California

geography · USA · mega-state

39 million people. More people live in California than in any other U.S. state. That's roughly one out of every eight Americans!

Three borders. California touches Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and Mexico's Baja California to the south, making it a gateway between countries.

Pacific powerhouse. The entire western edge of California is coastline along the Pacific Ocean, giving it some of the most famous beaches and ports in America.

Huge but third-place. California covers 163,696 square miles, which makes it the third-largest state by area, but it has way more people than states that are bigger.