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Questions and Answers
What is topography?
What is topography?
What is geologic history?
What is geologic history?
Earth follows the major events in Earth's past based on the geologic time scale.
What does climate refer to?
What does climate refer to?
The weather conditions prevailing in an area in general or over a long period of time.
Define bioregion.
Define bioregion.
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What is the mean elevation of California in feet above sea level?
What is the mean elevation of California in feet above sea level?
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How high is Mt. Whitney in feet?
How high is Mt. Whitney in feet?
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How long is California at its most distant points?
How long is California at its most distant points?
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What California mountains extend east to west?
What California mountains extend east to west?
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How high is Mt. Shasta in feet?
How high is Mt. Shasta in feet?
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What mountains are found in northwestern California?
What mountains are found in northwestern California?
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How wide is California at its most distant east-west points?
How wide is California at its most distant east-west points?
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What is the lowest precipitation amount, in inches, for California?
What is the lowest precipitation amount, in inches, for California?
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In what part of California is the precipitation highest?
In what part of California is the precipitation highest?
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What is the highest precipitation amount, in inches, for California?
What is the highest precipitation amount, in inches, for California?
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How many species of plants and animals are found in California?
How many species of plants and animals are found in California?
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How many species of plants and animals are endemic to California?
How many species of plants and animals are endemic to California?
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What type of wetlands occur in the Bay Area-Delta Bioregion?
What type of wetlands occur in the Bay Area-Delta Bioregion?
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How many of the ten bioregions are adversely impacted by water management issues?
How many of the ten bioregions are adversely impacted by water management issues?
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Which bioregion receives the most annual precipitation?
Which bioregion receives the most annual precipitation?
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What bioregion has the largest human population?
What bioregion has the largest human population?
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What has the South Coast bioregion been affected by?
What has the South Coast bioregion been affected by?
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The water supply of California comes mainly from the runoff from what mountain range?
The water supply of California comes mainly from the runoff from what mountain range?
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How many gallons of agricultural water are required to produce a hamburger patty?
How many gallons of agricultural water are required to produce a hamburger patty?
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How much more water can California groundwater aquifers hold compared to surface reservoirs?
How much more water can California groundwater aquifers hold compared to surface reservoirs?
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How much of California's water from precipitation is lost through evaporation and transpiration?
How much of California's water from precipitation is lost through evaporation and transpiration?
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In what year did a flood in the Central Valley destroy about half the property value in the state, and touch off lethal epidemics?
In what year did a flood in the Central Valley destroy about half the property value in the state, and touch off lethal epidemics?
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Most of the densely populated, low-lying areas along the coast and in interior valleys have what climate type?
Most of the densely populated, low-lying areas along the coast and in interior valleys have what climate type?
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Where is California's largest expanse of flat land west of the Rocky Mountains?
Where is California's largest expanse of flat land west of the Rocky Mountains?
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What California tree is the world's tallest species?
What California tree is the world's tallest species?
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Where have the lowest temperatures in California been recorded?
Where have the lowest temperatures in California been recorded?
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Proportionally California receives __________________ the average annual rainfall of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast States.
Proportionally California receives __________________ the average annual rainfall of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast States.
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Where in California is the only navigable sea-level route through the Coast Range into the interior between Mexico and the Columbia River?
Where in California is the only navigable sea-level route through the Coast Range into the interior between Mexico and the Columbia River?
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What California tree is the world's bulkiest species?
What California tree is the world's bulkiest species?
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During the last one hundred years, how much of California's managed water supplies were consumed by farmers?
During the last one hundred years, how much of California's managed water supplies were consumed by farmers?
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What percentage of California's rain falls in roughly the northern half of the state?
What percentage of California's rain falls in roughly the northern half of the state?
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What trees in California are some of the world's oldest organisms?
What trees in California are some of the world's oldest organisms?
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Which mountains make up the Transverse Ranges?
Which mountains make up the Transverse Ranges?
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Study Notes
Topography
- Refers to the arrangement of natural and artificial physical features in an area.
Geologic History
- Describes major events in Earth's past based on the geologic time scale.
Climate
- Represents the long-term weather conditions prevailing in a specific area.
Bioregion
- An ecologically and geographically defined area smaller than an ecozone.
Elevation of California
- Mean elevation is 2,900 feet above sea level.
Elevation of Major Mountains
- Mt. Whitney stands at 14,494 feet.
- Mt. Shasta reaches an elevation of 14,162 feet.
Length and Width of California
- Extends 1,040 miles from north to south.
- Width at its widest east-west points is 560 miles.
California Mountains
- Sierra Nevada mountains stretch east to west.
- Klamath mountains are located in northwestern California.
Precipitation
- Lowest precipitation in California ranges from 0 to 5 inches.
- Highest precipitation occurs in the northwest, exceeding 100 inches.
Biodiversity in California
- Home to 5,879 species of plants and animals.
- 2,214 of these species are endemic to California.
- Freshwater and salt marshes are the wetlands found in the Bay Area-Delta Bioregion.
Water Management Issues
- Eight out of ten bioregions suffer from adverse water management issues.
Annual Precipitation in Bioregions
- Klamath or North coast bioregion receives the most annual precipitation.
- South coast bioregion has the largest human population and is affected by urbanization.
Water Supply Sources
- Primary water supply comes from runoff in the Sierra Nevada mountain range.
Agricultural Water Usage
- Producing a hamburger patty requires 1,300 gallons of agricultural water.
Groundwater and Surface Reservoirs
- California's groundwater aquifers can hold 6-10 times more water than surface reservoirs.
Water Loss
- 65% of California's precipitation is lost through evaporation and transpiration.
Significant Historical Events
- A flood in the Central Valley in 1862 destroyed about half the property value in California and caused lethal epidemics.
Climate Types
- Densely populated coastal and low-lying interior areas predominantly experience a Mediterranean climate.
Central Valley
- Recognized as the largest expanse of flat land west of the Rocky Mountains.
Tallest and Bulkiest Trees
- Coast Redwood is the world's tallest tree species.
- Giant Sequoia is considered the world's bulkiest species.
Temperature Records
- Lowest temperatures in California have been recorded at Donner Pass.
Rainfall Distribution
- California receives less than half the average annual rainfall of the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast states.
- Approximately 90% of California's rainfall occurs in the northern half of the state.
Ancient Tree Species
- Coast Redwood and Gnarled Bristlecone Pine are some of the oldest living organisms.
Transverse Ranges
- Comprising the Tehachapis, San Gabriels, and San Bernardinos mountains.
Water Usage in Agriculture
- Farmers consume around 90% of California's managed water supplies.
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Description
Explore the diverse geography of California, including its topography, geologic history, and climate. This quiz covers features such as elevation, mountain ranges, and precipitation patterns across the state. Test your knowledge of California's natural and artificial landscapes.
