The Golden State
Greetings from sunny California!
California is well known around the world for its beautiful coastline and mild, sunny weather. It is a large state with many people living on its land and visiting its many natural wonders and exciting big cities. It is home to a number of State and National Parks that attract tourists from all over the world. Likewise, many animals, including mule deer, mountain lions, golden eagles, elephant seals and rattlesnakes, make their homes in the mountains, prairies and coastal flats of this amazing state.
The landscape of California has been reshaped over the years by glaciers, earthquakes, coastal erosion, and strong winds. People have also played an important role in making the Californian landscape what it is today. In particular, people have been managing the forests of California for hundreds of years. Long before European settlers arrived in California, native people living there had been living in and using the forests for their survival. They had a good understanding of what the forests and animals on the land needed to thrive, and they cared for the forests in ways that kept them healthy. After the Europeans arrived, many of the native Californians were pushed off of their land, and quickly the forests began to change. New settlers often cleared large stands of forests for timber and agriculture. They allowed their animals, including sheep, to heavily graze the land around them. This was very destructive to the land, and new trees had difficulty growing. In 1849, the Gold Rush brought many more people to California. Large mines, new roads, railroads, bigger farms, and a growing population all hurt the native forests, and began to quickly change the landscape.
Because of its warm, dry summers, California has had many wildfires. Surprisingly, wildfires can actually be healthy for forests. Before the European settlers arrived, native Californians let forest fires burn, and even set fires to stands of trees that were too thick with undergrowth. Fire often promotes new tree growth, and helps to nourish the soil. However, in the early 1900’s, laws were passed banning forest fires. This meant that whenever a natural forest fire started, firefighters would work to stop it. When a forest has not burned for many years, it can be very dangerous and destructive. Today, people have a better understanding of forest fires, and often set controlled fires to keep undergrowth in check. This helps the land, and keeps people safe from large uncontrolled forest fires.
California has some of the oldest and tallest trees on the planet. Keeping the forests of California healthy is important to people all over the world!
California is well known around the world for its beautiful coastline and mild, sunny weather. It is a large state with many people living on its land and visiting its many natural wonders and exciting big cities. It is home to a number of State and National Parks that attract tourists from all over the world. Likewise, many animals, including mule deer, mountain lions, golden eagles, elephant seals and rattlesnakes, make their homes in the mountains, prairies and coastal flats of this amazing state.
The landscape of California has been reshaped over the years by glaciers, earthquakes, coastal erosion, and strong winds. People have also played an important role in making the Californian landscape what it is today. In particular, people have been managing the forests of California for hundreds of years. Long before European settlers arrived in California, native people living there had been living in and using the forests for their survival. They had a good understanding of what the forests and animals on the land needed to thrive, and they cared for the forests in ways that kept them healthy. After the Europeans arrived, many of the native Californians were pushed off of their land, and quickly the forests began to change. New settlers often cleared large stands of forests for timber and agriculture. They allowed their animals, including sheep, to heavily graze the land around them. This was very destructive to the land, and new trees had difficulty growing. In 1849, the Gold Rush brought many more people to California. Large mines, new roads, railroads, bigger farms, and a growing population all hurt the native forests, and began to quickly change the landscape.
Because of its warm, dry summers, California has had many wildfires. Surprisingly, wildfires can actually be healthy for forests. Before the European settlers arrived, native Californians let forest fires burn, and even set fires to stands of trees that were too thick with undergrowth. Fire often promotes new tree growth, and helps to nourish the soil. However, in the early 1900’s, laws were passed banning forest fires. This meant that whenever a natural forest fire started, firefighters would work to stop it. When a forest has not burned for many years, it can be very dangerous and destructive. Today, people have a better understanding of forest fires, and often set controlled fires to keep undergrowth in check. This helps the land, and keeps people safe from large uncontrolled forest fires.
California has some of the oldest and tallest trees on the planet. Keeping the forests of California healthy is important to people all over the world!