Sacramento CVB: The California Delta is an intriguing labyrinth of waterways formed by the confluence of the Sacramento, Mokelumne and San Joaquin rivers as they flow into the WSan Francisco Bay. With 1,000 miles of meandering channels, rivers, sloughs and cuts, this fresh-water system offers an abundance of water activities in this decidedly laid-back community. With quaint historic towns that have changed little since the Gold Rush era, the Delta offers a delightful day trip from nearby Sacramento along scenic Route 160.

The first crude levees were built by hand in the early 1850s, with more solid construction beginning in the 1870s. The California Delta reclamation pace soon quickened and by the 1930s it was considered complete. More than 550,000 acres on some 55 man-made islands had been turned from swampland to fertile farmland.

The Transcontinental Railroad made history when it was completed in 1869, and by the 1920s the automobile arrived. Workers, many of which were Chinese, constructed levees, bridges and cable-drawn ferries to meet the growing transportation needs.

The Delta offers something for everyone whether visitors enjoy boating, fishing, camping, houseboating, cruising, swimming, wine tasting or simply relaxing. For a complete list of events and activities in the Delta log on to www.californiadelta.org.