California is a state in the west USA on the Pacific Ocean. It was discovered in 1533 and named California after a fictional island in a story by a contemporary Spanish author, or perhaps it was so named from the Spanish Caliente Fornalla, meaning hot furnace and alluring to the climate. California was admitted into the USA in 1850.
The coast extends the full length of the state, measuring about 700 miles, following the indentations. On the southern part of the coast are a few islands. The state may be divided into three distinct portions - the central being much the most densely populated. This central portion is embraced between the parallels 35 degrees and 40 degrees, and has on its eastern side the Sierra Nevada, and on its western the Coast Ranges. Between these two mountain chains lies the Great Central Valley of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, renowned for its beauty and fertility.
The principal river is the Sacramento, which flows south for upwards of 300 miles, receiving numerous affluents from the Sierra Nevada, and falls into the Bay of Suisun. The San Joaquin rises in the SierraNevada, flows north for about 250 miles, and joins the Sacramento about 15 miles above Suisun Bay. It receives the waters of lakeTule or Tulares, and has numerous tributaries. The Bay of San Francisco, forming the most capacious harbour on the Pacific coast, is about 60 miles in length, 14 broad, and with a coast-line of 275 miles. It is connected with the ocean by a strait about two miles wide, and from five to seven long, called the Golden Gate. The city of San Francisco stands on the north-west shore of the southern arm.
The peaks of the SierraNevada - MountShasta, Lassen's Butte, Spanish Peak, Pyramid Peak, Mounts Dana, Lyell, Brewer, Tyndall, Whitney, and others - reach from 10,000 to nearly 15,000 feet above the sea (MountWhitney is 14,886). The volcanic character of the state is manifested by the mountain formations; and earthquakes are frequent.
California is celebrated for its many wonderful natural objects and remarkable scenery. Noteworthy are the Yosemite Valley and the 'big tree groves,' containing groups of giantredwood trees - Sequoia gigantea - some of which reach the height of nearly 400 feet.
The mineral resources of California are of great importance. Gold is found in abundance, being first discovered in 1848, and subsequently brought a great rush of settlers to this part of the world. Among other minerals found in the state are silver, mercury, copper, coal, lead, tin, antimony, cobalt, etc.
California, being intersected by the isothermal line of 60 degrees, has the same mean annual temperature as the north of Spain and the centre of Italy, and may, generally speaking, be esteemed genial and mild. The year may be divided into a dry and a wet season. On the lower slopes of the Sierra Nevada the climate is said to be that of constant spring. Wheat, barley, oats, maize and other cereals, the root-crops and vegetables of temperate climates are very largely grown. Fruits are most varied, including olives, grapes, apples, pears, plums, figs, oranges, peaches, pomegranates, plantains, bananas, and cocoa-nuts; the indigo-plant also, and the sugar-cane and tobacco, yield abundant returns. The cultivation of the vine rapidly extended from the 19th century, and the production of wine and brandy and raisins increased rapidly, and by the late 20th century Californian wines were world famous.
Oregon is a state in the west of the USA. Oregon was acquired by treaty with England in 1846. It was visited by Francis Drake in 1558 and, it is said, by Juan de Fuca in 1592. In 1792 Vancouver, an English officer, surveyed the coast from 30 degrees to 60 degrees north latitude. Robert Gray, of Boston, had previously discovered the Columbia River. It was claimed by the United States that the 'Oregon country', included between 42 degrees and 54 degrees 40 minutes, formed a part of the Louisiana cession, but England refused to recognize the claim. Lewis and Clark surveyed the country bewteen 1804 and 1806.
In 1818 the United States and England agreed upon a treaty of joint occupancy, which was renewed in 1827. Russia had claims to the Oregon country south of 54 degrees 40 minutes, which she finally withdrew. Emigration from the United States into the region was stimulated by the reports of Dr Whitman, a missionary, who made a perilous journey on horseback to Washington in the winter of 1842-43, and urged the Government at Washington to assert the claims of the United States to that region.
The people of Oregon formed a provisional government in 1843. The cry 'fifty-four-forty or fight' threatened war with England, which was averted by the treaty of 1846, whereby the northern boundary of the United States at 49 degrees north latitude was extended to the Fuca Strait. In 1848 the territory of Oregon was organized and made to include the present States of Washington and Idaho. A State constitution was adopted in 1857, which forbade slavery and the immigration of negroes. The 'anti-negro' provision prevented the admission of Oregon into the Union until 1859.
Abbreviations
Research California
