The Inland South (Chapter 9)

In Chapter 9, we learned about the Inland South. One of the major hazards facing this region is flash flooding, which is also a common hazard in the Antelope Valley. The following YouTube video provides a fantastic look at a severe thunderstorm in the AV that occurred in 2011 and caused extensive flash flooding in Pearblossom, Palmdale, and Lake Los Angeles. In particular, be sure to watch the video at minute 4:45 to see the size of the hail that was being produced, minute 6 to see the flash flooding in a neighborhood, and minute 7:15 to see the amazing lightening produced by the storm. The video also provides a great general view of the flat, rural nature of much of the Antelope Valley, which reminds me of the flat interior lowlands described as part of the Inland South.



There are also some cultural similarities between parts of the Inland South and the Antelope Valley. As described in the text, the Inland South is the home of country music, and country music is also highly appreciated in the AV. Country line-dancing, in particular, is a very popular activity in the Antelope Valley; every weekend, the restaurant BeX in Lancaster hosts a popular line-dancing forum, and the annual Antelope Valley Fair always hosts country music bands and has a floor reserved for line-dancing, as shown in the video below:



Also, just as NASCAR is a beloved sport in the Inland South, it also has a loyal following in the Antelope Valley. Palmdale is the hometown of four-time NASCAR Truck Series champion Ron Hornaday, and Palmdale honored Hornaday by naming all access roads to the Palmdale Auto Center as "Ron Hornaday Way", and the center has permanent banners that bear his likeness and name, pictured below:

It is interesting to compare the Inland South and the Antelope Valley because, while they are separated by thousands of miles and have numerous differences, it is worth noting that they also share some similarities in both their physical geography and climate and in their culture.

(Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/375301-ron-hornaday-honored-by-hometown-for-nascar-prowess)