GEOGRAPH ER

By: Gabriel, Robert, and Freddy

John Steinback

John Steinback was born on February 27, 1902 in Salinas, California He dropped out of college at a young age of 23 Most of his books were mostly associated with social and economic issues His father was the treasurer of Monterey County He began to appreciate the Salinas Valleys true beauty at an early age He began writing at age 14 He wrote his first novel, Cup Of Gold, in 1929 He wrote a series of short stories in 1936-1938 including Of Mice And Men He wrote his most acclaimed novel in 1939, The Grapes Of Wrath He also served as a war corespondant in WWII Most of his books were centered around Californias Salinas Valley He received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962 He later died of heart disease on December 20, 1968

Salinas Valley, California

The Salinas Valley is located next to the Santa Clara valley in California

It is a fluvial valley which means that it deposits different materials and minerals along the soil

It was named Salinas Valley because of its salty ponds and marshes. The name comes from the Spanish word, Salina, which means salty marsh in Spanish.

Salinas Valley is in between the Galilan Range and the Santa Lucia Range. They border the east and west side of Salinas Valley, respectively.

Steinbacks love for the Salinas Valley

John Steinback was in love with the Salinas Valley

He was born there and soon started to appreciate its beauty

The Galiban Mountain Range and Fremont Peak may have contributed to his opinion

He has reflected the Salinas Valley throughout his numerous novels and novelas

Of Mice And Men shows his love for the Salinas Valley by mentioning the Galiban Range

Salinas, California

Salinas was the birthplace of John Steinback Its population is about 150,441 people

It is a mostly suburban town located 10 miles southeast of the Salinas River

Its climate is ideal for floral industries as well as grape vineyards

Most of the town is made up of small houses and buildings

The towns total area is about 23.2 square miles

The Gabilan and Santa Lucia mointain ranges border the town to the east and west, respectively with Fremont Peak to the east

Monterey, California

Monterey has a total area of 11.7 square miles 8.5 square miles of it is land The remaining 3.3 square miles are water

The city has a moderate seismic risk due to the active San Andreas fault to the east

There are many other faults in the area including the Monterey Bay faultline There are also numerous animal reserves and conservation areas

The California sea otter, a threatened species, inhabits the local Monterey Bay

Monterey is also the home to many other endangered species as well

Some of them include the California Clapper Rail, the California Brown Pelican, and the Yuma Clapper Rail

The Gabilan Mountain Range

The Gabilan Mountain Range is bordered by the San Andreas fault, The Santa Lucia range, and The Salinas Valley The range is home to Fremont Peak and contains peaks over 3,000 ft Its highest peak is 3,455 It is called the Gabilan range because in spanish, gavilan means sparrow hawk. The sparrow hawk is very common is the range

Fremont Peak
Fremont Peak is one of the mountains in the Gabilan Mountain Range Its elevation is 3,173 above sea level It is located northeast of the town Salinas It provides clear views of the Salinas Valley, Monterey Bay, and The Santa Clara Valley The peak is the site of Fremont Peak State Park Fremont Peak was established in 1936 The peak also provides a site the Fremont Peak Observatory It was previously called Gavilan Peak but was changed to Fremont Peak after an American explorer

Pictures

This picture is John Steinback, taken in 1931

This picture is Fremont Peak in California