File:The Americana; a universal reference library, comprising the arts and sciences, literature, history, biography, geography, commerce, etc., of the world (1908) (14804524223).jpg

Identifier: americanaunivers03newy (find matches)
Title: The Americana; a universal reference library, comprising the arts and sciences, literature, history, biography, geography, commerce, etc., of the world
Year: 1908 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Encyclopedias and dictionaries
Publisher: New York : Scientific American Compiling Dept.
Contributing Library: University of California Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Internet Archive

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it is separated on theeast, throughout its entire length, by the Gulfof California. It is about 750 miles in length,and in different places 30, 60, 90, and 150 mileswide. The coast forms many capes, bays, andhavens, and is fringed by numerous islands. Achain of mountains extends throughout, ofwhich the greatest height is from 4,500 to 4,900feet above the sea, the latter being the heightattained by its culminating point, Cerro de laGiganta. The chain is almost destitute of vege-tation, having only here and there a few stuntedtrees or shrubs. It has a single volcano, andpossesses distinct traces of volcanic origin. Thefoot of the range is covered with cactuses ofremarkable size. Some of the hollows, wherethe soil is formed of decomposed lava, are tol-erably fertile. On the plains the soil is often ofthe richest quality, and when the advantage ofirrigation can be obtained, raises the most abun-dant crops; but this advantage often fails, owingto the great deficiency of water. Rain seldom
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CALlFORNn, UNIVERSITY OF falls in summer, and the streams are very in-significant. The climate varies nuich accordingto locality. On the coast of the Pacific the tem-perature ranges in summer from 58° to 71° ; thesky is peculiarly clear and perfectly cloudless,except toward sunset, the tints of which areremarkable for variety and beauty. At a dis-tance from the coast, where the sea breeze isnot enjoyed, the summer heat is excessive. Theprincipal vegetable products are maize, manioc,wheat, grapes, oranges, lemons, pineapples, andmany other varieties of the finest fruits. In thevalleys horses, sheep, and cattle are raised suc-cessfully. The fish on the coast are very abun-dant, and a pearl-fishery was long very success-fully carried on. Gold mining is also carried onv^ith considerable success. La Paz, in the south,is the capital; Ensenada, in the north, is a ris-ing port. California was explored by order ofCortez in 1532-3. The region was visited byDrake as early as 1579. In 1697 the

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