Geography

California State Symbols

State flower: Poppy
State tree: California Redwood
State bird: California Quail
State animal: California Grizzly Bear
State fish: Golden Trout
State insect: California Dogface Butterfly
State colors: Blue and Gold
Nickname: The Golden State
Motto: “Eureka” (I have found it)
Song: “I Love You, California”

The highest and lowest points in the continental United States are within 100 miles (160 km) of one another in California. Mount Whitney measures 14,495 feed (4,418 m) above sea level and Bad Water in Death Valley is 282 feet (86 m) below sea level.

San Francisco Bay is considered the world’s largest landlocked harbor.

California is bigger than eighty-five of the smallest nations in the world.

Mount Shasta, at 14,162 feet (4248 m), is the tallest volcano in California, and the second tallest in America.

California holds within it the most diverse environment on the planet.

In the midst of summer, Point Reyes is the coolest place in the continental United States



Death Valley is known as the hottest, driest place in the United States where temperatures consistently reach over 120 F (49 C) during summer months.

In 1925, a giant sequoia located in California's kings Canyon National Park was named the nation’s national Christmas tree. The tree is over 300 feet (91 m) in height.

Inyo National Forest is home to the bristle cone pine, the oldest living tree species.

The Redwood is the official state tree of California. Many of the giant Redwoods in Sequoia National Park are more than 2,000 years old. The California Redwood is a prehistoric tree. All trees are descended from the great ice sheets that covered much of North America during previous ice ages.

California holds two of the top ten most populous cities: Los Angeles and San Diego.

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California travels through 16 of our state's 58 counties. Sixteen cities will serve as host venues for either a start or a finish of a stage of the race.

The host communities are Sacramento, Davis (new in 2009), Santa Rosa, Sausalito, Santa Cruz (new in 2009), San Jose, Modesto, Merced (new in 2009), Clovis (new in 2009), Visalia (new in 2009), Paso Robles (new in 2009), Solvang, Saanta Clarita, Pasadena, Rancho Bernardo (new in 2009), and Escondido (new in 2009).

The 2009 route covers more than 800 miles and goes along the Pacific Oean and through many of California's National Forests. The Amgen Tour of California is coming to town. It is staring in Sacramento and finishing in San Diego County.

2008 Amgen Tour of California Stage Winners

Prologue

Winner Name: Fabian Cancellara
Date of Birth: March 18, 1981
Country: Switzerland
Current Team: CSC
Rider Type: All-rounder

Switzerland, is a landlocked country of roughly 7.5 million people in Western Europe. Switzerland is bordered by Germany, France, Italy, Austria, and Liechenstein.
Capital: Berne
Official Languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh

Stage 1

Winner Name: Juan Jose Haedo
Date of Birth: January 26, 1981
Country: Argentina
Current Team: CSC
Rider Type: Sprinter

Argentina is a South American country. It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the north, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast and Chile in the west and south.
Capital: Vuenos Aires
Official Language: Spanish

Stage 2

Winner Name: Tom Boonen
Date of Birth: October 15, 1980
Country: Belgium
Current Team: Quickstep-Innergetic
Rider Type: Sprinter

The Kingdom of Belgium is a country in northeast Europe. Belgium straddles the cultural coundary between German and Latin America.
Capital: Brussels
Official Languages: Dutch, French, German

Stage 3

Winner Name: Robert Gesink
Date of Birth: May 31, 1986
Country: Netherlands
Current Team: Rabobank
Rider Type: Climbing Specialist

The Netherlands is often called Holland. The Netherlands is known for its traditional windmills, tulips, cheese, wooden shoes, pottery, and bicycles.
Capital: Amsterdam
Official Language: Dutch

Stage 4

Date of Birth: October 29, 1982
Country: Canada
Current Team: Toyota United
Rider Type: All-rounder

Canada occupies most of north North America, extending from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west and northward into the Arctic Ocean.
Capital: Ottawa
Official Languages: English, French.

Stage 5

Winner Name: Levi Leipheimer
Date of Birth: October 23, 1973
Country: United States
Current Team: Astana
Rider Type: All-rounder

The United States of America is comprised of 50 states. It lies between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
Capital: Washington DC
Official Language: English

Stage 6

Winner Name: Luciano Pagliarini
Date of Birth: April 18, 1978
Country: Brazil
Current Team: Saunier Duval - Scott
Rider Type: Rider

Brazil is a country in South America. Bounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Brazil borders every nation on the South American continent except for Ecuador and Chile.
Captial: Brasilia
Official Language: Portuguese

Stage 7

Winner Name: George Hincapie
Date of Birth: June 29, 1973
Country: USA
Current Team: Team High Road
Rider Type: Classics Specialist

The United States of America is comprised of 50 states. It lies between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
Capital: Washington DC
Official Language: English

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