Ch. 5 The Atlantic Periphery

California's Central Valley differs greatly from the Atlantic Periphery. While the valley's Mediterranean climate and San Joaquin soil provides abundant agriculture, the Atlantic Periphery's cool climate and rocky soils provide unsuitable land for large-scale commercial agriculture.

The Atlantic Periphery is comprised of large forests and abundant quantities of offshore fish and other marine animals. The valley is home to vast plains and grasslands, with gentle rolling hills while being surrounded by mountains. "The Central Valley was once home to large populations of pronghorn antelope, elk including the endemic Tule Elk subspecies, mule deer, California ground squirrels, gophers, mice, hare, rabbits and kangaroo rats, along with their predators including the San Joaquin Kit Fox which is now an endangered subspecies surviving on the hillsides of the San Joaquin Valley(Wikipedia)." 

"Although, there are some areas that produce specialty crops. For instance, Maine produces the majority of North America's blueberries. Cranberries are produced in Maine and Massachusetts. Maple and dairy products are exported from Vermont. In northern Maine and adjacent New Brunswick is an important potato producing region. In Canada, the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia is a well-known apple producing region (The Geography of North America, 97)." 

Without access to salt water, the valley is situated inland without swift access to oceans or ports. On the latter, the Atlantic Periphery has all of the advantages that come with living on a coast. With this easy access to trade, there was early settlement.