I.S.F.D.

IDRA
Profesorado de Ingls CALIFORNIA
Lengua y Cultura II
Profesora: Palubinskas, Katherine
Alumna: Maselli, Romina

CAPITAL CITY Sacramento

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS West Coast location - Birthplace: San Diego - Claimed for Spain in 1542 - Most populated of the states
and one of the largest - Culturally diverse populations, sun and sand - Like America, only more so - It
symbolizes the American Dream - Diverse

GEOGRAPHIC FEATURES Land: North (Rocky coast) - South (Sandy beaches) - Other environments: 1.Redwood trees forest (very tall
and old trees) - 2.Californias Death Valley (lowest spot in the U.S. - Very hot and dry - No rain for years

Diverse geography: Pacific Coast in the West - Sierra Nevada in the East - Redwood forest of the
Northwest - Desert areas in the Southwest - Central Valley in the center of the state

P SOUTHERN Blamed by Northern Californians of being superficial and materialistic -One-fourth population
E ETHNIC is Hispanic
O _______________________________________________________ -One-third: Asian (from
GROUPS
P China, Japan, Laos,
L Blamed by Southern Californians of being snobby and jealous Cambodia, Korea, etc
E NORTHERN

E Mining (gold): The Forty-niners were gold seekers - Gold in Californias rivers - Panned the rivers
C PAST ____________________________________________________________________________________________
O Wine: Grapes are the most important crop - Used for wine - Vineyards and wineries are along California
Napa and Somona: Traditional and important area in the North - 1920: 18 th Amendment was passed -
N
(prohibited the making and drinking of alcohol) - 1930: Amendment was repealed
 O Computer and electronic industry: Hewlett-Packard one of major firms - These engineers invented an
M PRESENT oscilator (electronic device) - Entrepreneurs with great ideas - Capitalist back them
Y Tourism
Trade

IMPORTANT SAN FRANCISCO Result of the Gold Rush - Common occurrence of earthquakes - Most important
earthquake: 1906 Destroyed buildings + Fire = Three fourths of the city burned down
CITIES Surrounded by water - Famous for its fog, cable cars - Bright houses - Crazy,
intellectual, liberal city - Lawrence Ferlinghettis City Lights Bookstore - Haight-
Ashbury district (hippies) - Berkely University - Gay community - Several
restaurants - Chinatown - Golden Gate Bridge (a symbol of the city)
___________________________________________________________________
SANTA CLARA VALLEY
Nickname: Silicon Valley (Silicon: element used in making computers) - Famous for its
prunes - Center of the most important electronic industry - Hewlett-Packard
firm
___________________________________________________________________
LOS ANGELES

Fashion city - Beaches with surfers, beach volleyball players, people getting tan -
Most populated city of California - Center of movie industry - Home to movie stars
Beverly Hills: most glamorous neighbourhood - No city - Growth upward and
outward - Busiest highways - Rush hour - Economy: entertainment, business,
manufacturing, aerospace, oil and trade - Trade growth (Asia) - Crime, violence,
traffic
HOLLYWOOD
___________________________________________________________________

Is a district in Los Angeles - The American firm industry - Great climate for
shooting movies - Paramount Studios - Two important theatres: 1.Pantages
Theatre - 2. Manns Chinese Theatre: Famous for its cement courtyard with
footprints and handprints - Hollywood walk of fame: Stars with celebrities names