Los Angeles’ street pattern follows a strict grid plan. This is why people would often see uniform block lengths and some occasional roads that pass across those blocks. Rugged terrain made it necessary for ach valley in the city to follow different grids. Most major roads, such as the Sepulveda Boulevard, are extremely long. This is to make sure that large volumes of traffic is managed effectively.
The city is known for its low-rise buildings. Skyscrapers are rare and most units are built separate from each other. In fact, there are only two buildings that have more than 70 floors. Apartments are more common in the city, especially in the inner city and the neighborhoods in the Westside.
Topography
Los Angeles is a city in California with an area of 502.7 square miles, of which 468.7 square miles is land and 34.0 square miles is water. The city is a mix of flat valleys and hills. The highest point is Mount Lukens at 5,074 ft which is located in the city. However, around the city are mountains that are much higher. The highest point around the city is Mount San Antonio, or Mount Baldy to locals, at a height of 10,064 feet. Even further, the San Gorgonio Mountain stands at 11,503 feet. The primary drainage channel in the city is the Los Angeles River, which is quite seasonal. It begins from the Canoga Park district and flows to the Port of Long Beach.
Cityscape
Los Angeles has more than 80 districts and neighborhoods. Most these have merged together into the city. The city is divided into:
- Downtown Los Angeles
- East Los Angeles
- Northeast Los Angeles
- South Los Angeles
- Harbor Area
- Greater Hollywood
- Wilshire
- Westside
- San Fernando
- Crescenta Valleys
Landmarks
Being a famous tourist spot, Los Angeles has a lot of landmarks to be proud of aside from the infamous Hollywood Sign, such as:
- Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Capitol Records Building
- TCL Chinese Theatre
- Dolby Theatre
- Griffith Observatory
- Getty Center
- Los Angeles County Museum of Art
- Venice Canal Historic District and boardwalk
- U.S. Bank Tower
- Wilshire Grand Tower
- Hollywood Boulevard
- Los Angeles City Hall
- Hollywood Bowl
- Battleship USS Iowa
- Watts Towers
- Staples Center
- Dodger Stadium
Flora & Fauna
The city is dominated by native plant species due to the diversity of available habitats. It has beaches, mountains, and wetlands. The most common communities are the coastal sage scrub, riparian woodland, and chaparral shrubland. Distinct native plants are California poppy, Chamise, Sycamore, Willow, and more. A majority of the native plants in this city have become rare and endangered. Their official tree is the Coral tree and the official flower is the Bird of Paradise.
Geology
Los Angeles is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, thus, making it prone to earthquakes. The instability caused the appearance of several faults, causing around 10,000 earthquakes every year, but most are gentle movements. The “big one” is a large and damaging event that could happen at the San Andreas fault system. The basin and metropolitan area in LA is also prone to blind thrust earthquakes.
Climate
The climate in Los Angeles is classified as Mediterranean, having dry summers and moist, but mild, winters. Most days in the year are filled with sunshine, making it an ideal vacation spot for most celebrities and regular tourists.
