Key Facts: 

Area: 411,429 sq km (158,854 sq miles)
Population: 39.4 Million
Capital: Sacramento

Known as the Golden State, it is hard to shake off the popular images of California that include volleyball on Venice Beach, the high-tech world of Silicon Valley, Disneyland, and the glamour of Hollywood film-star life. California is by far the most densely populated of all US states, with the majority of Californians living in such cities as Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Fresno and Sacramento.

That aside, California is a land of real contrasts. It encompasses everything from the mountains of the Sierra Nevada to the Mojave Desert. Along its western edge is the long and rather spectacular Pacific coastline, known as Big Sur. In the north are the vineyards of the Napa Valley, while in the south, giant sequoias and redwood trees dominate the natural landscape. At the lowest point of California is the aptly named Death Valley.

Throughout its history, California has experienced regular earthquakes because of its location on the San Andreas Fault. In fact, close to 40,000 tremors are recorded every year.