California Photo Gallery

Death Valley offers visitors the experience of 'singing' sand dunes. As dry sand cascades down certain dunes, the sand particles rub against each other to create a unique bass tone.

Credit: Comstock, Inc.

Hills of golden poppies prompted early sailors to dub California La Tierra del Fuego, or 'Land of Fire.' In 1903 California chose the golden poppy as its official state flower.

Credit: Photodisc

Yosemite National Park's 8,842-foot-high Half Dome is a mysterious natural wonder. Some believe the exposed face of its other 'half' is stained with the profile of an Ahwahnee Indian.

Credit: Photodisc

Heaven for tree huggers is extraterrestrial for Star Wars fans. Several scenes from Return of the Jedi were filmed in Redwood National Park. George Lucas selected the site for its unusual flora.

Credit: WestStock

The joshua tree's twisting form spooked early desert emigrants, but Mormon pioneers saw the spirit in the wild flora. The Bible's Book of Joshua inspired the tree's name: 'Thou shalt follow the way pointed for thee by the trees.'

Credit: PhotoDisc

In 1937, more than 200,000 people were the first to walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. At that time, the bridge was the longest and tallest suspension structure in the world.

Credit: Photodisc

Like many of Los Angeles' celebrity residents, palm trees are not native to the 'city of angels.' Most of the trees were planted during the 1920s and 1930s to enhance the glamour of Tinseltown.

Credit: Photodisc