Salinas Valley , California

Libby WilliamsApril, May 2009

Period 3

Geography

• The Valley is between the Gabilan and Santa Lucia mountain ranges -to the east and west

• A primary source of water for the Salinas Valley farms and vineyards is the Salinas River

• Weather depends on the north or south parts of the valley

• Weather is relatively mild in the summer

The Landscape of Salinas Valley

Salinas Valley: “The Salad Bowl Of The World”

Soledad, CaliforniaSoledad, California

Set in one of the best grape wine growing places in CaliforniaHas more than twenty vineyardsSteinbeck’s Of Mice And Men took place in Soledad The town name Soledad is Spanish for solitude which sets the theme for the bookCommunity started in 1874 with a few shops and buildingsHouses the Soledad Prison

Salinas Valley During the Great Depression

Many people came to Salinas Valley during the Great Depression to get away from the Dust BowlPeople were able to buy land cheap (with no electricity, gas or water)Life was simple and nobody really had anythingNone of the roads were paved and the streets were unlit

Relationship Between Steinbeck and Salinas Valley

Relationship Between John Steinbeck and Salinas Valley

John Steinbeck was born in the Salinas ValleyHe grew up thereHe moved to New York then moved back, he liked the “simpler life” Many of the book he’s written take place in towns like the ones in Salinas Valley He really loved Salinas Valley

Citations

• "Salinas Valley." Wikipedia. Web.3 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salinas_Valley#Geography>.

• "The Salinas River." MTYCountry.com. 3 May 2009 <http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-misc/salinas-river.html>.

• "Soledad, California." Wikipedia. Web.3 May 2009. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soledad,_California>.

• "Steinbeck & salinas." National steinbeck Center About John Steinbeck. 3 May 2009 <http://www.steinbeck.org/SSalinas.html>.

• "3 What was John Steinbecks relationship to the Salinas Valley?." WikiAnsers.com. 2009. 4 May 2009 http://wiki.answers.com/Q/3_What_was_John_Steinbecks_relationship_to_the_Salinas Valley&src=ansTT

• "Two Community Stories Events in February Explore Salinas’ Times of Trial." Salinas Public Library. 3 May 2009 <http://www.ci.salinas.ca.us/PressReleases/pdf/SalinasStories020509.pdf>.

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