Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area (which includes the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, and the largest city of the region, San Jose), and Sacramento (the State capital), as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers. Northern California contains Redwood forests, along with the Sierra Nevada mountain range (which includes: Yosemite Valley, Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta and other State Park areas). The Cascade Range also contains the second-highest peak (after Mount Rainier in Washington State).

 

 

Northern California is also home to Napa Valley and the numerous wineries located there. Additionally, the northern half of the Central Valley is one of the world's most productive agricultural regions.