Photo: 123rf.com/melastmohican
CA, also known as the “Golden State,” is a place with lots of sun, surf, and stars. People all over the world are fascinated by California, which is known for its beautiful coastline, rich culture, and booming entertainment industry. On the other hand, there is a rich trove of strange and interesting facts that may surprise even the most seasoned Californians. We’ll talk about 25 strange and interesting facts about California that you probably didn’t know.
1. A colourful start
The book “Las Sergas de Esplandián,” by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, written in the 1600s, was the first to make the name “California” well-known. The book described California as an island ruled by Queen Calafia and inhabited by fierce Amazonian women. This is where the state’s name comes from.
2. The Lake That Was Lost
There is a strange lake in Northern California that goes dry every year. The lake, which is called “Lost Lake,” drains through a hole in the bottom and then fills up again when it rains in the winter.
3. The tallest trees in the world
The biggest trees in the world are found in California. They are called coast redwoods. They are so big that they are bigger than the Statue of Liberty, at more than 350 feet tall.
4. The Orange from Heaven
“International Orange” is a unique colour that was picked for the Golden Gate Bridge because it stands out in San Francisco’s fog.
5. Capital of Earthquakes
There are more than 500,000 earthquakes that can be felt every year in California. Residents don’t notice most of them, which is good.
6. Record High Temperatures in Death Valley
Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley had the hottest air temperature ever recorded on Earth on July 10, 1913, when it hit 134 degrees Fahrenheit (56.7 degrees Celsius).
7. The very first McDonald’s in the world
It was Richard and Maurice McDonald who opened the first McDonald’s in San Bernardino, California, in 1940. The drive-in was known for having quick service.
8. The biggest county
California’s San Bernardino County has more land area than nine whole states, making it the biggest county in the United States.
9. The state nut of California
The almond, which makes up almost all of the commercial almond stock in the U.S., is the official state nut of California.
Picture from 123rf.com/melastmohican
10. A fossil that lives
Some bristlecone pine trees in California’s White Mountains are thought to be over 4,800 years old, making them one of the oldest living things in the world.
11. The biggest solar power plant
It covers over 3,500 acres and is the world’s biggest solar thermal power plant. It is in California’s Mojave Desert.
12. The Hidden Sign in Hollywood
The Hollywood Sign was first put up in 1923 as an ad for house sales in “Hollywoodland.” In 1949, the last four letters were taken out.
13. The flag insect of the state
The official bug of California is the California dogface butterfly (Zerene eurydice), which got its name from the shape of its wings that look like a dog.
14. The Grape Land
The state of California makes the fourth most wine in the world and more than any other state in the United States.
15. Firefall in Yosemite
At Yosemite National Park’s Glacier Point, the famous “Firefall” happened for almost one hundred years. Burning embers were pushed off the cliff, making a beautiful waterfall-like effect of fire.
16. The Land of Extremes
Death Valley is the lowest point in North America, and Mount Whitney is the highest in mainland United States. They are both in California, just 85 miles apart.
17. The smallest post office in the world
In Ochopee, Florida, the smallest post office is still open in the United States. It was originally a storage building in California before it was moved to Florida.
18. The Avocado Capital
The “Avocado Capital of the World” is Fallbrook, California, which holds an annual Avocado Festival.
19. The most expensive house in the world
This is “The One,” the world’s most expensive home. It’s in Bel Air, California. The price tag on this huge home is $340 million.
20. The Opera House of Amargosa
The Amargosa Opera House is in Death Valley Junction. It is a one-of-a-kind theatre in the middle of the desert that puts on shows in a building that used to belong to the Borax company that has been restored.
21. Where surfing began
Hawaiian royalty are often said to have brought surfing to the mainland U.S. in the late 1800s, on their way to Santa Cruz.
22. The Largest Sundae Made of Ice Cream
People in Anaheim, California, made the world’s longest ice cream dish in 1985. It was over 4 miles long.
23. The Curvy Street in San Francisco
One of the world’s most crooked streets, Lombard Street in San Francisco, is known for its eight hairpin turns.
24. The Moving Stones in Death Valley
People visit Death Valley National Park to see the “sailing stones” that move across the dry lakebed and leave long trails behind them.
25. Land Yet Unclaimed
The United States owns Palmyra Atoll, a small island south of Hawaii that is not inhabited. It is not part of any state. It’s still one of the most out-of-the-way places near California.
