California [CA] - USA

California, located on the west coast of the United States, is the most populous state in the country with over 39 million inhabitants. California borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and Mexico to the south, and has a long coastline to the Pacific Ocean to the west. The capital is Sacramento, other large and well-known cities include Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego and San Jose. California has an extremely diverse geography, which makes it unique in the United States. The state has high mountains (including the Sierra Nevada and Mount Whitney – the highest mountain in the continental United States), vast deserts (such as the Mojave Desert), fertile agricultural valleys (the Central Valley), and world-famous coastal landscapes (such as Big Sur). The climate varies from Mediterranean climate along the coast, to alpine cold in the mountains and desert heat in the inland areas. California is also home to many world-leading universities and research institutions, such as Stanford University, UC Berkeley and Caltech. California's economy is the largest of all US states and ranks as one of the largest in the world.

California is a leader in several industries;

• Entertainment – Home to Hollywood and the world's largest film and television industry.

• Technology – Silicon Valley in Northern California is the world's center for IT and innovation, with companies such as Apple, Google and Meta.

• Agriculture – California is the largest agricultural producer in the United States, supplying large quantities of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and wine.

• Tourism – Many people visit California's beaches, national parks (such as Yosemite and Redwood), and major cities every year.

• Wine production – There are over 4,000 wineries and California accounts for approximately 80–85% of all wine production in the United States.