Chapter 18:Hawaii

Key Points:

1. Hawaii's geological origins are volcanic, and the islands remain volcanically active.
2. The state's tropical location means warm climates, areas with high precipitation, and abundant plant and animal life.
3. Hawaii's population is quite diverse and reflects a strong imprint of Polynesian, European, and Asian cultures.
4. Although the islands' economies differ, tourism is important generally in Hawaii's economy more so than in most states.
5. Nearly three-quarters of Hawaii's population lives in the Honolulu area.

Some background info on Hawaii:


Hawaii is the only state of the United States that is not geographically located in North America, grows coffee, is completely surrounded by water, is entirely an archipelago, has royal palaces, and does not have a straight line in its state boundary.Hawaii’s tallest mountain, Mauna Kea, stands at 13,796 ft (4,205 m) but is taller than Mount Everest if followed to the base of the mountain, which, lying at the floor of the Pacific Ocean, rises about 33,500 ft (10,200 m).

The eight main islands, Hawaiʻi, Maui, Oʻahu, Kahoʻolawe, Lanaʻi, Molokaʻi, Kauaʻi and Niʻihau are accompanied by many others. Kaʻala is a small island near Niʻihau that is often overlooked. 

All the Hawaiian islands were formed from volcanic activity initiated at an undersea magma source called a hotspot. As the tectonic plate beneath much of the Pacific Ocean moves to the northwest, the hot spot remains stationary, slowly creating new volcanoes. Due to the hotspot’s location, the only active volcanoes are located around the southern half of the Big Island. 

Hawaii’s climate is typical for the tropics, although temperatures and humidity tend to be a bit less extreme due to near-constant trade winds from the east. Summer highs are usually in the upper 80s °F, (around 31 °C) during the day and mid 70s, (around 24 °C) at night. Winter day temperatures are usually in the low to mid 80s, (around 28 °C) and (at low elevation) seldom dipping below the mid 60s (18 °C) at night.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, Hawaii had a population of 1,360,301. In terms of race and ethnicity, the state was 24.7% White (22.7% Non-Hispanic White Alone), 1.6% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 38.6% Asian, 10.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 1.2% from Some Other race, and 23.6% from Two or More Races. Hispanics and Latinos of any race made up 8.9% of the population.

Although Hawaii has a warm climate it still differs tremendously from San Fran. There similarities are that they both attract tourists and that they are surrounded by water. 

Chapter 16:The North Pacific

Key Points:

1. The physical geography of the North Pacific Coast is defined by rugged terrain and a wet climate with moderate seasonal temperatures.
2. Because of its remote location, the region was explored and settled by Europeans and Americans later than other areas of North America.
3. Except for Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland, there are relatively few large metropolitan areas in the region.
4. Agriculture and logging are important elements of the region's economy, but both sectors are faced with relatively long distances to other North American markets.
5. Seattle's economy is dominated by healthcare and biotechnology sectors and by two commercial firms: Boeing and Microsoft.

The North Pacific has a lot of nice scenary and snow, it is dominated with mountains. Very different from S.F.

Chapter 15: California

Our state has a whole chapter to itself, and its because we have a lot to offer, but the key thing here is San Francisco is located in California.


Some key points:

1. California's physical geography is dominated by north-south oriented mountains/valleys and a mediterranean climate.
2. The state's location on the Ring of Fire makes it prone to devastating earthquakes.
3. California's agricultural productivity, valued at over $30 billion annually, is greater than any state in the country.
4. Water is a scarce resource in parts of California and the state has had to undertake large water projects to provide for its growing populations.
5. California's urban megalopolis has been largely shaped by use of the automobile, but automobile-related congestion and pollution continue to be problems. 

The Earthquake Zones:

The most famous fault, the San Andreas, extends from the Gulf of California through the Imperial Valley to Point arena north of San Francisco, where it extends into the Pacific Ocean. Lateral earth movement was as much as 20 feet along the San Andreas when the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake struck. 

"At almost precisely 5:12 a.m., local time, a foreshock occurred with sufficient force to be felt widely throughout the San Francisco Bay area. The great earthquake broke loose some 20 to 25 seconds later, with an epicenter near San Francisco. Violent shocks punctuated the strong shaking which lasted some 45 to 60 seconds. The earthquake was felt from southern Oregon to south of Los Angeles and inland as far as central Nevada.".....

"The frequently quoted value of 700 deaths caused by the earthquake and fire is now believed to underestimate the total loss of life by a factor of 3 or 4. Most of the fatalities occurred in San Francisco, and 189 were reported elsewhere."

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/1906/18april/index.php

The Gold Rush:

San Francisco was the supply port for the gold rush. San Francisco grew from a small settlement of about 200 residents in 1846 to a boomtown of about 36,000 by 1852. Roads, churches, schools and other towns were built throughout California. In 1849 a state constitution was written, a governor and legislature chosen and California became a state in 1850 as part of the Compromise of 1850 which divided possible US territories into free and slave states. Samual Brannan sold them shovels, picks, pans, and other items from his stores, he would gross $150,000 a month.

Smog:

San Francisco's smog level is considered good, they have special programs to educate people and have a smog free environment.

Bay Area:

• Has the BART system as transport.
• Has houses tall and really close together
• ethnic neighborhoods
• major pacific port

Chapter 14: The Southwest Border Area: Tricultural Development

Key Features:

1. The Southwest is dominated by three coexisting cultures: Spanish American, American Indian, and European American.
2. Native American populations in the region are large and diverse, but less integrated into the American melting pot than other ethnic groups.
3.  The Hispanic presence in the region dates back over 400 years, but populations have increased dramatically in recent decades because of immigration and higher than average rates of natural increase.
4. The economy of the region is highly integrated with the relatively poorer areas on the other side of the border with Mexico.
5. Population in the Southwest Border Area has exploded in recent decades.

San Francisco does not fall into this area but they do have something in common, both have a very diverse cultural background and it is also seen in the food. 

Chapter 13: The Empty Interior

Some key points:

1. The physical geography of the Empty Interior is dominated by arid plateaus and dramatic mountain ranges.
2. The federal government is a major landholder in the region and conflicts often arise over use of public lands.
3. The Empty Interior is the core area of the Mormon religion in the United States.
4. Although agriculture is present in the religion, irrigation is often a necessity, causing struggles for use of limited water resources.
5. Tourism, mining, ranching, and lumbering play an important role in the region's economy.

The Empty Interior is complete opposite of San Francisco. San Francisco is densely populated and has a much cooler and moister climate. Although San Francisco is close to the empty interior they are very different. San Francisco has a lot of major company headquarters in its area such as: google, yahoo, pixar, C & H sugar. There isn't much dry/arid land in San Francisco, it is also by the ocean so that would not be possible.

Chapter 12: The Great Plains and Prairies

Review of the Great Plains

1. Over the past 450 years, views of the Great Plains have shifted between a dry wasteland to a land of rich agricultural opportunity.
2. The region has some of the least variation in vegetation and topography of any region in North America.
3. Severe weather, including tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hail, is widespread across the Great Plains.
4. Agriculture dominates the Plains economy and is characterized by large-scale operations and a high reliance on heavy machinery.
5. The control and management of water is the most important natural resource issue in the region. 

The Great Plains covers southern Texas up to the Canadian Border, includes Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, both N. and S. Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba. The landscape is low, flat terrain like, but in San Francisco the landscape is mostly hilly, there are 50 hills within the city. Mount Davidson is the highest hill  at 925ft. 

The climate in San Francisco has little temperature change with a cool breeze coming from the ocean, it is nothing like the plains. 

San Franciscos water is monitored by the SFPUC, which is responsible for 63,000 acres of water shed land, serving 2.4 million people.