Chapter 18 - Hawaii

Chapter 18 focuses on the string of islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Hawaiian Islands are the visible portions of volcanoes that are up to 3 miles high! Many active volcanoes exist on the islands and present some dangers to nearby cities. The South Coast isn't associated with volcanoes, however, the Rincon volcano in Hope Ranch, which first appeared in a report by Jose Maria Garcia in 1835, sits on the border of the Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. Luckily, it isn't active nor a threat.

Hawaii and Santa Barbara have an economy driven by tourism. Hawaii represents an exotic paradise far away from home; as with Santa Barbara, however, not as exotic, is still quite beautiful. Surfing is a popular activity in Hawaii. Likewise, Santa Barbara county has many popular surf locations. Waves are largest around Ventura and Point Conception rather than near the city of Santa Barbara itself. Here is a list of many great surf spots around Santa Barbara county. Rincon Point, 15 minutes south of Santa Barbara, is popular word wide known surfing spot.

Unfortunately, I've only attempted surfing once at Carpinteria. I even visited Hawaii and didn't get a chance to try surfing. Disappointed!! Here is where I bombard you with some pictures of my trip to Hawaii.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - Kilauea Volcano!

At the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens.

Zip lining through a beautiful Hawaiian rainforest.

[Sources]

http://www.independent.com/news/2011/aug/16/sb-volcano/

http://www.santabarbara.com/activities/surfing/

Chapter 16 - The North Pacific Coast

The coastal zone stretching from northern California to southern Alaska is known as the North Pacific Coast. The physical geography is very wet and rugged. High precipitation patterns and heavy moisture makes for lush vegetation around the coast. Rainforests are plenty in the Olympic Peninsula where ferns, mosses, red cedars, Sitka spruces, and the worlds largest Douglas fir grows.

As stated previously, Santa Barbara, which is located in the Southwest Border Area in California, has a Mediterranean climate; onshore breezes make for a moderate climate with warmer winters and cooler summers. Santa Barbara does received precipitation in the winters. It has a higher rate of precipitation than most cities in the area but the summers are unaffected by rain.

Going back to trees, while Oregon has the biggest Douglas Fir tree in the country, Santa Barbara has the biggest Moreton Bay Fig Tree.

The North Pacific Coast's economy once relied heavily on fishing and forestry. The cold waters made for excellent fertile fishing grounds and British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, and California were easily the largest lumber producers.

Santa Barbara's economy is deeply rooted in the hospitality industry with science and technology being the basis of private employment. 


[Sources]

http://www.ancientforestalliance.org/news-item.php?ID=20

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara,_California#Climate

http://www.clrsearch.com/Santa_Barbara_Demographics/CA/93111/Weather-Forecast-Temperature-Precipitation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moreton_Bay_Fig_Tree_%28Santa_Barbara,_California%29

Chapter 14 - The Southwest Border Area: Tricultural Development

 

The Southwest Border Area stretches from the Texas Gulf Coast to California's Pacific Coast past Central California. This region is rich in culture distinguished by Spanish American, American Indian, and Northwest European American people. Before American's took claim of this area in the 1830's, Spaniards occupied the Border Area, and before that even, American Indians arrived here more than thousands of years before.

The Chumash Indians started the history of Santa Barbara with approximately 8,000 - 10,000 Chumash living there. The Portuguese explorer Joao Cabrilho sailed through the channel in 1542 and in 1602, Sebastian Vizcaino gave the city its name. The Spaniards who did settle in Santa Barbara were missionaries and soldiers who came to build the Presidio and Santa Barbara Mission in 1872. 

Currently, only 1% of the population is American Indian and Hispanic/Latinos make up 38% of Santa Barbara. The biggest demographic in Santa Barbara is the Anglo population.

 

 

The Southwest Border Area brings upon socioeconomic disparities, especially for the Hispanic and American Indian population. Along with African Americans, Hispanic and American Indians have the highest poverty rate in Santa Barbara, let alone California. Many American Indians are placed on reservations and the Santa Ynez Indian Reservation holds the only federally-recognized Chumash Indians in the country. 249 people reside on the reservation while other take homes just outside. The Santa Ynez Chumash population directly contributes to tourism by the development of the Chumash Casino Resort which brings in about 6,000 people a day.

*An interesting webpage about the Chumash Indians and their lives in Santa Barbara can be found here.

[Sources]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara,_California

http://pics.city-data.com/craces2/2475.jpg

http://www.city-data.com/poverty/poverty-Santa-Barbara-California.html

http://www.santaynezchumash.org/reservation.html

Chapter 15 - California

In the text, California is described as "a central element in the American cultural fabric." California is looked at as the ideal lifestyle driven mostly by its image of its physical geography and laid-back, innovative manners.
 
Santa Barbara, which is located in Santa Barbara (which you already know this!) is definitely an ideal place to live/visit. It isn't called the American Riviera for nothing: it is one of the most beautiful cities in America. It offers picturesque beaches, Spanish-Mediterranean style architecture, has an incredibly wonderful and desirable climate, and has a sort of majestic beauty.

 

 

GORGEOUS!!

 Unfortunately, California, and Santa Barbara obviously, lies along the most famous fault line, the San Andreas, making California susceptible to frequent earthquakes. As far as natural disasters are concerned, earthquakes are pretty much California's only downfall. Many believe that the 1906 San Francisco earthquake was among the biggest to hit California, however, the 1857 Ft. Tejon earthquake that hit Southern and Central California uprooted trees in the San Bernardino Mountains and caused the Kern River to flow backwards! It is approximated to have been about a 7.9 on the scale However, luckily for Santa Barbara, not much damaged occurred because of its proximity from the epicenter.

However, Santa Barbara has been home to many earthquakes that have started in that area; the 1812 and 1925 Santa Barbara earthquakes, the 1927 Lompoc earthquake, the 1902 Los Alamos earthquake, and the 1978 Goleta earthquake.



[Sources]

http://www.preservationnation.org/assets/photos-images/travel-sites/travel/dozen-distinctive-destinations/American-Riviera_mr.jpg

http://projects.crustal.ucsb.edu/sb_eqs/

Chapter 13 - The Empty Interior

Chapter 13 deals with the Empty Interior: the United States' largest area of sparse population. Mountains and plateaus make up this large area. The climate is dry and arid and wildlife is diversified and populous.

Santa Barbara, on the other hand, is a Mediterranean climate, as stated previously. The city is right on the ocean so onshore breezes contribute to the city's moderate temperatures. Santa Barbara receives a winter rainfall, unlike the Empty Interior's aridity.

Mormon presence is abundant in the Empty Interior. About 1 in 7 people are Mormon. In Santa Barbara, a 2000 study found that 1.4% of Santa Barbara County's population was Mormon. The second popular religion following Catholicism.


Chapter 12 touches on the wildlife of the Empty Interior. Buffalo, elk, antelope, deer, and wild turkeys are abundant. Since Santa Barbara is right on the ocean, many Brown Pelicans, Terns, and Swallows hang out.

 

*Just a funny fact: while Google-ing information regarding Santa Barbara and the Empty Interior, I came across some older student websites for this class! Made me chuckle.

[Sources]

http://crcc.usc.edu/research/demographics/santabarbara.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Barbara,_California#Climate

http://www.calliebowdish.com/Birds.htm