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/