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California is a state located in the western United States, bordering the Pacific Ocean. The most populous and third largest state in the U.S., California is both physically and demographically diverse. The state's official nickname is "The Golden State," which may refer either to the discovery of gold in California in 1848 and the subsequent gold rush, or to the golden brown color of much of the state during the summer. California's U.S. postal abbreviation is CA, and its Associated Press abbreviation is Calif.
Southern California is highly populated, while the larger northern California is less densely populated. The vast majority of the population lives within 50 miles (80 km) of the Pacific Ocean.
The name comes from ''Las sergas de Espladin'' (Adventures of Spladian), a 16th century novel, by Garci Rodrguez de Montalvo, where there is an island paradise called California. Some suggest that word may signify a place "hot as an oven" (cali > hot, fornia > oven). The entire region originally known as California was composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California and the land in the current states of California and Nevada, known as California Del Norte. In these early times, the boundaries of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coast were only partially explored and California was shown on early maps as an island.
Southern California is highly populated, while the larger northern California is less densely populated. The vast majority of the population lives within 50 miles (80 km) of the Pacific Ocean.
The name comes from ''Las sergas de Espladin'' (Adventures of Spladian), a 16th century novel, by Garci Rodrguez de Montalvo, where there is an island paradise called California. Some suggest that word may signify a place "hot as an oven" (cali > hot, fornia > oven). The entire region originally known as California was composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California and the land in the current states of California and Nevada, known as California Del Norte. In these early times, the boundaries of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coast were only partially explored and California was shown on early maps as an island.
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