The New Student's Reference Work/California, Lower

Califor′nia, Lower or Old, is a peninsula and territory of Mexico, and is separated from the remainder of Mexico by the Gulf of California. Its area is 58,328 square miles, a little more than a third of the state of California. Its capital is La Paz. The surface of the country is mostly mountainous, the climate is dry, and little farming is done except in some of the valleys. Whale-fishing on the west coast and pearl fishing on the gulf are carried on to some extent; but mining enterprises have met with little success. Salt and orchil, a violet dye, are also obtained. The vintage of parts of the country is highly esteemed. Lower California was probably discovered by Cortés in 1536. In 1866 part of it was granted to the Lower California Company with considerable privileges. Cortés named it California, i. e., Hot Furnace, on account of its heat. Population, 52,244.