Great Flood of 1862

California is well known for droughts. But it also had one of the greatest floods in U.S. history.
In 1861, California had been in drought for 20 years.
Most of the state’s residents lived around San Francisco and in the Central Valley.
Ranchers there had been praying for rain for two decades. In November, they finally got it.
First, winter came early, bringing heavy snow to the mountain range that bounds the valley.
In December, temperatures rose, the snow melted and drained into the valley, saturating the soil.
Then the rains came-and didn’t stop for 43 days. Wave after wave of storms rolled in from the Pacific, bringing more than 10 feet of rain and snow.
Creeks became rivers, sweeping entire towns away. Rivers jumped their banks and cut new channels.
But much of the water was trapped in the Central Valley, which became an inland sea, stretching 300 miles north to south, in places 60 miles wide.
It took six months for this inland sea to evaporate and percolate into the ground. But the flood had destroyed a quarter of California’s taxable property and almost forced the state into bankruptcy.
It also wiped out nearly 1 million livestock animals, prompting the Central Valley to move away from ranching to become the agricultural powerhouse we know today.
Sources:
www.earthdate.org/files/000/0...
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[@reneeoleari]

Many of us Azorians came to Sacramento Delta during those years (we built the levee system). The soil produced really good crops.

[@ginacross264]

This was so interesting! I love history! Thanks Holt 😁

[@deelee4639]

Why did we hate history in school lol

[@nevid4694]

Great idea Holt! CA weather history (I'm in Nevada) is so interesting. I bet you could make quite a few videos on it. Nice job! Thanks!

[@Eric_Hutton.1980]

Wasn't just California impacted by the Great Flood of 1862. It was Washington, Oregon, Arizona and other places as well.

[@LahkeyBorat]

Come to Sacramento History Museum and take the one hour underground tour. We will show you how Sacramento built a levee 22 feet high and lifted the entire city .

[@janeblackbird2376]

Very informative. I would be very interested in you doing a summery of the ARkstorm. Thank you, Holt!

[@annakavalec835]

Thank you! How interesting!

[@SlickNick98]

We are most definitely due for continuous stroms like this 1862 to 2024 is 162 years get ready y'all

[@The_Valley_Ripper]

We learned about this in elementary school. We took a field trip to a historic town and you can still see the high water mark on the buildings.

[@budlight2969]

im 24 school didnt teach us jack squat. damn communists

[@robertforrest7956]

Very interesting video Holt. Shared it with a few friends. It would be interesting as well to hear what your opinion is of this seasons weather and or predictions 🤔
🎱 🔮 🎲 🃏 🎩

[@welderdm]

Starting again

[@patriciaanzelc5386]

Climate change. Ugh no!

[@eleventy-seven]

Tree rings show the short term and the long term. Climate change is real. Carbon dioxide and greenhouse gasses hasn't been this high since Trex farts methane filled the air.

[@coltonhanley9290]

Too much praying!

[@patriciaanzelc5386]

😂