didyourdadgopickanice,ripecarfromthe
garden?Ofcoursenot!Allofthesethingsweremadefromobjectsthatarefoundinnature.Forexample,someof
yourclothesaremadefromcotton.Cottonisaplantandpeoplehavefiguredouthowtomakeclothfromit,which
thenbecomesclothestowear.Otherexamplesareelectricity,trees,fruits,vegetables,animals,metals,andwater.
Wecalltheseobjectsnaturalresources.Anaturalresourceissomethingfoundinnaturethatpeoplecanuse.


Tohelpyoukeepthisstraight,rememberthatnaturalresourcesarefoundinnaturepeopledonotmake
them.Forexample,sinceacarismadebypeople,itisnotanaturalresource.Insteaditisaproduct.Aproductis
theobjectthatpeoplemake,usingnaturalresources.Otherexamplesofproductsaretelevisions,stoves,andlamps.
Ontheotherhand,peopledonotbuildtreestheyarefoundinnature,sotheyareanaturalresource.Remember,
naturalresourcesarematerialsthatarefoundinnatureandusedbypeopletomakeproducts.

RENEWABLERESOURCES:
Someresourcesarerenewable.Thatmeansthattheydontrunoutortheycanbereplaced.Californiais
richinrenewableresources.
Oneexampleisthesoilbeneathus.Wecanusethesoiltogrowfoodandwedonthavetoworrythatwe
willuseupallthesoil.SoilisveryimportanttoCaliforniabecausefarmersgrowcropsinthisrichsoilandthensell
thecropsallovertheworld.WhentheysellthesecropsthemoneyaddstoCaliforniaseconomy.Water,likesoil,
isarenewableresource.Itisrenewed,forexample,whenrainfalls.Havingenoughwatertodrinkandtowater
cropsiscriticalforthepeopleofCalifornia.
Anotherexampleofrenewableresourcesisthewind.InmanyplacesinCaliforniasuchasalongthe
AltamontePassornearLivermoretherearemanyturbinesthatharnesstheenergyofthewind.Thewindturnsthe
fanblades,whichinturnprovidesenergy.Youmayhaveseenthemwhenyouaretravelinginthecarwithyour
family.Theylooklikeagiantforestofenormouspillarswithfansonthem.
OtherimportantrenewableresourcesavailableinCaliforniaaretrees,fish,cattle,fruits,andvegetables.

NONRENEWABLERESOURCES:
Incontrast,nonrenewableresourcesarenaturalresourcesthatwillrunoutandtheycannotbereplaced.
Onceweusethemallup,theyaregoneforever.
Mineralsareonekindofnonrenewableresource.Mineralsaremetalsandrocksfoundintheearth.Weuse
mineralstomakethingsweuseeveryday.Cementandconcrete,forexample,comefrommineralssuchassandand
gravel.Cementistheproductweusetomakehighways,buildings,andsidewalks.Goldisanothermineralthatis
veryvaluable.Someotherexamplesaresilver,limestone,andborax.
Petroleumisoneofthemostimportantnonrenewableresources.Petroleumisaheavyliquidthatformed
undergroundfromtheremainsofdeadplants.Itisneededtocreatefuel.Petroleummakesthegasneededtorun
yourfamilyscarsandisburnedinpowerplantstocreateelectricity.Naturalgasisanotherfuelthatisfoundunder
theearth.Yourhomemighthaveagasstove.Itburnsnaturalgastocookyourfood.

PEOPLEARERESOURCESTOO:
Noneofournaturalresourceswouldbeusefulwithouthumanresources.Humanresourcesarethe
knowledge,skills,andenergyofpeople.Fishermen,forexample,mustknowhowtofishandhavetheenergytodo
it.Cars,housesandclothesdontjustmakethemselves.Itispeoplewhotaketherawmaterialsfoundinnatureand
putthemtogethertomaketheproductsweneedandlove.Withoutpeople,noproductswouldbemade.
Californiaisrichinhumanresources.OurstatehasthebiggestpopulationofanystateintheUnitedStates.
Populationisthenumberofpeoplewholiveinaplace.Morethan37millionpeopleliveinCaliforniatheycome
fromallovertheworld!PeopleactuallyareCaliforniasmostimportantresource!

BACKGROUNDSHEET4
THECOASTREGION
THELAND:
ThelandthatliesalongthePacificOceanisconsideredthecoastalregion.Thelandofthecoastvariesfrom
northtosouth.NorthofSanLuisObispo,thecoastismoreruggedandrocky.Highhillsrisedirectlyfromthe

watersedge.Narrowbeachesaretuckedbetweenthehills,andbigrocksriseoutofthewatersoffshore.However,
asyoutravelsouth,thecoastlinechanges.Thesoutherncoastlineismarkedbylongstretchesofflat,sandybeach.
EightislandsmakeuptheChannelIslandsthatliejustoffshore.Setbackfromthebeachesarerollinghills.These
hillsrisetobecomemountainranges.Alittlefurtherinlandfromthecoastisalargemountainrangeknownasthe
CoastRange.Thisstringofmountainsisconsideredpartofthecoastalregion.WhenyoudriveoverHighway17to
SantaCruzyouarecrossingpartoftheCoastRange.Trulythelandofthecoastregionisquitediverse.

THECLIMATE:

Climateisnotthesameasweather.Everydaywhenyougooutsideyounoticewhattheweatheristhatday.
Butclimatemeanswhatisnormalforthatregion.Inthecoast,itisnormalforittobeusuallysunnyandnottoohot
ortoocold.Forexample,eventhoughatraretimesitmightsnow,thatisnotnormal,right?Wesaythatthecoast
regionclimateisMILD.ThereasonforthemildclimateisthePacificOcean.Theoceandoesnotwarmupeasily.
Thecoolnessfromtheoceanblowsoverthecoast,keepingtheweatherfromgettingtoohotoreventoocold.Inthe
summer,warmairmovingovercoldwaterproducesfog,whichthewindblowsinland.Thefogalsohelpstokeep
thetemperaturesmild.
Ingeneral,thesoutherncoasthasamilderclimatethanthenortherncoast.Rainonlyfallsinthewinteron
thesoutherncoastandwhenitdoesitusuallyjustcomesinshort,heavybursts.Inthenorthitisgenerallyabit
coolerbutitrarelygetsbitterlycold,eveninthemiddleofwinter.
Thismildandpleasantclimatehasattractedmanypeopletothecoast(especiallythesoutherncoast).Itis
themostpopulatedregioninCalifornia.

THERESOURCES:
Thecoastregionoffersmanyimportantresources.Thecoasthasexcellentsoilthathelpsfarmersgrowmany
typesofvegetables.NorthofSanFranciscomanydairyfarmsproduceeggs,milk,andcheese.Therichestfarms
arethevineyardsfoundinNapaValleyandSonomaValley.Thesevineyardsgrowgrapesthatareusedtomake
wine.
Californiaalsohasarichresourceinthesea.ThewatersofthePacificOceanarefulloffishandshellfish.
Fishermancatchkingsalmononthenorthcoast,afishprizedforitssweetmeat.Diversalsogatherabalone,which
isadeliciousshellfishthatisconsideredaspecialtreattoeat.OneofCaliforniasbiggestmoneymakersisthesea
urchin.MuchofthiscatchissoldtoJapan.There,peoplelikethetasteofitinsushi.
Theoceanalsosuppliesanimportantmineralresourcepetroleum.Oilwasfirstfoundonlandthatisnow
LosAngeles.Today,oilcompaniesworkfromplatformsoutintheocean.Theypumpoilfrombeneaththeocean
floor.Theyalsofindnaturalgas,whichisusedasfuelforthingslikebarbecuesandstoves.

PLACESTOVISIT:

Thecoastregionisfullofplacesthatarefamousallovertheworld.Peoplecomefromallovertovisitdifferent
placeslocatednearthecoastandspendmoneyhere.TourismbringsinalotofmoneytoCalifornia.Somefamouscities
areSanFrancisco,SanDiego,SantaBarbara,LosAngeles,andSanJose.
Onefamousplaceisthecoastlineitself.AllthebeachesupanddownCaliforniaattractthousandsofvisitors
everyyear.OneexampleisBigSurnearMonterey.Peoplealsoenjoyvisitingtheimpressivesequoiaforests,which
containthelargesttreesfoundintheworld.SanFranciscoBayisalsoafavoriteplacetosee.Anotherplacetouristslike
tovisitarethekelpforestsfoundnearMonterey.PeoplewhogoseetheMontereyBayAquariumgettoseewhatakelp
forestlookslikecloseup!And,dontforgetthatDisneylandandHollywoodarebothfoundinthecoastregionof
California.

BACKGROUNDSHEET5
THEMOUNTAINREGION
THELAND:

Morethan200yearsago,aSpanishtravelersawarangeofmountains.HenamedthemSierraNevada
whichmeantsnowymountains.Thisenormousmountainrangemakesupthemajorityofthemountainregionof
California.
TheSierraNevadaRangeislikeanenormouswallofmountainsthatcover400milesofthestateseastern
border.Therangehasmorethan500peakstallerthan12,000feet.Thehighestone,MountWhitney,touchesthe
cloudsat14,495feetabovesealevel.TheonlyhighermountainintheUnitedStatesisAlaskasMountMcKinley.
ThemountainscontinuenorthoftheSierraNevada,buttheybelongtoadifferentrangecalledtheCascades.
TheCascadeswereformedbyhotliquidrockburstingoutoftheearthandpilingup.TheCascadesareactuallya
stringofvolcanoesthatstretchfromnorthernCaliforniaallthewayuptoCanada.ThebiggestonesinCaliforniaare
MountShastaandMountLassen.Rememberthatthecoastregionalsocontainsmountains,TheCoastRanges.
Althoughthesesmallermountainsarepartofthecoast,theydosharesomeofthecommonfeaturesofthemountain
region.
AfamousnaturalistnamedJohnMuircametoCaliforniain1868.JohnMuirfellinlovewiththe
mountainsofCaliforniaandspenttherestofhislifeexploringtheSierraNevada.HeclimbedtothetopofMount
Shastainasnowstorm!Heheldontighttoslipperyrockstolookuptallwaterfalls.Hedrewsketchesandwrote
aboutthebeautyofthemountains.EventuallyhefoundedtheSierraClub.Thisclubworkstoprotectwildlandall
overourcountryforthefuture.In1890partoftheSierraNevadabecameaparkcalledYosemiteNationalPark.

THECLIMATE:
Moistairfromtheoceancoolssuddenlywhenitmeetsthehighmountainsandslidesupwards.Themoisture
gathersabovethemountainsincloudsandthendropsdownasrainorsnow,otherwiseknowsasprecipitation.
Precipitationistheamountofwaterintheairthatfallstotheground.OnthewesternslopesoftheSierra,thesnow
canpileupto50feetdeepinthewinter.Theeasternslopeshardlygetanyrainorsnowbecausetheairisdrybythe
timeitgetsthere.Basically,allthatmeansitrainsandsnowsalotinthemountains!
Wintersareverycoldinthemountains.Ontheotherhand,whensummerarrivesthemountainsremain
pleasantlycool.Nottoomanypeopleliveinthemountainregionbutthousandsgothereforrecreation.Downhill
skiing,snowboarding,hiking,backpacking,hunting,andcampingareallpopularoutdooractivities.

THERESOURCES:
ThemountainsprovidemorethanjustfuninCalifornia.Theyprovidelifeitselfintheformofwater.
Californiausuallygetsnoraininthesummer.Thestatedependsonthesnowpackinthemountains.Themeltingof
thissnowyearroundcreatesrushingstreamsandrivers.ThemountainregionisthesourceofmanyofCalifornias
rivers.Sourcemeansthestartingpointofariver.Theriversinthemountainshaveallbeendammedtocreate
reservoirs.Citiesalloverthestategettheirdrinkingwaterfromthesereservoirs.HetchHetchy,forexample,
supplieswatertoSanFrancisco.
Treesarethemostplentifulresourceinthemountainregion.TreessuchasgiantredwoodtreesandDouglas
firscoverthenorthernmountains.Thesearecutdownfortimber,whichisusedtobuildhousesandfurniture.
Nonrenewableresourcesinthemountainrangeincludegold,silver,sand,gravel,andnaturalgas.

PLACESTOVISIT:
LakeTahoecallsitselftheJeweloftheSierra.Itisapopularvacationplace.Attractionsincludethelake
itself,skiareasandnumerousshopsandrestaurants.Inthegoldcountry,visitorscometoseerestoredgoldmining
townslikeSonora.PeoplealsolovetoseeandclimbMountLassen,MountShasta,andMountWhitney.Popular
citiesinthemountainregionincludeTahoeCity,Quincy,Placerville,andSusanville.
YosemiteNationalParkisoneofthemostfamousplacesinCalifornia.HalfDomeisoneofthemost
famoussitestoseeinYosemite.

BACKGROUNDSHEET6
THEVALLEYREGION

THELAND:
Californiasvalleyregionisagreatplainthatis400mileslongand50mileswide.Avalleyisanarea
betweentwomountainranges.ItislocatedsmackdabinthecenterofCalifornia.Onaclearday,fromtheflat
floorofthevalley,youcanseethemountainsoneitherside.Whenyoudrivethroughthevalleyregion,the
mainimpressionyouaregoingtogetisfarms,farmseverywhere!
Twogreatriversystemsrunthroughthevalleyregionandactasadrainforwaterthatcollectsinthe
valleybasin.TheSacramentoRivercomesinfromthenorth.ItentersthevalleynearMountShastaandflows
southtoSanFranciscoBay.TheSanJoaquinRivercomesupfromthesouth.Thisriverusedtoflownorthand
emptyintotheSanFranciscoBay,buttodayallitswaterisusedbythefarmsinthevalley.Infact,theriversin
thevalleyareveryimportantbecausetheyhelptoenrichthesoil,whichinturn,helpsthefarmersinthevalley
growabundantcropseachyear.

THECLIMATE:
Theclimateinthevalleyregionisveryhotanddryinthesummerandcoolandwetinthewinter.The
heavywinterrainsandhotsummersunmakethisregionperfectforgrowingcrops.Thevalleyisknownfora
heavygroundmistcalledtulefogthatcreepsoverit.Drivingthroughtulefogislikeflyingthroughacloud
becausethisfogistypicallyupto1,000feetthick.Sometimesthisfogactuallycoverstheentirevalleyfrom
ReddingtoBakersfield.Thevalleyregionnevergetssnoweventhoughtemperaturesinthewintersometimes
dropbelowfreezing.Overall,thetemperaturesaremoreextreme(bothhotterandcolder)thanthecoastregion.

THERESOURCES:
Agricultureisthebiggestbusinessinthevalleyregion.Agriculturemeansthebusinessofraisingcrops
andanimals.Thevalleyistheperfectplacetogrowcropsbecauseoftherivers,fertilesoil,andgoodweather.
Fertilemeansgoodforgrowingcrops.Farmersgrowcotton,grapes,walnuts,almonds,wheat,potatoes,olives,
artichokes,garlic,tomatoes,cherries,apricots,andmanyotherfruitsandvegetables.Infact,thevalleyregion
farmsgrowmorethanhalfofallthefruits,vegetables,andnutseateninthewholeUnitedStates!Thevalley
regionhasearnedanicknameasthesaladbowloftheworld.Theyalsoraisedairycows,chickens,andbeef
cattle.
Anotherrenewableresourceplentifulinthevalleyiswind.Therearemanyplacesthatareconsistently
windysoengineersdesignedspecialwindturbinesandbuilttheminmanyplacesinthevalley.Thewindturns
theblades,whichinturncreatesenergy.ThisenergyhelpsprovideelectricityforthepeopleofCalifornia.

Nonrenewableresourcesfoundinthevalleyregionarepetroleumandnaturalgas.

PLACESTOVISIT:
Thevalleyregionhasarural,orcountry,wayoflife.Peoplecanenjoyvisitingrodeosandgoingtothe
statefair.ThestatefairisheldinSacramentoeachyear.Infact,themostwellknownplacetovisitinthe
valleyregionisSacramento,ourstatecapital.Thiscitybuzzeswiththebusinessofthestategovernment.Old
SacramentoStateHistoricParkishometogoldrusherabuildingsthatstilllookliketheydidbackintheold
days.AfamouspreservedgoldrushtownisColumbia.AnothertouristsiteisSutterFort,alsolocatedin
Sacramento.
SomeothercitiesinthevalleyregionareFresno,Stockton,Bakersfield,andModesto.

BACKGROUNDSHEET7

THELAND:

THEDESERTREGION

Thedesertregion,locatedinthesoutheasternpartofthestate,hasthreemajordesertstheColoradoDesert,
theMojaveDesert,andtheGreatBasin.Adesertisanareathatgetslessthan10inchesofraininanaverageyear.
Together,thesethreedesertsarethesizeofOhio.Uniqueplantspopulatedesertsthatareadaptedtolivingwithless
water.Onewaytheyadaptistobeabletostorewaterinsidetheirleaves.CactusandJoshuatreesareexamplesof
this.Otherplantssurvivebecausetheydontneedalotofwater.
Inoneway,thedesertlandscapecanseemverymuchthesame,whereveryougo.Peopleoftenimagine
milesandmilesofsandwhentheythinkofadesert.Thereissandinthedesertregion,butthereisalotmorevariety
thanthat!Itisactuallyfilledwithrockyridges,suddencanyons,drylakebeds,milesofcracked,drymud,anddeep
basins.
DeathValley,adesertvalleythatcoverspartoftheMojaveandGreatBasindeserts,isactuallyadeep
canyonthatis140mileslongandupto16mileswide.Itformedwhenachunkoftheearthscrustbrokeandsank.
DuringtheGoldRush,sometravelerstriedtoenterCaliforniathroughthisdesert.Manydiedofthirstcrossingthis
blazinghotvalleysothesurvivorsnameditDeathValley.
TheColoradoRivercreatestheeasternborderofCalifornia.TheSaltonSeafillsitssouthwesterncorner.
ThisseawasactuallyaccidentallycreatedbyanengineernamedCharlesRockwoodwhilehewasbuildingsome
irrigationcanalsfromtheColoradoRiver.Afloodbrokethebanksandthewaterpouredintoanancientlakebed.
Thewatercannotdrainoutandsoeachyearitkeepsgettingsaltierandsaltier.

THECLIMATE:
Theclimateinthedesertisveryharsh.Infact,DeathValleywasofficiallydeemedthehottestplaceinthe
worldonJuly10,1913whenthetemperaturewasrecordedat134!Infact,itgetssohotinthesummerthatDeath
Valleyisclosedtovisitors.Anditsnoexaggerationtosaythatitgetssohotthatyoucanactuallyfryaneggona
rock!However,thisdoesnotmeanitnevergetscoldinthedesertregion.Amatteroffact,atnightthetemperature
inthedesertcandropdramaticallyfromthedaytimetemperature.Themainthingthatmakesitadesertisnot
becauseitgetshot,butthatithardlygetsanyrain.

THERESOURCES:
Althoughthedesertregionmayseemlikeawasteland,thatisnottrueatall.Infact,thedesertregion
providesmanyvaluableresources.Forexample,ithasawhite,saltlikemineralcalledborax.Boraxisanadditive
usedtomakedetergents,gasoline,weedkillers,insectkillers,glass,andfireextinguishers.Californiaminesover
onemilliontonsofboraxeveryyearalmostalloftheworldssupply.
LimestoneisalsofoundintheMojaveDesert.Thiswhitestoneformedoutofseashellsmillionsofyears
ago,isakeyrockneededtomakecementandconcrete.Concreteisnecessaryinalmosteverystructurethatisbuilt,
fromskyscraperstoswimmingpools.Sandandgravelarealsominedinthedesert.
Naturalgasisalsofoundinthedesertregion.
Unlikemanydeserts,thesouthernpartoftheCaliforniadesertregionisabletogrowmanycropsbecauseof
theColoradoRiverthatbordersit.Thankstoirrigation,farmersareabletogrowalfalfa,cotton,fruit,sugarbeets,
lettuce,andmanyothercrops.

PLACESTOVISIT:
PalmSpringsisthelargestcityintheCaliforniadesert.Itisapopularcityfortouristsandthemainindustry
thereisrecreationsuchasoffroaddriving,golf,rockclimbing,mountainbiking,andhiking.Othercitiesinthis
regiontendtoberathersmall.TheyincludeLancaster,ElCentro,andIndio.
OthersitestoseeincludetheSaltonSea,MonoLake,andRedRockCanyon.PeoplevisitDeathValleyeach
yeartoseeitsspectacularviewsandgocamping.Also,afascinatingplacetoseeistheJoshuaTreeNationalPark.
ThisparkisfamousforitsspectacularrockformationsandtheoddlyshapedJoshuatreesthatdotthelandscape.