United States Geography

United States Geography.United States or United States of America (USA), as it is officially called, is a country located on the American continent (subcontinent North America). The country is considered the most influential in the world and has strong political, economic, military and cultural dominance.

The USA participates in several organizations, such as the United Nations Council ; the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), formerly NAFTA ; to NATO , among others. The nation maintains diplomatic relations with most countries in all regions of the world.

The United States is also considered to be a multicultural nation . The great territorial extension gives the country a high biodiversity and the meeting of different ethnic groups , contributing to a very rich culture, full of particularities in each region of the country.

Its natural aspects are also quite diverse, be it in relief, climate, vegetation, fauna and flora, giving the country the status of “megadiverse” (country that shelters most of the Earth’s species).

Also learn: The power of the United States

General data

See also: Why are the United States so hit by hurricanes?

United States capital

Washington DC is the capital and corresponds to the area of ​​the United States Federal District.

The capital of the United States is Washington DC , whose acronym stands for District of Columbia , corresponding to the country’s Federal District. Both country and capital are governed by the same government , that is, they represent the same administrative organization.

(It is important to remember that in the United States there is a state called Washington, located on the West Coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean . This should not be confused with the capital.)

The District of Columbia was formed in the year 1790 , and, until the year 1871, other cities were located within its limits. These were later merged with Washington DC, which opened in 1800, through land ceded by the states of Virginia and Maryland.

The capital is known for the presence of museums and nature reserves , such as the United States Botanical Gardens. The Capitol, the country’s legislative center, and the White House , the official residence of the President of the United States, are in Washington DC.

Read also: How the presidential elections are held in the United States

Don’t stop now … There’s more after the publicity;)

Why United States of America?

During the period of discovery of American lands, the American territory was inhabited by indigenous people . With the arrival of French, Spanish, English and Dutch colonists, there was a dispute over territories , generating several conflicts between native peoples and Europeans.

The East Coast of the United States, when colonized, was also divided into territories known as Thirteen Colonies, around 1607. The colonies corresponded to three groups: Colonies in the North, Colonies in the Center and Colonies in the South. They declared their independence from England in the year 1776 , on the 4th of July , forming what we now know as the United States of America.

Read more: Independence of the United States

The colonies were:

1. New Hampshire Province
2. Massachusetts Bay Province
3. Rhode Island Colony
4. Connecticut Colony
5. New York Province
6. New Jersey Province
7. Pennsylvania Province
8. Delaware Colonies
9. Maryland Province
10. Virginia Domain Colonies
11. North Carolina Province
12. South Carolina Province
13. Georgia Province

States and their capitals

The United States has its territory divided into 50 states . Other territories also belong to the country, such as: Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands and Associated Free States of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.

→ List with the states and capitals of the USA

United States Map

economy

Known as the greatest power in the world, the United States boasts the first position when it comes to Gross Domestic Product , which represents the sum of all goods produced in the country over a period. The country has a GDP of US $ 19.39 trillion , according to the International Monetary Fund , being ahead of countries like China and Japan. The economy in 2018 grew 2.9% compared to the previous year.

The American economy is based on the agricultural , industrial and service sectors . In agriculture, the production of corn, soy and cotton stands out, with the use of high technologies . In the industrial sector, the production of machines, electronics, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and automobiles stands out. The services sector contributes more than three quarters of GDP.

It is also important to highlight oil production in the country, as well as natural gas . In 2019 oil production broke a record, according to the United States Federal Energy Agency, reaching 470.6 million barrels.

Oil is one of the most exported products by the United States. According to the Economic Complexity Observatory, the USA is the third largest export economy among countries. In 2017, US $ 1.25 trillion were exported. The main products exported to countries such as China, Mexico, Canada and Japan were:

• refined oil
• planes, cars and helicopters
• packaged medicines

Regarding imports , the country imported US $ 2.16 trillion in 2017. The goods and services basically came from the same countries to which it exported. The main imports were:

• petroleum crude;
• transmission equipment;
• digital disk drives;
• vehicle parts.

Read more : Difference between export and import

United States Culture

In the various sports tournaments worldwide, the United States has very competitive teams in most of the disputed sports.

The culture of the United States has a great influence in several regions around the world. The cuisine , trends in the world of fashion , the entertainment (film, television or music) and sports are recognized by thousands of people around the planet.

The American people are well known for two characteristics: individuality and patriotism . Different, for example, from the peoples of Latin America , most Americans have a more reserved personality. Patriotism is seen everywhere. Flags are flown in most establishments, and people also often wear clothing that bears country symbols.

There are a variety of ethnic groups in the country and thousands of foreigners from different parts of the world. The cultural diversity is one of the main characteristics of the population living in the United States. This great diversity is due not only to the colonization in the country but also to the strong attraction that the nation has in relation to other regions. Many people migrate to the country in search of better living conditions and job opportunities .

Gastronomy is represented especially by fast foods , which have become a fever in several other countries, such as Brazil. Large companies like McDonald’s and Burguer King were founded and have their headquarters in the country.

The sports are also quite representative in the American culture. The United States has large selections in various sports. In several world tournaments, the country has extremely competitive teams . Sports like baseball , football and basketball are very popular with Americans.

Also Read: Founding Fathers of the United States

Population

The American population has approximately 326,766,748 inhabitants, according to the IBGE. A large part of the population is made up of immigrants , especially from countries in Latin America and the Asian continent. According to the 2017 report prepared by the Center for Immigration Studies, the number of immigrants in the United States has exceeded 43 million , with Mexicans the most migrating to that country.

The state of California receives the most immigrants, given its policy aimed at these, unlike other states. Regarding Brazilians , according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are approximately 1.4 million of these in the United States.

Also read : The Constitution of the United States

Most visited cities

The United States is one of the countries with the largest number of most visited cities in the world. For various reasons, tourists from all over the world travel to the country, whether looking for entertainment, contact with nature, shopping or romantic trips. Let’s look at some of these cities:

→ San Francisco

The main postcard of the United States is the famous Golden Gate Brigde.

The city of San Francisco is located in the state of California, east of the United States. Considered one of the country’s financial centers, San Francisco has approximately one million inhabitants and large companies in its area, such as Uber, Google and Facebook, placing it in 18th position in the ranking of the world’s richest cities.

The city is also known for liberal activism, which is why there is a huge homosexual population in the area. There are several sights in the city, such as the famous Golden Gate Bridge and also the Chinatown district .

→ Las Vegas

Las Vegas is the city of entertainment.

The city of Las Vegas is located in the state of Nevada . Many visitors come to the city looking for entertainment . Las Vegas is known for its nightly shows, theaters, music, casinos and luxury hotels.

About 42 million people visit the city each year. The economy is based on tourism and also on the concentration of large companies and industries . Many films are recorded in the city, making it known worldwide.

→ Honolulu

Honolulu is the Hawaiian city known for its beautiful beaches.

Honolulu is located in the state of Hawaii, which is found in an archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. The city is also the capital of the state and attracts tourists from all over the world looking for paradisiacal beaches and good waves.

The climate in Honolulu is tropical, due to its location close to Ecuador . High temperatures are recorded even during winter. In addition to the beautiful beaches, the main tourist spots in the city are: the Pearl Harbor base, the Chinatown neighborhood and the Bishop Museum.

→ New York

One of New York’s main tourist attractions is Central Park.

The city of New York is located in the state of the same name . It is the most populous city in the United States, with approximately more than 8 million inhabitants and more than 20 million in the metropolitan region. New York is considered one of the best cities in the world to live.

Culture, entertainment, gastronomy and fashion are the main landmarks of the city. In it you will find the bustling Times Square, as well as a huge green area full of nature and tranquility, Central Park.

→ Orlando

Orlando is the most visited city in the United States.

The city of Orlando is located in the state of Florida on the east coast of the United States. The city is quite famous , known for its Disney theme parks . In 2017 the city received more than 72 million tourists.

According to Forbes, Orlando was the best city for real estate investment in 2018. Theme parks are constantly expanding and have an enviable structure. Orlando is currently the most visited city in the United States and the second most visited city in the world.

United States’ relationship with Canada

The United States and Canada are mutually their main economic partners.

The relationship between the United States and Canada is historic. Countries are borderline and have very similar characteristics in terms of development, economy and public policies. Together they correspond to the largest and most efficient commercial partnership in the world . Canada and the United States are part of groups such as NATO and the USMCA .

9 million square kilometers make the United States the third largest country in the world. Its two bordering countries are Canada and Mexico . It houses more than 260 million inhabitants who enjoy the indisputable beauty of the country. To the east are the high-altitude Appalachian Mountains, and to the west you find the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Nevada and the Cascade Range. Here they combine heights of 3,300 meters of the Baker Mountains, the 4,300 of the Rainier, of 1,300 to 1,500 meters in the plateau of the Great Basin. There are also the Great Plains that are around 2,500 meters wide.

[ad # surrounded] The river network of the United States is made up of rivers of short course but abundant flow. The Mississippi is an exception, since it has a basin of 3,328,000 square kilometers and a length of 3,778 kilometers, it is a fully navigable river. Its tributaries are Missouri, Ohio and Arckansas. The Atlantic coasts are quite high and its inlets extend to Cape Hateras which become beautiful dunes of fine sand. The Florida Peninsula has its coastline with coral islets and the coast of the Gulf of Mexico is very swampy and its characteristic place is the wide Delta of the Mississippi River.

Hawaii is made up of more than 3,000 kilometers of islands of volcanic origin, with great paradisiacal beaches that are the destination of most tourists who venture to the United States. With a wonderful climate and incredible tourist places, Hawaii becomes one of the busiest states in the country. Eight are the main islands that make up Hawaii into five counties: Hawaii County, Honolulu County, Kalawao, Kauai County, and Maui.

On the other hand, we turn to the 1,530,700 square kilometers that make up Alaska. The coasts are high and rugged. The Yukon and its tributaries run through the center of the peninsula. In the south there are mountain ranges that have the highest peak in the country. It has a population of approximately 626,932 inhabitants and a nature with a very diverse appearance and extreme climates.

Territorial organization

The United States is a large country that is made up of 50 states:

Map of the US States

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