From Sea to Shining SeaGeography and Economy

Plan1. Borders, states, population2. Wonders of nature3. Rivers and lakes4. Mountains5. Climate6. Economy and government7. Scientists and inventors8. Mineral resources9. Agriculture10. Big cities

The main landmass of the USA lies in central North America, with Canada to the north, Mexico to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is the 4th largest nation in the world in area behind Russia, Canada and China. The population of the USA is about 250 million people. The USA is made up of 50 states and the District of Columbia, a special federal area where the capital of the country, Washington, is situated. The largest of America’s states is Alaska. It’s nearly 400 times the size of Rhode Island, which is the smallest state. But Alaska has half the population of Rhode Island. The Appalachians, the Rocky Mountains, forests, plains, prairies and even deserts, wonderful lakes, water falls and rivers cover the American territory that equals about 9.4 million square kilometers. People enjoy the wonders of nature practically in every state. Among the most famous sites of interest are the Great Lakes (the Erie, the Superior, the Huron, the Ontario, the Michigan), Niagara Falls, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and others. There are many beautiful National Parks and protected areas of wilderness in America.

America's great rivers are the Mississippi, the Missouri (the chief western branch of the Mississippi), the Rio Grande and the Columbia. The Mississippi is one of the world's great continental rivers. It has been called the “father of waters”. The Ohio is its principal eastern tributary.

There are many mountains in the USA. For example, the highest mountains are the Rocky Mountains, the Cordillera (the highest peaks are 6,193 and 4,418 metres) and the Sierra Nevada. The highest peak is Mount McKinley, which is located in Alaska.

As the USA is a large country, the climate is different in different regions. For example, the south has a subtropical climate. Hot winds blowing from the Gulf of Mexico often bring typhoons. The Pacific coast is a region of mild winters and warm, dry summers, but the eastern continental region is watered with rainfall. The region around the Great Lakes has changeable weather. The climate of Alaska is arctic.

The USA is a highly developed industrial country. The American economy is a dynamic, free-market system that has emerged from the labours of millions of American workers. The Government has always been involved to some degree in regulating the U.S. economy. It has played, for instance, an important role in the development of transportation and it is responsible for national defense. But the bulk of America's wealth is produced by private industries and business. The economy has been immensely successful. With less than 5 per cent of the world's population, the U.S. produces about 25 per cent of the world's output. Since World War II, America has led the world in technological innovation and scientific discovery. For instance, the U.S scientists have received more Nobel Prizes than all other nations combined. American scientists and inventors, many of them immigrants from other countries, have always been occupied with the practical applications of their work. The manufacturers have also been ready to implement new inventions and discoveries. The nation's income and productivity are constantly increasing. The USA is rich in mineral resources, such as aluminum, salt, zinc, copper, and others. The country is rich in gold and silver, too. It holds one of the first places in the world for the production of coal, iron, oil, and natural gas. These mineral resources form a solid base for the development of American industry. Such industries as machine building and shipbuilding are highly developed in the country. Among the most important manufacturing industries are aircraft, cars, textiles, radio and television sets, armaments, furniture and paper.

As regards agriculture, the country has a climate favourable to agriculture, that's why both animal

husbandry and arable farming are prominent in the economy of the USA. Only 4 per cent of the population is involved in the agricultural sector. American agriculture produces a lot of food products: grain, fruit, and vegetables. The U.S is a world leader in agricultural exports. It produces more than 52 per cent of the world's corn, wheat, cotton, soybeans, edible vegetable oil, rice, barley and tobacco.

There are many big cities in the country. They are Washington (the capital of the country), New York (the city of contrasts, financial and business centre of the USA), Boston (there are many colleges and universities in it), Chicago (one of the biggest industrial cities in the USA and grain centre), San Francisco (a port city on the Pacific ocean, a centre of trade and finance), Los Angeles (the biggest city in California, the city of Disneyland), Philadelphia (an important commercial, manufacturing and shipping centre), and Detroit (one of the biggest centres of the automobile industry).