LA Skylines

With the scenic San Gabriel Mountains in the background, the LA skyline has been a favorite subject for skyline pictures. In addition to the San Gabriel's to the east, LA is surrounded by the Santa Monica Mountains to the west. From the shores of Malibu to the Hollywood Hills, skyline of Los Angeles is a favorite subject city skyline pictures and panoramas. These strikingly beautiful pictures and panoramas can enhance the decor of any home or office.

From Century City on the west side to Downtown to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, or L.A. for short, boasts a skyline that rivals other big cities. L.A. is built in the basin of a coastal desert that is home to millions of people, Hollywood and some of the most recognizable attractions and landmarks in the world. One of the world's great cities, L.A. attracts millions of visitors every year from all over the world. Once a part of Mexico, Los Angeles has a deep, historical connection to the Hispanic culture. This connection is reflected in everything from language and architecture to food and culture.

Southern California enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with little rain and lots of sunshine, with the rainy season occurring during the winter months. The combination of climate and natural beauty made the area around modern day Los Angeles a mecca for settlers and natives peoples for thousands of years. Today, the city of Los Angeles is home to almost 4 million people. The surrounding area which includes, the San Fernando Valley, Malibu and the Palos Verdes Peninsula is home to well over 12 million residents.

L.A. plays host to a diverse population of people and is a place where over 90 languages are spoken. The diversity of cultures makes L.A. a true melting pot. Even today, the city's roots in the Hispanic culture can be seen everywhere, especially architecture. Unlike other large cities on the American East Coast and Midwest, the L.A. skyline was not known for high rise architecture. That began to change in the 1980s and 1990s as advances were made in designing buildings to be more earthquake resistant. Today, along with the Century City area, downtown Los Angeles evolved into a showcase of modern architecture.

The West Coast of the United States, from Southern California to Alaska, is prone to earthquakes. The construction of high rise buildings in an area known for seismic activity so the building of high rise structures would not seem like a good idea. Taking a cue from Japanese designers, the construction of earthquake resistant high rise buildings have turned that L.A. skyline into a home for state of the art skyscrapers such as the Bonaventure, Library Tower and Fox Center.

Los Angeles Landmarks

Home to the movie making industry, L.A. has it's share of iconic cultural landmarks. From the movie sound stages of Hollywood and Burbank to the Griffith Park Observatory, the streets and skyline of L.A. are like no other in the world.

The Hollywood Sign

The landmark Hollywood sign was originally built to promote a new housing subdivision above Los Angeles. Constructed above Whitley Heights on Mount Lee in 1923, the sign originally read Hollywoodland. The wording was shortened to Hollywood in 1949. The 50 foot tall letters stand prominently above Hollywood and, despite disrepair and vandalism, the Hollywood sign has been better maintained in recent years and serves as a welcome sign to the millions of tourists who flock to Los Angeles every year.

The Hollywood Bowl

Built in 1922, the Hollywood Bowl is among one L.A.'s most treasured landmarks and performance venues. Nestled among the Hollywood Hills, hundreds of famous performers have given thousands of performances in the Bowl. Originally built by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Bowl has been rebuilt or replaced several times over the years. The latest version of the Hollywood Bowl, completed in 2003 incorporated improvements to the bowl's acoustic qualities. With seating for over 17 thousand, the Hollywood Bowl plays host to a number of regular events including the Playboy Jazz Festival.