California has four main geographic regions - the mountain region, desert region, coastal region, and valley region. Each region has distinct landforms, climate, and vegetation. For example, the desert region is hot and dry with low flat lands and cacti, while the mountain region contains many lakes and forests and supplies much of California's water. People have utilized California's natural resources and altered the environment through activities like building dams, canals, and ports. There is now a focus on protecting the environment and its resources for the future.

1. California Regions
Social Studies Unit 1

2. California
Land and Water in your area
California has four major regions.
Region is a large land area that has similar features.
Region is often named after the most common
landform found within it.
We learn more about the regions of
California when we study geography.
Geography is the surface features of a place.

3. Four Regions of California

4. Can you name the regions in California?

5. Can you name the regions in California?
Mountain

6. Can you name the regions in California?
Mountain
Desert

7. Can you name the regions in California?
Mountain
Desert
C
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8. Can you name the regions in California?
Mountain
Desert
C
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V
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9. Desert Region
•Southeaster part of California
•Mojave Desert
•Summer = Hot & Dry
•Winter = Cold
•Flat and low
•Little water
•Some trees, bushes, &
Cactuses

10. Valley Region
•Valley is a long area of low land between hills or mountains
•Valley region is flat
•Sacramento Valley (North)
•San Joaquin Valley (Central)
•Rich nutrient soil and abundance of water makes this area
perfect for growing vegetables and fruits
•2 rivers - Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers

11. Coast Region
•Lies along the Pacific Ocean
•More than 800 miles long
•Divided into THREE sections:
•Northern Coast - mountains & cliffs
•Central Coast - good soil, mountains, sand dunes, wetlands
•Southern Coast - hills, mountains, and beaches
•Northern Coast •Central Coast •Southern Coast
•

13. Mountain Region
•Northern and eastern parts of
California
•Many Lakes
•Much of our water comes from
this region
•Large forests
•State Parks
•Yosemite

14. How Have People Used the Land?
Resources
We use the soil, water and forests in
California as resources to meet
people’s needs
Soil to grow food
T
ree for lumber to build houses
Water for drinking and growing crops

15. Changing the Land
Changing the environment
Dam - can be built to prevent flood and to
generate power for electricity
Canal - narrow waterway that has been dug
across land
Panama Canal - built in 1914 to make
travel between US west coast and east
coast easier and faster

16. Changing the Land
Changing the environment (continue)
Port - area in the water that is used to store
ships as they bring in cargos
Los Angeles Port - Grew larger as a
result of the Panama Canal being
constructed

17. Healthy Environment
People can get sick from pollution
Pollution makes the environment dirty
Many people think it is important to protect
the environment
People can help protect the environment by
following rules
John Muir worked to protect California’s
resources more than 100 years ago
His work later helped to create parks such
as the Redwood National Park

18. Vocabulary
Region – a large land area that has similar features
Geography – the surface features of a place
Resource – anything that meets people’s needs
Environment – the land, water, and air in which people,
animals, and plants live
Flood – a sudden flow of water that covers what is normally
dry
Canal – a narrow waterway that has been dug across land
Protect – keep someone or something safe