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California Geography, Geology, Hazards, and Natural History Information
This website presents selected examples of maps and educational reference materials about California that are available free on the Web. Note that many thousands of publications exist that deal with California geography, geology, and natural resources and hazards, and many of these can be found with simple topical searches on the Web. Hard-copy materials can be identified and borrowed from libraries. The most comprehensive library collection of Earth Science is the USGS Library; the library's catalog is on-line at http://library.usgs.gov. Click on any of the fast links below:
Geography / Physiographic Provinces / Parks / Geology / Minerals / Energy Natural Hazards / Earthquakes / Volcanoes / Landslides / Wildfires / Tsunamis Water Resources / Climate / Floods / Drought / Biology & Environment

Geography

Maps of selected areas, scales, themes, and formats can be found in several ways. Many maps can be view on-line or purchased via http://ask.usgs.gov or by calling 1-888-ASK-USGS. Below are web links that provide access to standard USGS map series that include California:

The National Map (http://nationalmap.usgs.gov) - this interactive website is useful for generating maps at many scales with multiple data sets including shade relief, topographic maps, roads, cultural features, boundaries, water resources, aerial photography (orthoimagery) and other data sets.

The National Atlas ( http://nationalatlas.gov) - provides access to more basic interactive maps with varying themes including agriculture, biology, climate, environment, geology, history, people, transportation, and water. Many of the maps below are modified from the map data sets available from the National Atlas.

A fast search for a map can be done by using the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)
(at http://geonames.usgs.gov) by searching the Query Form for the United States and Its Territories. A search on GNIS will give you topographic map indexing, longitude& latitude, and feature information, plus gives you direct access to topographic maps and aerial photography via the National Map and other sources.

Access USGS - San Francisco Bay and Delta
http://sfbay.wr.usgs.gov/
This website is a portal to many information resources about the Bay Area. Digital map data for the San Francisco Bay Area can be found on the Bay Area Regional Database: http://bard.wr.usgs.gov; historic USGS topographic of the San Francisco Bay region can be found at: http://sunsite.berkeley.edu/histopo/.

Shaded Relief Maps of California
Click on the maps to see larger versions.


Shaded Relief Map of California small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)		Shaded Relief Map of California (Gray Scale) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)		Draw-What-You-Want-On- California Map small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)


Population and Urban Issues in California
California is the most populous state in the country. Although California's percentage growth rate is not the highest in the county, the total number of people immigrating to the state remains the highest in the nation. Los Angeles is the 2nd largest metropolitan region in the nation, and the San Francisco Bay Area is 5th. Sixteen California cities rank in the top 100 most populous cities in the country. Click here to see 2000 Census statistics about California and its largest metropolitan areas.

California's Population Density By County small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)	California's Population (With Major Cities) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)	California's Interstates and Highways small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)

Elected Officials and Political Boundary Maps of California
Information about Federal, State, and local representation can be found at these sources: Congress.Org http://www.congress.org This website provides information about all elected officials in the United States, and has information about about issues and actions in government, information about government agencies, elections, and resources to practically every topic related to government. California congressional representative information by district is at : http://www.congress.com/state/ca.html. California Voter Foundation - California Map Series http://www.calvoter.org/voter/maps/ This website has links to representation maps on many scales for California, from state levels down to Congressional, CA Senate, CA Assembly, and county maps. California State Senate http://www.sen.ca.gov/ This website has information about the California State Senate with CA Senate district maps of California. California State Senate http://www.sen.ca.gov/ This website has information about the California State Assembly with CA Assembly district maps of California.

Physiographic Provinces of California

				Click here to see information on California's physiographic provinces: Basin and Range Cascade Range Coast Ranges Colorado Desert Great Valley Klamath Mountains Modoc Plateau Mojave Desert Peninsular Ranges Sierra Nevada Transverse Ranges
Physiographic Provinces of California small (554 x 720 pixels) large (720 x 936 pixels) very large (1800 x 2340 pixels)		Physiographic Provinces of California small (554 x 720 pixels) large (720 x 936 pixels) very large (1800 x 2340 pixels)		See the California Geological Survey website on physiographic provinces: California GeoTour: An Index to On-line Geologic Field Trip Guides of California http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geotour/


California's Parks and Public Lands
	California's Parks and Public Lands small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels) Note that large sections of land in California not show on this map are managed by other land trust organizations, and Federal, state, and local governments. Examples include military reservation, Indian reservations, The Nature Conservancy, open space reserves, county and city parks, transportation, water and utilities companies, agricultural and industrial institutions, universities, and many others. Finding information about land ownership, land access, and land use policies can be challenging even to professionals. A good place to start is with a local chamber of commerce.	Selected Federal and State Agencies National Park Service http://www.nps.gov Bureau of Land Management http://www.blm.gov National Forest Service http://www.fs.fed.us/ US Fish & Wildlife Service http://www.fws.gov/ California State Parks http://www.parks.ca.gov/

Geology of California

California has formed over the last billion years of Earth's history. The oldest rocks exposed in California are exposed in the Death Valley and Mojave Desert regions and represent ancient oceanic crust and marine platform sediments that accumulated next to the continental margin of California. An ancient volcanic arc developed along the western edge of North America starting about 250 million years ago and continue through the Mesozoic Era (to about 70 million years ago). Today, the core of this ancient volcanic mountain range are exposed in the Sierra Nevada and throughout Southern California. The Great Valley and Coast Ranges regions are underlain by rocks that slowly assembled from oceanic crust and from sediments deposited in the ocean basin next to the continent. The by rocks were transport and accreted onto the continental margin by forces associated with plate tectonics and later by motion along great fault systems, including the San Andreas Fault. Forces that shaped the earth in the past are still occurring today, as best demonstrated by California's earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, floods, and other natural events, both great and subtle, that, over long periods of time, have shaped the surface of the landscape on which we live.

		The best source to find geologic maps of California (or any location) is to search the National Geologic Map Database: http://ngmdb.usgs.gov. Geologic maps and information can also be found on these websites: California Geologic Survey: http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/ San Francisco Bay Region Geology (USGS): http://sfgeo.wr.usgs.gov/ This website provides links to geologic maps and information for all counties in the San Francisco Bay Region. Geologic Information for Southern California (USGS): http://scamp.wr.usgs.gov/ This website contains bibliographies and links to maps and reports about the greater Los Angeles metropolitan region and Southern California.
Geologic Map of California small (554 x 720 pixels) large (720 x 936 pixels) very large (1800 x 2340 pixels)

Mineral Resources of California

Minerals Yearbooks for the Mineral Industry of California
http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/state/ca.html
This website provides descriptions of the sources and uses of mineral resources through links through the Minerals Yearbook and other sources.

Mineral Production (California Geological Survey)
http://www.consrv.ca.gov/cgs/geologic_resources/mineral_production/index.htm
This website provides information about mineral production in California and includes a map showing the location of major mineral resource production in California.

Energy Resources of California

The California Energy Commission
http://www.energy.ca.gov/
This website provides links to information about all of California's energy resources including emerging energy technologies and alternative and renewable resources.

Natural Oil and Gas Seeps of California
http://seeps.wr.usgs.gov/
Natural oil and gas seeps have helped geologists study and locate many of the oil and gas fields of California. This website has maps showing the locations of oil and gas seeps, and the location of oil and gas fields in California.

The Plus Side of Volcanoes - Geothermal Energy
http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/PlusSide/geothermal.html

Assessment of Undiscovered Oil and Gas Resources of the San Joaquin Basin Province of California, 2003
http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3043/fs-2004-3043.html


Natural Hazards of California
Geographic Distribution of Major Hazards in the U.S. http://www.usgs.gov/themes/hazard.html Natural Hazards http://www.usgs.gov/themes/factsheet/093-99/
Earthquake Hazards of California
USGS Earthquake Hazards (http://earthquake.usgs.gov) This is the primary resource page for information and research related to earthquakes and seismology.
Major Faults of California small (554 x 720 pixels) large (720 x 936 pixels) very large (1800 x 2340 pixels)	Major Faults of California small (554 x 720 pixels) large (720 x 936 pixels) very large (1800 x 2340 pixels)	California's Faults (blank) small (554 x 720 pixels) large (720 x 936 pixels) very large (1800 x 2340 pixels)
Maps of Recent Earthquake Activity in California-Nevada Visit the ever-popular USGS "Quake" website to see information about the daily earthquake activity in California and Nevada. Earthquake History of California Earthquake Probability Map for San Francisco Bay Area The San Andreas Fault System, California (USGS Professional Paper 1515) This classic book, edited by Robert E. Wallace, is both a technical and exhaustive resource of information about the San Andreas Fault and is an essential companion to all newly published research about the fault system. The book is available for download or to purchase. Putting Down Roots In Earthquake Country: Your Handbook For the San Francisco Bay Region This general interest publication provides information about San Francisco Bay region earthquakes (cause, history, probabilities, effects) and provides detailed information about how to be prepared when a major earthquake happens. The guide identifies specific steps to improve your safety before, during, and following an earthquake. This "must read" document provides sound advice for anyone living in a potential disaster zone. Where's the San Andreas Fault? A Guidebook to Tracing the Fault on Public Lands in the San Francisco Bay Region This field guide provides descriptions of the section of the San Andreas Fault that ruptured in the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Descriptions of places the public can go range from the South Bay regions near Holister, San Juan Bautista, throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains between San Jose and San Francisco, and Point Reyes National Seashore. Introductory materials include an overview of the San Andreas Fault System, geology, landscape features, and plant communities that reveal information about the underlying geology. Faults in Southern California This website provides detailed information about major active faults in Southern California. Quaternary Faults and Fold Database of the United States This website contains information on faults and associated folds in the United States that are believed to be sources of M>6 earthquakes during the Quaternary (the past 1,600,000 years) . Maps of these geologic structures are linked to detailed descriptions and references. National Seismic Hazard Maps

		Modified Mercalli Intensity Maps for the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake Plotted in ShakeMap Format http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1135/ This website has interactive view of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake compared with other California earthquake including the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake. The Severity of an Earthquake http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/earthq4/severitygip.html The severity of an earthquake can be expressed in terms of both intensity and magnitude. However, the two terms are quite different, and they are often confused. This website explains the differences. Measuring the Size of an Earthquake: http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/general/measure.html Earthquake Effects: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/faq/#effects What is Earthquake Intensity? http://earthquake.usgs.gov/faq/meas.html#11
Earthquake Intensity Map for the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906 (ShakeMap) Small (472 x 761 pixels) Medium (982 x 1585 pixels)	Earthquake Intensity Map for the Loma Prieta Earthquake of 1989 (ShakeMap) Small (472 x 761 pixels) Medium (982 x 1585 pixels)

Volcano Hazards of California
California Volcanoes and Volcanics http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/California/ This website provides links to reports, summaries, maps, and images of most of California's volcanoes, volcanic and geothermal areas. America's Volcanic Past - California http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/LivingWith/VolcanicPast/Places/volcanic_past_california.html This website provides many useful links to California's volcanoes and volcanic areas. Potential Hazards from Future Volcanic Eruptions in California http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Volcanoes/California/Hazards/Bulletin1847/table_holocene_volcanoes.html This report provides summary of Holocene (about 10,000 years ago to present) eruptive activity and probable greatest hazards from future eruptions at volcanic centers in California Long Valley Volcano Observatory http://lvo.wr.usgs.gov/ Find out what USGS scientists are discovering about this perhaps not widely known volcanic area in eastern California. Long Valley Volcanic System extends from Mammoth Mountain to Mono Lake.

Volcanoes and Volcanic Areas of California
	Amboy Crater-Lavic Lake Volcanic Area Cascade Range Volcanic Province Clear Lake-Sonoma Volcanics Coso Volcanic and Geothermal Area Death Valley National Park Devils Postpile National Monumment Golden Trout Creek Volcanic Area Lassen Volcanic National Park Lava Beds National Monument Long Valley Caldera Mammoth Mountain Medicine Lake Volcanic Field Mojave National Preserve Mono-Inyo Craters Mount Shasta Volcano Pinnacles National Park Salton Buttes Lava Domes and Salton Sea Geothermal Area Sutter Buttes (click on the 3D glasses to see 3D image tours of these volcanic areas)
Volcanoes and Volcanic Areas Map of California small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)		Aerial distribution of 4 Upper Quaternary tephra layers over the western United States small (402 x 512 pixels) by A. Sarna-Wojcicki

Landslide Hazards of California
			USGS Landslide Hazards Program http://landslides.usgs.gov/index.html This website provides current information about landslide hazards for the nation, including California. Links are provided to maps, publications, and images of landslides and associated disasters. Landslide Types and Processes http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2004/3072/fs-2004-3072.html This website provides a good introduction to types of landslides and mass movement associated with gravity and stream floods. National Landslide Overview Map of the United States http://landslides.usgs.gov/learningeducation/nationalmap/index.php This interactive map show landslide and flood hazard areas of the United States, including California (and was used in generating "California's Landslide Hazards" Map - show here to the right). Map Showing Inventory and Regional Susceptibility for Holocene Debris Flows, and Related Fast-Moving Landslides in the Conterminous United States http://geopubs.wr.usgs.gov/map-mf/mf2329/ This map shows debris flow hazard areas of the United States, including California.
California's Landslide Hazards small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)

Wildfire Hazards of California
Wildfires (USGS Wildland Fire Research) http://www.usgs.gov/themes/wildfire.html This website provides links to introductory information about wildfire hazards throughout North America. National Interagency Fire Center http://www.nifc.gov The NIFC has wildfire information, current fire information for all states, and fire-safety educational resources. Fire Ecology Research http://www.werc.usgs.gov/fire/ This is the portal page to fire ecology studies at WERC; research is in Sierra Nevada forests, California shrublands, and Mojave and Sonoran deserts, and Great Basin.
Coastal and Marine Hazards
Western Coastal & Marine Geology (USGS) http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov This website provides access to information about scientific research in the coastal and offshore areas of California and other states, including marine earthquake, tsunami and other submarine hazards and processes. Tsunamis & Earthquakes http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/tsunami/ This website provides information about USGS tsunami research and links to information websites about the origins of tsunamis and QuickTime animations of tsunamis in the Pacific region including a recreation of the probable tsunami associated with the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. Tsunamis (USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Facts & Lists page) http://earthquake.usgs.gov/learning/topics.php?topicID=34&topic=Tsunamis This resource page provides links to many tsunami information and resources.

Water Resources of California

USGS Water Resources of California
http://ca.water.usgs.gov/
This is the website for the USGS Water Resources Division, California Office. It provides a comprehensive list of links to all water-related topics and data related to water resources in California.

Welcome to the USGS Ground Water Information Pages
http://water.usgs.gov/ogw/pubs.html
This website focuses of issues and resources related to water underground across the nation, including California.


Water Resources Map of California small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)		Water Resource Map of California (With Relief) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)		Water Resources Map of California (with Precipitation) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)


Average Annual Precipitation Map of California small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)	Average Annual Precipitation Map of CA (With Relief) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)	Average Annual Precipitation Map (with Relief and Water) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)

Climate of California
		Past Climate and Vegetation Changes in the Southwestern United States http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/sw/impacts/biology/pastclim/ This website provides information about climate change through the late Pleistocene Epoch to the Present. It illustrates changes in land cover, biology, and the extent of great lakes that covered the Great Basin and southern California through the last Ice Age and modern global warming. Climate Change & California (California Energy Commission website) http://www.energy.ca.gov/global_climate_change/ This website provides links to introductory information and ongoing research into global climate change, including the potential impact on California. Effects of Climatic Variability and Land Use on American Drylands (USGS Global Change Research) http://climchange.cr.usgs.gov/info/sw/index.html This website has links to many resources about global change in the US and Southwest, including California. Investigating Climate Change of Western North America http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/climate-change/index.html This USGS fact sheet provides discussion how the California Current in the Pacific Ocean drives the climate of the western United States. Deserts: Geology and Resources http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/deserts/ This general interest publication defines what is a desert, types of desert and desert landscape features, and processes that form desert landscape features, and how the Earth's atmospheric system influences aridity. USGS Global Change Research - Earth Surface Dynamics http://geochange.er.usgs.gov/ This more technical resource website describes climate change research at the USGS, but contains useful links to many climate investigations and publications.

Late Pleistocene Map of California small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)

California's Weather
California State Information (Weather and Climate data from NOAA, National Weather Service) http://inwin.nws.noaa.gov/iwin/ca/ca.html Weather and climate information are gathered and compiled by the National Weather Service (a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [NOAA]. This website provides access to satellite and radar images, hourly and short term reports by city, State forecasts, weather summaries, climatic data, special weather and watches, and other public information. Information about NOAA's California regional offices can be found at: http://www.legislative.noaa.gov/noaainyourstate/california.html.
Floods of California
California Department of Water Resources, Division of Flood Management, California Data Exchange Center http://cdec.water.ca.gov/ This website provides access to information about current river conditions with access to resources useful for predicting flood conditions (including snow pack, reservoir data, weather forecasts, and much more). It also provides access to all the major Federal (including NOAA and USGS), state and local water agencies' websites.
Droughts of California
Drought Preparedness (California Department of Water Resources) http://watersupplyconditions.water.ca.gov/ This website provides links to information about past, present, and potential future drought conditions in California.

Biological and Environmental Information for California

California Information Node (National Biological Information Infrastructure)
http://cain.nbii.org/
The California Information Node provides access to data and information about California's environment and biological resources. This website combines biological information and educational resources from many organizations including:

				California Wildlife http://www.dfg.ca.gov/whdab/html/ cawildlife.html The California Wildlife and Habitat Analysis Branch provides extensive resource information about wildlife in California (both plants and animals). The website has extensive links to organizations and map resources related to wildlife resources. California Native Plant Society http://www.cnps.org/ This society website has image galleries and links to resources about native plants and habitats throughout California.
Forest Cover Map of California small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)		Forest Cover Map of California (With Relief) small (509 x 720 pixels) large (871 x 1232 pixels)

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://education.usgs.gov/california/resources.html
Page Contact Information: USGS Education Web Team
Page Last Modified: Thursday, 24-Jul-2008 13:50:08 EDT