California
With 39.2 million inhabitants, California is the most populous U.S. state. It is located on the Pacific coast and covers 163,696 square miles (423,970 km²). The capital is Sacramento, while Los Angeles is the largest city and the second most populous city in the United States. Even in pre-Columbian times, the region was the most densely populated north of present-day Mexico and was home to over 70 different ethnic groups. It was first discovered by the Spanish in 1542 and became part of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. After Mexican independence, the territory was ceded to the U.S. as a result of the Mexican-American War and was admitted to the Union as the 31st state in 1850. Originally attributed to the Greek mathematician Archimedes, the state motto "Eureka" ("I found it") is an enthusiastic exclamation referring to the discovery of gold in 1848. The state’s nickname "The Golden State" also originates from this event and the subsequent Gold Rush.
The Golden Gate Bridge crosses the strait between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It is 8,980 feet (2,737.1 m) long and both the landmark of the Bay Area and one of the most famous symbols of the United States.
California's nature is one of the most diverse in the United States. It encompasses mountain ranges such as the Sierra Nevada and vast deserts, including the famous Death Valley. Yosemite National Park is located in the Sierra Nevada east of San Francisco. It is one of the oldest national parks in the world and has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984.
Facts
- Capital city: Sacramento
- Largest city: Los Angeles
- Area: 163,696 square miles (423,970 km²)
- Population: 39.2 million
- Date of statehood: 9th September 1850
- Rank of the admission: 31st
California Folding Card
With the stories about his adventures in nature, the author John Muir inspired a large audience. Decisively instrumental in the development of the national park idea, he is also called "Father of the National Parks". Muir is considered one of the most important natural philosophers and was also involved in the founding of Yosemite National Park. This note from the 50 U.S. States Program honors his achievements with a depiction of him and a landscape in Yosemite National Park. It also features the Golden Gate Bridge, the Great Seal of California, an outline of the extinct California grizzly bear, the state motto "EUREKA" (Greek for "I found it"), and the year of admission to the Union.
100 Souvenir Dollars
Obverse: John Muir (1838–1914), naturalist and author, landscape in Yosemite National Park, Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, seal of California, silouette of the California grizzly bear
Reverse: United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., seals of the commemorative series
| Dimensions: 7.07 x 3.00 inches (179.50 x 76.20 mm) Material: Paper |
