California is a land of variety and contrast.
California
is
a
land
of
variety
and
contrast
.
Almost every type of physical land feature, sort of arctic ice fields and tropical jungles can be found within its borders.
Almost
every
type
of
physical
land
feature
,
sort
of
arctic
ice
fields
and
tropical
jungles
can
be
found
within
its
borders
.
Sharply contrasting types of land often lie very close to one another.
Sharply
contrasting
types
of
land
often
lie
very
close
to
one
another
.
People living in Bakersfield, for instance, can visit the Pacific Ocean and the coastal plain, the fertile San Joaquin Valley, the arid Mojave Desert, and the high Sierra Nevada, all within a radius of about 100 miles.
People
living
in
Bakersfield
,
for
instance
,
can
visit
the
Pacific
Ocean
and
the
coastal
plain
,
the
fertile
San
Joaquin
Valley
,
the
arid
Mojave
Desert
,
and
the
high
Sierra
Nevada
,
all
within
a
radius
of
about
100
miles
.
In other areas it is possible to go snow skiing in the morning and surfing in the evening of the same day, without having to travel long distance.
In
other
areas
it
is
possible
to
go
snow
skiing
in
the
morning
and
surfing
in
the
evening
of
the
same
day
,
without
having
to
travel
long
distance
.
Contrast abounds in California.
Contrast
abounds
in
California
.
The highest point in the United States (outside Alaska) is in California, and so is the lowest point (including Alaska).
The
highest
point
in
the
United
States
(
outside
Alaska
)
is
in
California
,
and
so
is
the
lowest
point
(
including
Alaska
)
.
Mount Whitney, 14,494 feet above sea level, is separated from Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, by a distance of only 100 miles.
Mount
Whitney
,
14,494
feet
above
sea
level
,
is
separated
from
Death
Valley
,
282
feet
below
sea
level
,
by
a
distance
of
only
100
miles
.
The two areas have a difference in altitude of almost three miles.
The
two
areas
have
a
difference
in
altitude
of
almost
three
miles
.
California has deep, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe, the deepest in the country, but it also has shallow, salty desert lakes.
California
has
deep
,
clear
mountain
lakes
like
Lake
Tahoe
,
the
deepest
in
the
country
,
but
it
also
has
shallow
,
salty
desert
lakes
.
It has Lake Tulainyo, 12,020 feet above sea level, and the lowest lake in the country, the Salton Sea, 236 feet below sea level.
It
has
Lake
Tulainyo
,
12,020
feet
above
sea
level
,
and
the
lowest
lake
in
the
country
,
the
Salton
Sea
,
236
feet
below
sea
level
.
Some of its lakes, like Owens Lake in Death Valley, are not lakes at all: they are dried-up lake beds.
Some
of
its
lakes
,
like
Owens
Lake
in
Death
Valley
,
are
not
lakes
at
all
:
they
are
dried-up
lake
beds
.
In addition to mountains, lakes, valleys, deserts, and plateaus, California has its Pacific coastline, stretching longer than the coastlines of Oregon and Washington combined.
In
addition
to
mountains
,
lakes
,
valleys
,
deserts
,
and
plateaus
,
California
has
its
Pacific
coastline
,
stretching
longer
than
the
coastlines
of
Oregon
and
Washington
combined
.
California is a land of variety and contrast. Almost every type of physical land feature, sort of arctic ice fields and tropical jungles can be found within its borders. Sharply contrasting types of land often lie very close to one another. People living in Bakersfield, for instance, can visit the Pacific Ocean and the coastal plain, the fertile San Joaquin Valley, the arid Mojave Desert, and the high Sierra Nevada, all within a radius of about 100 miles.  In other areas it is possible to go snow skiing in the morning and surfing in the evening of the same day, without having to travel long distance.  Contrast abounds in California. The highest point in the United States (outside Alaska) is in California, and so is the lowest point (including Alaska). Mount Whitney, 14,494 feet above sea level, is separated from Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, by a distance of only 100 miles. The two areas have a difference in altitude of almost three miles.  California has deep, clear mountain lakes like Lake Tahoe, the deepest in the country, but it also has shallow, salty desert lakes. It has Lake Tulainyo, 12,020 feet above sea level, and the lowest lake in the country, the Salton Sea, 236 feet below sea level. Some of its lakes, like Owens Lake in Death Valley, are not lakes at all: they are dried-up lake beds. In addition to mountains, lakes, valleys, deserts, and plateaus, California has its Pacific coastline, stretching longer than the coastlines of Oregon and Washington combined.