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