United States of America

United States

General Information

Originally colonized by Great Britain 1776 American colonies broke with the

mother country of Great Britain. 1783 Treaty of Paris was signed and

United States of America was recognized as a new nation.

37 New states were added during the 19th and 20th centuries.

More General Information Two Traumatic Experiences:

Civil War (1861-1865) Great Depression (1930’s)

Victory in WWI as well as WWII helped to make the United States the worlds most powerful nation.

The US has experienced steady economic growth, low unemployment, as well as rapid advances in technology.

Location

Absolute: 38* North Latitude and 97* West

Longitude.

Relative: North America. Borders on North Atlantic and North Pacific

Oceans. Between Canada and Mexico.

Place:

Climate: Mostly Temperate Tropical in Florida and Hawaii Arctic in Alaska Semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi

River Arid in the Great Basin of the southwest Chinook Winds from the slopes of the Rocky Mts.

temper the low winter temperatures in the northwest

Terrain: Vast central plain Mountains in the west Hills and low mountains in the east Rugged mountains and broad river valleys

in Alaska Rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii

Elevation Extremes: Low Point- Death Valley 86 meters below

Sea Level. High Point- Mount McKinley 6,194 meters

above Sea Level.

Natural Hazards: Tsunami’s Volcanoes and earthquake activity around Pacific

Basin Hurricanes along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico and

the Atlantic Tornadoes in Midwest and southeast Mud slides in California Forest fires in west Flooding Permafrost in Northern Alaska

Ethnicities:White 77.1%

Black 12.9%

Asian 4.2%

Amerindianand AlaskanNative 1.5%

Hawaiian andPacificIslander 0.3%

Other 4%

Human and Environmental Interaction Air pollution causes acid rain in the U.S. and

Canada. U.S. is the largest emitter of Carbon dioxide

from the burning of fossil fuels. Water pollution from the runoff of pesticides and

fertilizers. Desertification Shortage of natural fresh water resources in the

western part of the country.

Movement Railways Highways Waterways Pipelines Ports and Harbors Airports:

14,695 total 5,131 are paved 9,670 are not paved

Heliports 149 total

U.S. is a consumer of cocaine shipped from Colombia through Mexico.

Consumer of Heroin and Marijuana. Methamphetamine (speed) consumption is on

the rise. U.S also produces and exports many illicit

drugs.

Region

Northern Hemisphere Most powerful nation on earth. Maritime boundary disputes with

Canada. U.S. leases a naval base at

Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Only mutual agreement or U.S.

abandonment can end the lease.