Where is California Located on the Map of the United States?

California is a large state located on the West Coast of the United States. It stretches for over 1,000 miles from north to south and has an extensive coastline along the Pacific Ocean. California shares borders with Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and Mexico’s Baja California peninsula to the south.

The Geographic Location of California

Geographically, California falls entirely within the western region of the contiguous United States. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west, Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and Mexico’s Baja California peninsula to the south.

The state has an incredibly diverse geography, including beautiful coastlines, rugged mountains, vast deserts, and fertile valleys. Some of the notable geographic features in California include:

• The Sierra Nevada Mountains: This mountain range runs north-south along the eastern side of the state. It contains Mount Whitney, the highest peak in the contiguous US at 14,505 feet.
• The Central Valley: This expansive agricultural region runs for about 450 miles through the center of the state. It is one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world.
• The Mojave Desert: This arid desert landscape covers a significant portion of southeastern California. Death Valley, one of the hottest places on Earth, is located here.
• The Coast Ranges: These mountains run parallel to the Pacific Coast in western California. They end in the Santa Ynez Mountains near Santa Barbara.
• The San Francisco Bay Area: This iconic bay is surrounded by the metropolitan region of San Francisco and other cities like Oakland and San Jose.

Locating California on a Map of the United States

California occupies the southwestern portion of the continental United States. Here are some key details about the location of California on a map:

• It is the third largest U.S. state by total area, after Alaska and Texas. California covers approximately 163,696 square miles.
• It has the longest coastline of any state, stretching for about 840 miles.
• California extends roughly 1,300 kilometers from its southernmost point to the Oregon border in the north.
• It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the northeast, Arizona to the east and southeast, and the Mexican state of Baja California to the south.
• If you divide the continental US into four quadrants, California falls within the southwest quadrant.
• California lies between the latitudes of 32°32′N and 42°N. Longitude-wise, it stretches from 114°8′W to 124°26′W.
• The state capital, Sacramento, is located roughly in the center of California at 38°34′44′′N 121°29′26′′W.
• Other major Californian cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco lie along the state’s southern and central coastlines along the Pacific.

Pinpointing California’s Location using a US Map

On any standard map of the United States, California can be readily identified as the state occupying the peninsular landmass on the Pacific coastline.

When looking at a physical map, California is a large state situated entirely west of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It is the state located between the Pacific Ocean to the west and the states of Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona to the north, east, and southeast respectively.

If you examine a political map, you’ll notice California shares a southern border with Mexico. The California-Mexico border is defined by the San Diego-Tijuana crossing in the southwestern corner of the state.

Using an outline map of the US, you can highlight the entire southwest region from the Pacific Ocean to the Rocky Mountains to quickly locate California. It runs alongside the coastline and extends east to cover the Sierra Nevada range.

Overall, California occupies a distinct geographic position along the west coast of the US. Its vast size and extensive coastline make California easy to identify on any map of the United States.

Fun Facts About California’s Location

• At nearly 164,000 square miles, California is larger than England, Switzerland, and the Netherlands combined.
• California became the 31st state to join the union in 1850, after Texas and before Oregon.
• California’s Mount Whitney measures 14,505 feet tall, making it the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States.
• The lowest point in North America, Death Valley, is located in California at 282 feet below sea level.
• California has eight national parks including Yosemite, Joshua Tree, and Redwood National Parks.
• The world’s oldest, tallest, and largest trees – Bristlecone Pines, Coast Redwoods, and Giant Sequoias – are all found in California.
• With 39.5 million residents, California is the most populous state in the US. If it were a country, it would have the world’s fifth-largest economy.

Locating Major Californian Cities on a Map

California contains several major metropolitan areas. Here are the locations of some key Californian cities:

• Los Angeles: Southern California, near the Pacific coast. It’s located at 34°03′N 118°15′W.
• San Diego: Southern California, on the Pacific coast near the border with Mexico. It’s situated at 32°42′N 117°09′W.
• San Jose: Northern California’s Silicon Valley region, at 37°20′N 121°53′W.
• San Francisco: Northern California coast at 37°46′N 122°25′W. Located on the San Francisco Bay.
• Sacramento: Northern California, inland about 100 miles northeast of San Francisco. Located at 38°34′44′′N 121°29′26′′W.
• Fresno: Central California, in the San Joaquin Valley. Situated at 36°44′56′′N 119°46′44′′W.
• Oakland: Northern California, on the eastern side of the San Francisco Bay. At 37°48′N 122°16′W.
• Bakersfield: Central California, inland between Los Angeles and Sacramento. Located at 35°22′N 119°01′W.

Conclusion

In summary, California occupies a sizable portion of the southwestern United States on the Pacific coast. It stretches over 1,000 miles from north to south, covering a wide range of geographic features. When looking at any map of the US, California can be readily identified as the large state occupying the entire southwest region west of the Sierra Nevada mountains. It shares borders with Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Mexico. Within California, major cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are located along the state’s southern and central coastlines bordering the Pacific Ocean.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is California located in the United States?

California is situated entirely within the western region of the continental United States, bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada, and Arizona to the east, and Mexico’s Baja peninsula to the south. It occupies a long stretch of the Pacific coastline.

What states border California?

California shares land borders with three U.S. states – Oregon to the north, Nevada to the northeast, and Arizona to the southeast. It also borders Mexico’s Baja California along its southernmost point.

Is California considered part of the West Coast?

Yes, California is definitively part of the West Coast region, along with Oregon, Washington, and the Southwest states. It has an extensive coastline running along the Pacific Ocean.

How big is California compared to other states?

California is the third largest U.S. state by total area after Alaska and Texas. It covers around 164,000 square miles.

Does California border the Pacific Ocean?

Yes, the entire western side of California consists of a coastline bordering the Pacific Ocean. At around 840 miles long, it has the longest ocean coastline of any U.S. state.