PART TWO

THE UNITED STATES of AMERICA

GEOGRAPHY OF THE USA

"America is so vast that almost everything said

about it is likely to be true, and the opposite

is probably equally true."

(James T. Farrell)

The United States of America is the third largest country in the world in population, and it is the fourth largest country in area. In area, population, and economic output, some of the states are comparable to many nations.

China and India are the only countries with more people. Only Russia, Canada, and China have larger areas. The United States covers the entire midsection of North America, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. It also includes Alaska, in the northwest corner of North America; and Hawaii, far out in the Pacific. The United States is often called the U.S., U.S.A., or America.

The United States of America, popularly referred to as the United States or as America, a federal republic on the continent of North America, consisting of 50 states. The 48 states border on Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. In east the USA is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the south by the Gulf of Mexico, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. The northern boundary is partly formed by the Great Lakes and the Saint Lawrence River; the southern boundary is partly formed by the Rio Grande. New York City is the largest city in the United States. Washington, D.C., is the capital.

The sate of Alaska is the largest of America's 50 states. It is nearly 400 times the size of Rhode Island, which is the smallest state; but Alaska, with 521,000 people, has half the population of Rhode Island.

The total area of the United States (including the District of Columbia) is 9,629,047 sq km, of which 1,593,440 sq km are in Alaska and 16,729 sq km are in Hawaii.

Date: 2015-01-02; view: 966