Tuesday, 16 December 2014

San Diego by Arthi Purvi Matrubutham 7B


Table of contents

1.     An Introduction

2.     The Past/history

3.     Physical Features of San Diego

4.     Climate of San Diego

5.     Cuisine of San Diego

6.     Tourist Spots of San Diego

7.     A Conclusion

8.     Glossary

9.     Bibliography
 

Introduction

 

San Diego is a county at the south west of California, United States America.  This place is on the bay of the Pacific Ocean.  It consists of different, beautiful and attractive cities.  It has a lot of tourist spots, which are filled with tourists every day.  San Diego has a beautiful climate which goes well with its features.  There is a huge variety of food here ranging from Mexican to Pacific Islander.  San Diego is a good place to have a holiday. 

            I think San Diego is a really good place to live and raise a family.  I feel the people here are really friendly and helpful.  So, let us take a look at the secrets and style of San Diego.

 
The Past/history

 

In the early days, San Diego was inhabited by the Kumeyaay people.   They were also known as the San Dieguito and La Jolla people.

 
Then in May, 1769, Gaspar de Portola established the Fort Presidio of San Diego on a hill near the San Diego River.  That was when the Europeans came to settle down in what is now known as the state of California. 

 
Later, in 1821, Mexico had won its independence from the Spanish and San Diego became a part of the Mexican State of Alta California.  The fort, which was built earlier by the Spanish was gradually abandoned, while the town of San Diego grew up on the level land below this hill.

 

In 1850, San Diego was designated the seat of the newly established San Diego County and was incorporated as a city.  Joshua H. Bean, the last alcalde* of San Diego, was elected the mayor.

 *- refer to glossary

Physical Features of San Diego

San Diego lies on approximately 200 deep canyons and hills separating its mesas*, creating small pockets of natural open space scattered throughout the city and giving it a hilly geography.  This feature makes this place seem interesting.  It is fun to live here.

 

Traditionally, San Diegans have built their homes on the mesas, leaving the urban canyon relatively wild.  The canyons give parts of the city a segmented feel, creating gaps between otherwise proximate neighborhoods and contributing to a low-density, car-centered environment.  The San Diego River runs through the middle of San Diego from east to west, creating a river valley which serves to divide the city into northern and southern segment.  The river used to flow into the San Diego Bay and its fresh water was the focus of the earliest Spanish explorers. 

 

Several reservoirs and Mission Trails Regional Park also lie between and separate developed areas of the city.  Notable peaks within the city limits include Cowles Mountain, the highest point in the city at 1,593 feet;  Black Mountain at 1,558 feet and Mount Soledad at 824 feet.  The Cuyamaca Mountains and Laguna Mountains rise to the east of the city and beyond the mountains are desert areas.  The Cleveland national Forest is a half-hour drive from downtown San Diego.  Numerous forms are found in the valleys northeast and southeast of the city.
 

*- refer to glossary

 Climate of San Diego
 

San Diego has one of the top ten best climates according to the Farmers Almanac and has one of the ten best summer climates in America.   This means it is easier to grow crops and take a vacation any time in the year!
 

San Diego’s climate is characterized by warm, dry summers and mild winters with most of the annual precipitation falling between December and March.  The city has a mild year-round weather with an average of 201 days above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and low rainfall.

 
Cuisine of San Diego

 

As San Diego is full of mixed cultures, it has a wide range of cuisines.  There are Mexican, Italian, French, Spanish, Fillipino, Vietnamese, Greek, Latin, German, Indian, Central and East Asian, Middle Eastern and Pacific Islander food throughout the city; which helps the residents discover new tastes.

 

There are several specialties which are:

·        Mexican – carne* asada*, street tacos, California Burritos, fish tacos, enchiladas, fries and ceviche*.

·        Wood-fired California style pizza.

·        Southeast Asian specialties of all kinds.

·        Seafood of all kinds.

·        Local wines – from San Pasqual Valley.

·        Locally produced hard and sweet apple cider and Julian apple pie.

·        Various fruits and vegetables – including avocadoes, tomatoes, mushrooms, olives, eggplant, oranges, lemons, limes, strawberries, grapefruit, grapes, apples, pomegranates, persimmons* and melons.


            *- refer to glossary

Tourist Spots of San Diego

 

Tourism is a major industry owing to the city’s climate.  Its beaches and numerous tourist attractions are Balboa Park, Belmont amusement park, San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, Sea World. 

 

San Diego’s Spanish and Mexican heritage is reflected in the many historic sites across the city, such as Mission San Diego de Alcala and Old Town San Diego include comic-con the Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament, San Diego Pride, the San Diego Black Film Festival, Street Scene Music Festival. 

 

Also, the local craft brewing industry attracts an increasing number of visitors for “beer tours” and the annual San Diego Beer week in November; San Diego has been called “America’s Craft Beer Capital”. 

Conclusion

I’d like to say that San Diego is a fun place to have a vacation.  It is indeed one of the most sought after vacation destinations in the world.   I am proud to have been born in such a wonderful, lively and pleasant place.  I visit San Diego often and its amusement parks.  The name brings a smile to my face.  With the alluring* ocean and its sublime* climate, this county is heaven.

 

*- refer to glossary

 

Glossary

Alcalde       - mayor in Spanish

 

Asada         - roast in Spanish

 

Carne           - meat in Spanish

 

Ceviche        - Seafood dish popular in the south

 

Mesas           - tables in Spanish

 

Persimmons - an edible fruit that resembles a large tomato and has very sweet           flesh

Alluring          - Beautiful

 
Sublime         - Wonderful

 

Bibliography

1.      for information


 



 

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