El Centro (pop. 37,835) is the county seat of Imperial County, California. It is one of the largest cities in the Imperial Valley and one of the lowest cities in the United States. If you come in from I-8, watch for a water tower ? it'll have a line painted on it announcing sea level and you will be well below that line. Beyond low, El Centro is hot. The temperatures often reach 120 degrees in the summer, but the year-round sun and the milder climate any time but summer means that this desert is a prime agricultural spot for winter vegetables like carrots and lettuce.
However green the fields may be, the dunes are just outside. The Imperial Sand Dunes occupy Imperial Valley's eastern perimeter and they're hard to miss. Some are over 300 feet tall. Several impressive landmarks, such as Painted Canyon, are best accessed by off-road vehicles, and others, such as Mount Signal, are actually in Mexico. On the other hand, El Centro's most famous natural landmark, the Salton Sea, is very accessible indeed. This is California's largest inland body of water and its version of the Dead Sea. You can boat and fish here, as well as hike and off-road around its shores.
El Centro's population is largely Hispanic and its culture reflects this. You may want to stop by a show at one of the live theaters or attend one of the cultural events, which range from fiestas to city dinners to small, quirky parades. Plus, Mexicali, Mexico is only sixteen miles away.
El Centro is located 616 miles southwest of San Francisco, 117 miles east of San Diego, 245 miles west of Phoenix Arizona and just 15 minutes from the international US/Mexico border and Baja California. El Centro is accessible via Interstate 8, State Highway 86 and State Highway 111.
