Editing Humboldt County, California (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Humboldt County encompasses {{convert|4,052|mi2|km2}}, of which {{convert|3,568|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|484|mi2|km2}} is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

[[Cape Mendocino]] is the westernmost point in California ([[longitude]] 124 degrees, 24 minutes, 30 seconds). [[Humboldt Bay (United States)|Humboldt Bay]], the only deepwater port between San Francisco and [[Coos Bay, Oregon]], is located on the coast at the midpoint of the county.

Humboldt County contains a diversity of plant and animal species, with significant forest and coastal habitats. In coastal areas there are extensive [[Coast Redwood|redwood]] forests.<ref>Neil G. Sugihara, Jan W. Van Wagtendonk, Kevin E. Shaffer, JoAnn Fites-Kaufman, Andrea E. Thode (2006) ''Fire in California's Ecosystems'', University of California Press, 596 pages. {{ISBN|0-520-24605-5}}.</ref> A prominent understory shrub is the [[toyon]], whose northern range limit is in Humboldt County.<ref>C. Michael Hogan (2008) ''Toyon: Heteromeles arbutifolia'', GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg {{cite web |title=Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia ) – GlobalTwitcher.com |url=http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid%3D84109 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906195121/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=84109 |archive-date=September 6, 2009 |access-date=December 16, 2008}}</ref>

===Rivers===
[[Image:Arcata CA.jpg|right|thumb|Mouth of Humboldt County's [[Little River (Humboldt County)|Little River]] on the Pacific Coast]]
[[Image:Humboldtrockefellerforest.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Rockefeller Forest]], the largest remaining old-growth [[Redwood]] forest on earth, is located within [[Humboldt Redwoods State Park]].]]

Humboldt County's major rivers include (in order of flow – in cubic meters per second – from largest to smallest):
* [[Klamath River]]
* [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]]
* [[Trinity River (California)|Trinity River]]
* [[Mad River (California)|Mad River]]

The smaller rivers include Redwood Creek, significant due to amount of its flow; the [[Van Duzen River|Van Duzen]]; the Eel River syncline group composed of the [[South Fork Eel River|South Fork]], the [[North Fork Eel River|North Fork]], and the [[Salt River (California)|Salt River]]; the [[Mattole River|Mattole]], Salmon, Elk, Bear, and [[Little River (Humboldt County)|Little]] rivers.

===Seismic activity===
Historically, Humboldt County and the entire far north coast of California have had many earthquakes over 6.0 magnitude.  The [[Mendocino fracture zone]] is in the area.<ref name="Bush12">{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Evan |date=5 December 2024 |title=Tsunami warnings triggered in California and Oregon after 7.0-magnitude earthquake |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tsunami-warning-triggered-california-70-magnitude-earthquake-rcna183064 |access-date=5 December 2024}}</ref>

The [[1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes]] were a series of three major earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California on April 25 and 26, 1992, the largest being a 7.2. Ninety-five people were injured and property in the county sustained considerable damage.<ref>[https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1992_04_25_26.php Cape Mendocino, California Earthquakes ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201081440/https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1992_04_25_26.php|date=December 1, 2016}}, ''[[United States Geological Survey|U.S.G.S.]]'' (April 25, 1992).</ref>

In 2010, a [[2010 Eureka earthquake|6.5 magnitude earthquake]] struck offshore, {{convert|33|mi|abbr=on}} west of [[Eureka, California|Eureka]], resulting in only minor injuries and some structural damage to houses and utilities, and no fatalities reported.<ref>[https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/nc71338066.php Magnitude 6.5 – OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011152157/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/nc71338066.php|date=October 11, 2012}}, ''[[United States Geological Survey|U.S.G.S.]]'' (January 9, 2010).</ref>

In 2022, a [[2022 Ferndale earthquake|6.4 magnitude earthquake]] centered approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} from Ferndale caused damage, especially in Rio Dell.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Julie |last2=Flores |first2=Jessica |last3=Morris |first3=J. D. |last4=Tucker |first4=Jill |date=December 20, 2022 |title=Two dead in 6.4 magnitude California earthquake that caused widespread damage |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/6-4-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-northern-17666216.php |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[2024 Cape Mendocino earthquake]] was a M<sub>ww</sub>  7.0 earthquake with an epicenter off the coast of Humboldt County.<ref name="Bush12" />

The town of Arcata is built on top of an [[accretionary wedge]]. This was formed by the subduction of the Gorda plate under the North American plate.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Jerry |title=Cascadia's Fault |date=March 10, 2012 |publisher=Counterpoint Press |isbn=978-1582438245 |pages=352 |quote="The towns of Eureka and Arcata were built on top of it..." (the accretionary wedge).}}</ref>

===Climate===
The coastal zone of the county experiences very wet, cool winters and dry, mild foggy summers. In the winter, temperatures range from highs of {{convert|40|-|59|F}} to lows of {{convert|32|-|49|F}}. Coastal summers are cool to mild, with average highs of {{convert|60|-|69|F}} and frequent fog. Coastal summer temperatures range from highs of {{convert|64|-|70|F}} to lows of {{convert|46|-|55|F}}. In the populated areas and cities near the coast, the highest temperatures tend to occur at locations just a few miles inland from Eureka and Arcata, in towns like Fortuna, Rio Dell, and smaller unincorporated communities located somewhat further away from Humboldt Bay. In these locations summer highs are {{convert|70|-|75|F}}. The coastal zone experiences a number of frosty nights in winter and early spring, though snowfall and hard freezes are rare. Coastal winters are cool and wet. Winter rainstorms are frequent, with averages from {{convert|30|to|100|in|mm|sigfig=2}} a year, depending upon elevation.

Inland areas of the county also experience wet, cool winters. Snowfall is common at elevations over {{convert|3000|ft|m|abbr=on}} throughout the winter months, and is deep enough at higher elevations to have inspired the opening of a small ski lift operation (now defunct) on Horse Mountain, near [[Willow Creek, California|Willow Creek]], for several decades in the late 20th century. Summer displays the sharpest difference between the coastal and inland climates. Inland regions of Humboldt County experience highs of {{convert|80|-|99|F}} depending on the elevation and distance from the ocean. Occasional summer highs of {{convert|100|F}} are common in eastern and southern parts of the county including Orleans, Hoopa, Willow Creek, Garberville, Honeydew, and inland river valleys.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"
|+Average daily maximum and minimum temperatures for warmest and coldest months in selected settlements of Humboldt County<ref name="California climate averages">{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=CA&statename=California-United-States-of-America|title=California climate averages|publisher=Weatherbase|access-date=October 31, 2015}}</ref>
|-
!Location
!Month
!Temp (°F)
!Temp (°C)
!Month
!Temp (°F)
!Temp (°C)
|-
|[[Eureka, California|Eureka]] || August || 64/52 || 18/11 || December || 55/40 || 12/4
|-
|[[Arcata, California|Arcata]] || September || 62/51 || 17/11 || December || 54/38 || 12/3
|-
|[[Ferndale, California|Ferndale]] || August || 71/52 || 22/11 || December || 56/39 || 13/4
|-
|[[Willow Creek, California|Willow Creek]] || July || 94/52 || 34/11 || December || 50/35 || 10/1
|-
|[[Garberville, California|Garberville]] || August || 87/53 || 31/12 || December || 49/37 || 9/3
|-
|[[Shelter Cove, California|Shelter Cove]] || August || 69/53 || 21/11 || January || 57/45 || 14/7
|-
|[[Orick, California|Orick]] || August || 69/49 || 21/9 || January || 52/37 || 11/2
|}