California protects some of the most diverse and dramatic natural landscapes on Earth.
* **National Parks:** The state is home to nine national parks, including Yosemite (famous for its granite cliffs and waterfalls), Death Valley (the lowest, hottest, and driest place in North America), Joshua Tree (otherworldly desert landscapes), Sequoia & Kings Canyon (home to the giant sequoia trees), and Redwood National and State Parks. * **State Parks:** The California State Parks system manages hundreds of protected coastal beaches, desert expanses, and old-growth forests, including Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. * **Wildlife:** The state hosts incredibly diverse wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, migrating gray whales, elephant seals, and the recovering, endangered California condor.
