Emerald Triangle
Encyclopedia
The Emerald Triangle refers to a region in Northern California
so named because it is the largest region in The United States that produces illegal cannabis
. Mendocino County, Humboldt County
, and Trinity County
are the three counties in Northern California that make up this region. Growers have been cultivating cannabis in this region since the 1960's, and many growers in Mendocino County today have estimated they make $1 billion a year from cultivating the plant. Growing cannabis in The Emerald Triangle is considered a way of life, and the locals believe that everyone living in this region is either directly or indirectly reliant on the marijuana business.
s that merge the three counties, U.S. Route 101 and State Route 299
, are lined with coastal redwood
(Sequoia sempervirens) trees. These roads are narrow and curvy, and they isolate this region from the rest of California. The geography
and climate
in this region make it easy for locals to grow marijuana tucked away in the high hills.
has the highest population with only 27,191 people; and the second largest, Ukiah
, is only 16,075. Locals in the Emerald Triangle have been quoted saying "All of the service economies are totally dependent on marijuana"; and in addition to marijuana sales, pot growing helps small businesses such as garden supply stores or makers of plastic pipes in the area.
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
so named because it is the largest region in The United States that produces illegal cannabis
Cannabis
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants that includes three putative species, Cannabis sativa, Cannabis indica, and Cannabis ruderalis. These three taxa are indigenous to Central Asia, and South Asia. Cannabis has long been used for fibre , for seed and seed oils, for medicinal purposes, and as a...
. Mendocino County, Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, and Trinity County
Trinity County, California
Trinity County is a large, rugged and mountainous, heavily forested county located in the northwestern portion of the U.S. state of California, along the Trinity River and within the Salmon/Klamath Mountains. It covers an area of over two million acres , and as of the 2010 census its population...
are the three counties in Northern California that make up this region. Growers have been cultivating cannabis in this region since the 1960's, and many growers in Mendocino County today have estimated they make $1 billion a year from cultivating the plant. Growing cannabis in The Emerald Triangle is considered a way of life, and the locals believe that everyone living in this region is either directly or indirectly reliant on the marijuana business.
Description
The region of the Emerald Triangle is 10,260 square miles (26,600 km2) of thick forests hidden in Northern California between the Pacific Coast and the Redwood Forest. The Emerald triangle has also been known as Behind the Redwood Curtain because the two major highwayHighway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
s that merge the three counties, U.S. Route 101 and State Route 299
California State Route 299
State Route 299 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs across the northern part of the state. It runs from Arcata on the Pacific Ocean to the border with Nevada. Between Arcata and Redding, Route 299 junctions with State Route 96 and is briefly co-signed with State Route 3. In...
, are lined with coastal redwood
Redwood
-Trees:Conifers* Family Cupressaceae *** Sequoia sempervirens - coast redwood**** Albino redwood*** Sequoiadendron giganteum - giant sequoia*** Metasequoia glyptostroboides - dawn redwood* Family Pinaceae...
(Sequoia sempervirens) trees. These roads are narrow and curvy, and they isolate this region from the rest of California. The geography
Geography
Geography is the science that studies the lands, features, inhabitants, and phenomena of Earth. A literal translation would be "to describe or write about the Earth". The first person to use the word "geography" was Eratosthenes...
and climate
Climate
Climate encompasses the statistics of temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, rainfall, atmospheric particle count and other meteorological elemental measurements in a given region over long periods...
in this region make it easy for locals to grow marijuana tucked away in the high hills.
Population
The total population in the Emerald Triangle is 225,835 according to the 2010 census. The majority of the population is widely spread throughout the woody hills that make up the area. In this region, the city of EurekaEureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
has the highest population with only 27,191 people; and the second largest, Ukiah
Ukiah, California
The average high temperature is 73.5 °F . Average low temperature is 46.1 °F . Temperatures reach 90 °F on an average of 65.6 days annually and 100 °F on an average of 14.4 days annually. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing...
, is only 16,075. Locals in the Emerald Triangle have been quoted saying "All of the service economies are totally dependent on marijuana"; and in addition to marijuana sales, pot growing helps small businesses such as garden supply stores or makers of plastic pipes in the area.