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Los Angeles is a city in southwestern California and the seat of Los Angeles County. Located on the Pacific Ocean, Los Angeles is the second most populous city in the United States, exceeded only by New York City. It is one of the nation's major industrial, commercial, and financial centers. Los Angeles is also noted for its balmy climate, lush scenery, motion-picture and television industries, freeways, and occasional earthquakes.
Los Angeles has a two-season climate; summers are usually hot and dry, with most of the precipitation arriving in winter. Temperatures are moderated by the Pacific Ocean, and communities away from the shore, particularly in the valleys, are generally hotter in summer. In late summer and fall the hot, dry winds called the Santa Anas blow down from the mountains in the east. In January the average high temperature is 19° C (66° F) and the average low is 9° C (48° F); in July highs average 24° C (75° F) and lows average 17° C (63° F). With an average yearly precipitation of only 300 mm (12 in), supplying water for the drinking, cleaning, and industrial needs of millions of people is a continuous problem.
Los Angeles grew from a farming settlement established by the Spanish in 1781 and named El Pueblo Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula (the town of Our Lady Queen of Angels of Porciuncula). Throughout the next century it remained a somewhat sleepy agricultural town. But in the 20th century Los Angeles began to embody a style of living desired by the people of the nation. Its warm climate and economic opportunities drew newcomers from across the country and much of the world, making the city a vibrant and constantly changing place. The rapid growth also created problems. Los Angeles is beset by air pollution and traffic congestion, divided by racial and economic inequities, and lacking in a sense of permanence found in slower-growing communities. Still, the rich mix of people from many different cultures and the role the city plays in providing much of the country's entertainment makes Los Angeles a fountain of trends and ideas for the nation.
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