This is the usa

THIS IS THE USA

SIZE AND POSITION

The United States of America is part of the American continent. Its territory, except of Alaska and Hawaii, extends from Canada in the North, to Mexico in the South, and from the Atlantic ocean in the east, to the pacific ocean in the West. The USA have a great variety of climate and physical features.

Alaska and Hawaii are geographically separated from the body of the US; Alaska by Canada, while Hawaii are in the Pacific Ocean, and they were incorporated in US in 1959. When US were founded, in 1780s, there were 13 states along the East coast; then they became 48 (13+35). Now there are 50 states.

CLIMATE

The climate of the US is varied; in fact it is said there are 12 types of climate in the USA. Most of the US has a continental climate; many places have very cold winters or very hot summers. In the late summer and early autumn hurricanes and tornadoes often occur along the East coast. Earthquakes also occur, especially in California. These natural disasters cause many damages to people. Precipitation is generally well distributed in US except in the Southwest. Another problem in the Us is floods caused by violent winds and rain falls.

THE 50 STATES

The Republic of the United States of America is a federal union of 50 States including the District of Columbia, seat of the government.

MOUNTAINS AND PLAINS

The USA are geographically simple. In the main part of the country there are two chains of highlands: Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains. The Appalachians are situated in East, from Canada to Alabama. The Rocky Mountains extend from Alaska to Central America. Hawaii, instead, are small tropical island created by volcanic eruptions.

RIVERS AND LAKES

The USA have a large system of rivers which crosses the whole country.

The Mississippi River is the largest river and covers two-fifths (2/5) of the country. The Mississippi's major tributaries are the MISSOURI, ARKANSAS, OHIO rivers. Along its banks there are cities like St. Louis, New Orleans and Memphis.

Other important rivers are: Colorado, which flows to the pacific ocean, through the Grand Canyon; the Columbia; the Sacramento which enters the  pacific ocean; the Rio Grande, the most important river in the South west, which forms a natural border with Mexico. On the East side we find: the Hudson, the Potomac.

As for the lakes we find the Great Lakes, in the north along the Canadian border, and the Great Salt Lake.

TIME ZONES AND AMERICAN REGIONS

There are four time zones in the USA. From east to west there are the Eastern, Central, Mountain and Pacific zones. If you travel from east to west you have to set your watch back one hour, but if you travel from west to east you must set your watch ahead, because each zone is one hour apart.

The USA is a country with one government, one language and one monetary system, even if there are regional differences based on culture. For this reason, the USA is divided into six regions.

New England in the north East, comprising six states.

The Mid Atlantic States with six regions.

The South, the largest, with his eleven states from Virginia to Florida.

The Midwest made up of eight states.

The Great Plains from north to south including six states.

The West, with eleven states.

MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES

There are over eighty (80) major cities in the USA, all different and with characteristics of their own.

WASHINGTON D.C

Washington is the national capital of the US. It lies in the District of Columbia, a section separate from the other states. It is an independent area because of many discussions about where the capital had to be located. The name is due to George Washington.

Washington is situated on the Potomac river; it's a beautiful, elegant American city. It's full of green parks, white marble buildings, very large streets and many historical places to see.

The best known building is the White House, home of the American Presidents since 1800.

Other centres of interest in Washington are: the Pentagon, Arlington cemetery, where many American men are buried, and so on.

NEW YORK CITY

New York is situated on the Atlantic coast, on the Hudson river. The Big Apple is the financial and cultural capital of the USA with banks, museums, a great seaport and the seat of ONU.

New York was founded as a Dutch colony and it was called New Amsterdam in 1620. It grew during the 19^th century thanks to immigrants. In New York there are 5 boroughs: Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens and Richmond, joined by bridges.

Manhattan is the heart of the city and it is famous for Wall Street, Fifth Avenue, Broadway, Empire State Building.

CHICAGO

Chicago is the second city of the USA in population and industry. It's located on the shores f one of the Great Lakes and for this reason it is important as a transportation centre.

Chicago is the number 1 in steel production, radio, musical instruments and for scientists and artists. Chicago is the most typically American city despite of New York, which is more European than American. Chicago's population represent the real American character. There are many ethnic groups which have maintained their customs and their lifestyles.

LOS ANGELES

Los Angeles is in California and it is a prototype of the modern American metropolis. Hollywood, Disneyland and Beverly Hills, are located here. It has a population of ten million people and it's a very important industrial and cultural centre.

SAN FRANCISCO

San Francisco is the most important city in California; it's situated on hills. It's a multicultural metropolis. The city is subject to earthquakes, in fact it was damaged in 1989 but it has been rebuilt preserving its traditional architecture and character.

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans is located on the East bank of Mississippi River and it is one of the largest cities in the South. It is famous or its French Quarter because it was first established by the French. In fact the city is called the Paris of America.

BOSTON

It's the capital of Massachusetts, and it is full of its historic past, because we have to remember the American Revolution. Here there is a famous university, Harvard University, known in all the world.