| | Indian tribes inhabited this area until, in 1542, the Spanish flagship San Salvador sailed into the San Diego Bay; the newly “discovered” area was named San Miguel. Later, in 1602, the ship San Diego surveys the area around present-day Mission Bay and Point Loma and gave many of the places the names still used today. The city is named after Catholic saint San Diego de Alcala. |
| San Diego has pleasant average temperatures in the mid-50s in winter and the high 70s in summer. It may get a bit chilly at night, but otherwise you’ll be quite comfortable whenever you decide to go. |
| Located in the southernmost part of California, San Diego is just about a half-hour drive from Mexico. It is the second largest city in California. The terrain is decidedly Californian, with vast plains, desert landscapes and lush mountains. The city has a 70-mile long coastline with many nice beaches. |
| San Diego has one of the best deep-water harbors in the world, hosting many ocean liners and other commercial trade vessels as well as the U.S. Navy, who has a large base there. The three largest sources of income are manufacturing, consisting mostly of shipbuilding and making of medical and oceanographic equipment, the naval base, which employs thousands of people, and tourism, the area attracting millions of visitors every year. |
| Balboa Park, the largest urban cultural park in the United States, has fifteen museums, many of them dedicated to fine art and photography. In general, the closeness to the Mexican border makes for a very vibrant and diverse art community. |
| The vibe here is decidedly Californian, very laid back and relaxed, the closeness to Mexico also contributes to this. People are very friendly and helpful and most enjoy outdoor activities in park or on one of the many beaches on their spare time. |
| The first mission in California was established atop Presidio Hill in 1769 by Spanish priest Junipero Serra, who continued to form 20 more missions in California before his death. Religion nowadays is more diverse, with a large catholic following. |
| The official language us English, but thirty percent of the people speak another language at home. The close proximity to Mexico is evident in many ways. There are also in San Diego County 18 Indian Reservations belonging to different Indian nations. In these reservations many Native American languages are still in use. |
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