California State Flag & L O S A N G E L E S

Los Angeles, city in southern California, the most populous city in the state and the second most populous city and metropolitan region in the United States, after New York City.

Located on the Pacific Ocean near the U.S. border with Mexico, the metropolis is noted for its pleasant climate and scenic setting. It is situated on a hilly coastal plain surrounded by beaches in the west and mountains and deserts in other directions. Referred to casually as LA, Los Angeles is one of the major industrial, commercial, and financial centers of the United States.

Los Angeles, California The City of Los Angeles comprises 1,215 sq km (469 sq mi) and had a population of about 3.7 million people at the 2000 census. The Los Angeles metropolitan area acts as a center for the motion picture, radio and television broadcasting, and music recording industries. Several separate citiessuch as Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and Culver Cityare partly or completely surrounded by the City of Los Angeles.

Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive is a famous shopping area in Los Angeles, California, that attracts both shoppers and tourists. The plaza shown here offers some of the areas most exclusive stores.

Getty Center In 1953 American oil executive and financier J. Paul Getty founded a museum named after him to house his personal art collection. In 1987 the collection moved to the Getty Centerdesigned by American architect Richard Meierin Los Angeles, California. The complex consists of six buildings on a 45-hectare (110- acre) site and houses the Getty art collection as well as research and educational institutes.

Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles High above the smog of central Los Angeles, Griffith Observatory has a much clearer view of the stars than the rest of the city. The world- famous observatory is perched high in the Hollywood Hills, in Griffith Park, a large park in the middle of the huge metropolis.

Graumans Chinese Theater Graumans Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles is one of the citys most famous movie theaters. Since it opened in 1927, it has been the location of numerous Hollywood premieres. It is best known for the handprints and footprints of well-known film stars, who have left these signatures in cement in front of the theater for more than 50 years.

Smoggy Skyline of Los Angeles Air pollution is a serious problem in Los Angeles. Emissions from the millions of vehicles that traverse the local freeways every day are trapped by the surrounding mountains, creating the citys chronic smog. Despite efforts to reduce emissions, Los Angeless air pollution is among the worst in the world.