Facts California is 770 miles long and 250 miles wide at its most distant point. 155,973 square miles of it is land area and 7.734 square miles of California are covored by water. The highest point is Mt. Whitney at 14,494 feet. The lowest point in California is Death Valley. It lies 282 feet below sea level and is the lowest point in the United States.  The Coastel Ranges in the north reach inland 20 to 30 miles extend from the Klamath Mountains the north south to Santa Barbara. The Coastal Ranges include many smaller chains of mountain ranges including the Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountains. Some of the valleys separating these ranges are the Napa Valley, north of San Francisco and the Santa Clara and Salinas Valleys to the south. The Coastal Range is home to California’s legendary Redwoods and, less fortunately the San Andreas Fault. The San Adreas Fault enters California from the Pacific Ocean near Port Arena and extends southeast into the state. Earthquakes are caused by movement of the earth’s crust along this fault. View high resolution

Facts

California is 770 miles long and 250 miles wide at its most distant point. 155,973 square miles of it is land area and 7.734 square miles of California are covored by water. The highest point is Mt. Whitney at 14,494 feet. The lowest point in California is Death Valley. It lies 282 feet below sea level and is the lowest point in the United States.  The Coastel Ranges in the north reach inland 20 to 30 miles extend from the Klamath Mountains the north south to Santa Barbara. The Coastal Ranges include many smaller chains of mountain ranges including the Diablo and Santa Cruz Mountains. Some of the valleys separating these ranges are the Napa Valley, north of San Francisco and the Santa Clara and Salinas Valleys to the south. The Coastal Range is home to California’s legendary Redwoods and, less fortunately the San Andreas Fault. The San Adreas Fault enters California from the Pacific Ocean near Port Arena and extends southeast into the state. Earthquakes are caused by movement of the earth’s crust along this fault.