California

Having spent much of my life in Southern California, and decent amount of time in Colorado, I must insist that these two places are very different. Northern California, however, strongly reminds me of Colorado at times.

Northern California:

Colorado:

They may be forests made up of different trees, but the feel of the forest surrounding you and the beauty of all the nature is incredible!

The gorgeous redwood trees and the climate in Northern California are similar to that of Colorado. Colorado is so green, vibrant and filled with nature. Southern California is largely urban, with so much traffic and a large population.

Southern California seems to have dominated and suppressed the nature in the area, while Boulder has built itself into it at the base of the Flat Irons.

Colorado is not subject to the dangerous earthquakes California experiences, but they both undergo disastrous forest fires from time to time.

The textbook uses the example of the Santa Clarita forest fire in October of 2007 that burned over 38,000 acres.

Boulder experienced the worst forest fire in Colorado's history last year, in the fall of 2010. Over 169 homes were lost to the fire.

Sources:

Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_2007_California_wildfires

http://ecopolitology.org/2010/09/09/fourmile-canyon-fire-a-sign-of-things-to-come-in-pine-beetle-ravaged-colorado-maybe-not/