Chapter 2 - Environmental Setting

Los Angeles sits at apx 34 degrees North and 118 degrees West. We are currently in midst of the worst drought of our history. We are prone to earthquakes as the plates along the Pacific ring shift and we get very little rain fall. Our soils tend to be very sandy. Though there are some areas like the center of the San Fernando Valley that are a bit richer. The rest of CA is really better suited for agriculture. Though in our current state this is questionable. Oh yes.. and since it hasn't really rained here in year or so... we are also prone to Fires.

Wildfires which need water to be fought. Wildfires which burn up what little grass we have holding our hillsides together. So when we finally do get that rain, what happens??? Oh right,... Landslides, our lovely hills and houses and anything sitting on them just wash right down the hill.

Nitty Gritty Physiological Details about LA.
Weather - Hot Dry Summers, Cool winter (also pretty dry)
Climate - Mediterranean with some areas of Mid-latitude Step
Bio-geography - Mediterranean Shrub-land
Soil - Mostly Sandy/ Clay some areas of the San Fernando Valley have a richer soil ideal for citrus or grapes.

Chapter 1 - Intro

Photo courtesy of  Friends of the Los Angeles River

Los Angeles has a long and rich history. Before the Mexican & Spanish settlers came into the basin there were great communities of Indians living in the area and there had been for hundreds of years.

This map from a UCLA professor shows where the different tribes were settled before the settlers arrived. California Indian Pre-contact Tribal Territories

In 1769  the Mexican & Spanish settlers came into the basin they established a permanent settlement bringing with them the catholic missions. In 1846 the US invaded Mexico from the east reaching San Diego by the end of the year. As they say, "the rest is history".

Los Angeles and most of California is part of the Pacific Coast Region, Los Angeles is in a Mediterranean climate. With hot dry summers and just slightly less hot and less dry winters.

Los Angeles has become one of the most divers melting pots for culture in the nation.

The missions, the changing path of the LA river, and entertainment industry and many other aspects are reflected in the changes that Los Angeles has seen over the years.

Photo by: Bill Gabel