California is famous for Hollywood, beaches and tech, but the Golden State holds plenty of surprises. Here are ten facts that capture just how extraordinary it is.

1. It has the highest and lowest points in the contiguous U.S.

Mount Whitney, the tallest peak in the Lower 48, and Badwater Basin in Death Valley, the lowest point in North America, are fewer than 100 miles apart.

2. It is home to the tallest trees on Earth

The coast redwoods of Northern California can exceed 350 feet, taller than a 30-story building.

3. And the oldest trees, too

The bristlecone pines of the White Mountains include individuals over 4,000 years old, among the oldest known living things.

4. Its economy rivals entire nations

If California were a country, its economy would rank among the largest in the world, ahead of many established nations.

5. It grows much of the country’s food

The Central Valley produces a huge share of America’s fruits, nuts and vegetables, including most of its almonds.

6. Death Valley is one of the hottest places on Earth

It recorded a temperature of 134°F (56.7°C) in 1913, long considered the highest reliably measured air temperature anywhere.

7. It has more national parks than any other state

From Yosemite to Joshua Tree to the Redwoods, California’s protected landscapes are remarkably diverse.

8. Hollywood was not the first film capital

Early American filmmaking centered on the East Coast; filmmakers moved west partly for reliable sunshine and varied scenery.

9. It is seismically restless

The San Andreas Fault runs hundreds of miles through the state, and thousands of small earthquakes occur each year.

10. Its name may come from a fictional island

Many historians believe “California” was borrowed from a 16th-century Spanish novel describing a mythical island paradise.

From its record-setting geography to its outsized economy, California is a state of superlatives — and these facts only scratch the surface.