catalina island: Chapter 10 Southern Coastlands

Although Catalina Island is in a Mediterranean-type climate, with mild yet cool winter temperatures and minimal rainfall and warm dry summers (often hot in the interior), coupled with periodic fog as well, it shares with the Southern Coastlands a geographic position near the Tropic of Cancer. The Southern Coastlands climate differs from Catalina Island in that the area is strongly influenced by the warm Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic waters as opposed to the cold Pacific Ocean Humboldt current originating in the North Pacific waters resulting in hot and humid summers and mild winter temperatures in this part of the Southeastern United States. Both share tourism as a vital industry helping to drive their respective economies, and because of both proximity to water similar sports are shared as well, such as scuba diving, surfing, fishing, sailing. This translates into somewhat of a similar diet and culture, as the ocean's power is enormous, as seen with it's effect on the world reknown California cultural influences exihibited in slang, movies, music, etc. Living in Florida briefly showed me the cultural similarities between the two states, and Catalina reminded me alot of the Florida Keys.