The American state of California is not only the birthplace of Hollywood and a place with a mild, always pleasant climate. Once on these lands, then still practically deserted, the first colonists settled, who, probably, did not even imagine to what extent the cities they founded would grow. Today, California is the center of life for the entire East Coast of the United States, and millions of people call this state home.
Interesting facts about California
- Once the Californian lands belonged to Russia. However, the Russian Empire did not have the opportunity to hold such remote territories in the difficult political situation of those years, and as a result, the colonists returned to their homeland.
- At different times, California belonged first to Spain and then to Mexico (interesting facts about Mexico).
- Many trading bases on the Californian coast were founded by the famous Russian navigator Vitus Bering, the very same, after whom the Bering Sea he explored was named.
- In 1846, for three weeks in California, there was a state called the California Republic, proclaimed by local settlers.
- It is here that Hollywood is located, in which more films are shot than anywhere else in the world.
- At the beginning of the 18th century, California was considered an island.
- Of all the US states, it is the most densely populated.
- If we talk about the area, then California is the third state in area, second only to Alaska and Texas (interesting facts about Alaska and Texas).
- During the American Civil War, the California authorities officially supported the North, but not all the local population agreed with this decision, and as a result, many Californian volunteers fought on the side of the Confederate Southerners.
- It is on the territory of this state that the famous San Andreas Fault, which is one of the most seismically active zones in the world.
- There are nearly 500 cities in California.
- There are active volcanoes on the territory of this state.
- According to the results of the last census, about 12% of the total US population lives here (interesting facts about the USA).
- Until 1879, the Spanish language in California had official status along with English. However, even now, in practice, a fair share of the population speaks Spanish here, and even various official bodies can be contacted both in English and in Spanish. Most of the signs and announcements are also dubbed into Spanish.
- The world-famous actor Arnold Schwarzenegger once served as governor of California. By the way, he officially waived the governor’s salary, which in this state is $ 175,000 a year.
- It is here, in the town of Livermore, that more than 100 An ancient incandescent lamp has been burning continuously for years, which is a local landmark.
- California has a larger population than all of Canada.
- It is here that the famous sequoias, the oldest trees in the world, grow. The highest of them has already grown to 115 meters (interesting facts about redwoods).
- Before the colonists invaded California, about 70 Indian tribes lived here. Subsequently, almost all of them were either exterminated or forced out of these lands.
- California’s GDP is higher than that of any other US state.
- The USA is a country, as you know, multinational, but California is its most multinational state. Representatives of several hundred different peoples live here permanently.
- The area of California is approximately equal to the area of countries such as Uzbekistan or Sweden.
- About 75% of the world’s production of almonds comes from California.
- It also produces the most strawberries in the world – more than 1 billion tons annually (interesting facts about strawberries).
- About 15% of California’s population are Asians and their descendants.
- The California city of Glendale hosts the world’s largest Armenian diaspora outside of Armenia.
- One in three US residents who are unemployed and live off welfare are Californians.
- According to According to statistics, about 25% of California’s population was born outside the United States.
- California roads are considered very poor in terms of quality. According to research, only three other states have worse roads than California.
- Vineyards cover about 1% of the state.