California – USA
‘The Golden State’
The nickname “Golden State” originated during the period when gold was discovered in the area. Tens of thousand of adventurers were lured to prospect for the promising metal. The big Californian gold rush was 1849 and so the adventurer and mine workers were called “Forty-Niners” – today its the name of the San Francisco (SF49er) football team.
Travel articles
All our California articles can be found in the category California and are as well tagged as California.
Best time to travel / Seasons / Weather
California has a Mediterranean-type climate that is characterized by general sun and warmth with rain mainly in the winter.
Climate does vary greatly based on distance from the ocean and elevation.
Climate / Temperatures
There are five main climatic zones which exist in the state.
Coastal climate: This area contains most of the state’s population. It varies greatly up and down the coast.
Desert climate: Characterized by great daily and annual variations in temperature with very little rainfall.
Foothill climate: 1,000 to 3,000 ft. in elevation with climate similar to valley regions but with more rain and less fog.
Mountain climate: This is the sole region for heavy snow, accented with fairly cold winters and bright, sunny summers.
Valley climate: Characterized by high temperature and low humidity in the summer and low temperature and high humidity in the winter. Both the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys exhibit this type of climatology.
Rainfall varies from 80 inches in Del Norte County (North Coast) to as low as 3 inches in Imperial County (Desert).
| San Francisco | Los Angeles | ||||
| Max | Min | Max | Min | ||
| Jan | 12,7 | 5,5 | 18,3 | 8,3 | |
| Feb | 14,4 | 6,1 | 18,8 | 8,8 | |
| Mrz | 16,6 | 7,2 | 20,5 | 10 | |
| Apr | 17,7 | 8,3 | 21,6 | 11,7 | |
| Mai | 19,4 | 10 | 23,3 | 13,3 | |
| Jun | 21,1 | 11,1 | 25 | 15 | |
| Jul | 22,2 | 12,2 | 28,8 | 17,2 | |
| Aug | 22,2 | 12,2 | 28,8 | 17,2 | |
| Sep | 23,3 | 12,2 | 27,7 | 16,1 | |
| Okt | 21,6 | 10,5 | 25 | 13,9 | |
| Nov | 17,7 | 7,7 | 22,7 | 11,1 | |
| Dez | 13,9 | 6,1 | 20 | 9,4 |
Essential data
State Name
California – State Abbr.: CA
Statehood
9-Sep-1850
– Statehood Ranking: 31
Land Area
155,959 sqaremiles (403,919 qkm)
– Land Area Ranking: 3
Population
Ca. 40 million (in 2019); 33,871,648 (in 2000)
Capital
Sacramento
Biggest City
Los Angeles
Nickname
The Golden State
Motto
Eureka (== “I have found it”)
Highest Point
4.417 m / 14,491 ft (Mt. Whitney)
Lowest Point
-86 m / -282 ft (Death Valley)
– Dayligh Saving Time
– yes
Tree
California redwood (2 Spezies: Coast Redwood and also Giant Sequoia)
Flower
Poppy (Eschsholtzia californica)
Bird
California quail (Lophortyx californica)
Animal
California grizzly bear (Ursus californicus)
Song
“I Love You, California” (Lyrics: F.B. Silverwood; Music: Alfred Frankenstein)
