California is a state admired for it's physical beauty and is home to more than 12% of all Americans. American citizens who dwell in one of the forty-nine other states have varying opinions about California. Some view the golden state as idealistic while others believe that Californians are overindulgent. Regardless of non-California resident's opinions, California is very diverse in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomic standing, and climate. San Diego is located in the most southern section of California. California is typically viewed as being divided into three sections: Northern California, Central California, and Southern California.
Contrary to popular belief, the climate in California is arbitrary. The west coast border of California is the only area in the entire United States that experiences Mediterranean climate. San Diego is one of the cities located in this area so it's residents undergo mild temperatures year-round. There are areas in the interior of California and Central Valley that experience desert climate and semiarid climate. The primary reason for our great weather is the location of the state's proximity to the Pacific Ocean. Being so close to the Pacific Ocean has its disadvantages. California is far removed from the core of the United States which contains much of the country's economic demand and supply.
Fires and earthquakes are frequent occurrences in California. The San Andreas Fault runs through much of California and as a resident myself, I fear that a large earthquake may happen at any given time. San Diego is not directly located on the fault like many other cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. However, the effects of nearby earthquakes can still be felt by residents of San Diego County. Here are some recent statistics on fires near San Diego (provided by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection)
- Ammo Fire (October 23, 2007)
- Location: Camp Pendleton USMC, North of San Diego
- Acres Burned: 21,004
- Injuries: 6
- Cost: $708, 047
- Poomacha Fire (October 23, 2007)
- Location: Hwy 76, Pauma Valley
- Acres Burned: 49, 410
- Injuries: 15 firefighters were injured
- Cost: $20.6 million
- Rice Fire (October 22, 2007)
- Location: Rice Canyon, Clearwater Rd. Fallbrook
- Acres Burned: 9,472
- Injuries: 5
- Cost: $2.6 million
Images from the Poomacha Fire
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