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Characteristics of the USA: geographical location and features. Regional characteristics of the world. America

The bulk of the United States (48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia) is located in the central part of the North American continent. The length from east to west is 4,662 km, from south to north - 4,583 km. Two states are located separately from this territory - Alaska and Hawaii. Alaska occupies the extreme northwestern part of the North American continent (together with the adjacent islands). Hawaii is located in the central Pacific Ocean. The United States also owns a number of island dependent territories, such as the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Spanish: Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, English: Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) and the US Virgin Islands (in the Caribbean), Midway, Guam, Wake, American Samoa and Northern Mariana Islands (in the Pacific Ocean).

The area of ​​the United States (not including dependent territories) is 9,522 thousand km², which makes it the third largest country in the world after Russia and Canada. The USA has access to the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. The total length of the US coastline is 19,924 km. The total length of the US land borders is 12,034 km, of which 8,893 km are in Canada (including 2,477 km of the Alaska border) and 3,141 km are in Mexico. The United States has a maritime border with Russia (the demarcation takes place through territorial waters in the Alaska region).

The United States of America is an interesting object for studying the overall picture of the world. Industry, territory, economic and transport links of the state, relief, minerals and other features of the United States of America affect our entire planet.

Geographical location of the country

The USA is one of the most developed countries in the world, what is the merit and benefit geographical location. Regarding the geography of America, most of the states are located in North America. The main regions of the country are 48 states that are connected to each other, as well as two states that do not border - Alaska and Hawaii. The state also includes a federal administrative unit - the District of Columbia.

Due to the fact that the country is washed by the waters of three oceans, it has favorable transport links with big amount countries, which also affects the level of economic-geographical characteristics of the state (egx/egp).

Note that until 1959, Hawaii and Alaska were not part of the country; until that year they were colonies.

Main watershed of the state is located along the eastern part of the largest mountain system on Earth, the Cordillera. The main part of the lakes is located in the northern part of the country. The waters are actively used by the country for the development of hydropower, water supply to the states, and in the water movement of goods.

There are also large physiographic regions in the United States. So, the Appalachians are located near the Atlantic Ocean. Approaching the western part, the mountainous terrain gives way to the Great Plains. Mountain ranges stretch majestically towards the west of the country, and then quickly fall off the coast of the Pacific Ocean.

Main river system- Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Coordinates: 38° N. latitude, 97°w. d., the length of the coastline is about 19,924 kilometers, the capital of the United States is Washington. The country has six time zones.

US borders and area

The USA occupies an honorable position among the top five largest countries in the world. The size of the country is approximately estimated at 9,500,900−9,800,630 sq km.

The southern part is close to middle America - its neighbor is the United Mexican States, the north is adjacent to Canada, and there is also a maritime border with Russia. The state is washed by three largest water bodies- oceans:

• Alaska is located near the waters of the Arctic Ocean.
• The eastern United States of America is washed Atlantic Ocean.
• The waters of the Pacific Ocean are visible from the west of the country.

State climate

One of the features of the USA We can safely say that there are a variety of climatic characteristics. The length does not allow us to clearly define climatic conditions, however, most states belong to a subtropical climate, at the same time temperate climate found to the south of Alaska, it is interesting that to the north of the same state they encounter a polar climate. The south of Florida and Hawaii are classified as tropical, and there is also a semi-desert - the Great Plains. Areas of California have a Mediterranean climate, while areas near the Great Basin have an arid climate.

Frequent tornadoes are also a distinctive climatic feature of the United States. March-August is the peak season for vortices in central region countries. The main reason for their appearance is collision air masses with different temperatures.

Another climate disaster: hurricanes, the season of which falls on June-December. They especially affect the southern states and the coast in the eastern region.

Moreover, part of the country is subject to earthquakes. The most dangerous zone is the mountainous region of the west coast. The zone of high volcanic activity is quite long - stretches from Alaska to the south of California. The Cascade Mountains are endowed with a particularly large concentration of volcanoes.

Natural resources

Main part of USA recognized as favorable for economic activity, and for the life of the population. Of course, the length and big square The state conceals in its depths a variety of industrial resources. The country is endowed with large reserves of mining chemical raw materials, oil, natural gas and ore. The largest gas reserves are concentrated in the state of Alaska, as well as in the south of the country. By the way, the United States ranks second in the world in oil and gas production, which opens up great economic horizons.

Iron ore, for the most part, is concentrated near Lake Verkhnee, near the mountainous macroregion there are precious metals. Lead reserves allow the state to be one of the world leaders.

Nevertheless, the country's security still requires the import of some raw materials, for example: cobalt, potassium salts, tin, manganese and others.

Population of the United States

The large territory also influences the fact that the United States is one of the three most populated countries in the world. There are about 270 million people who are residents of the United States. But the average population density per 1 km is only 28 people, which is significantly less than in most developed countries. Average duration Life expectancy in the country is 80 years for women and 73 for men. The majority of residents, eighty percent, are Americans of European descent.

Immigration plays a significant role in the actual population of a country. Today, the main immigrants are residents of Asian countries.

It is also important that the USA is included in the list of the most urbanized countries in our world. About 75% are city dwellers. Regarding cities, there are approximately ten thousand of them in the United States, eight of which are millionaire cities.

The three most populated regions are:

• California (about 31 million people).
• New York (approximately 18.4 million).
• And also Texas (about 18 million).

It is in the United States of America, which is not expected for many, falls out more snow than at any other point on the planet. More precisely, in the western states of the state.

Mount Denali is the highest point of the state (its height is 6194 meters), the lowest point on the map of the United States is Death Valley (86 meters).

Minimum temperature, which was recorded in Alaska, dropped to minus 62 degrees Celsius. The thermometer rose to its maximum in California - up to 56.7 degrees.

NORTH AMERICA.

Table 3. Demographic, socio-economic indicators of the world, North America

Indicators	The whole world	Sulfur America	Canada	USA
Area, thousand km 2	132850	19340	9976	9363
	5930	304,1	30,2	273,8
Fertility, ‰	24	15	14	15
Mortality, ‰	9	9	7	9
Natural increase	15	6	7	6
	63/68	74/80	76/82	73/80
	62/6	22/13	21/12	22/13
	45	76	77	76
	6050	25090	21130	26980

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION. GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTRY.

1. Territory area - 9.4 million km 2 - 4th place in the world, 5 time zones: Pacific, mountain, central, eastern, Atlantic time.
2. The USA itself is 4.7 thousand km from east to west, and 3 thousand km from north to south. In addition, the United States includes Hawaii (0.2% of the country's area) and Alaska (16%).
3. Population - 263.2 million people (1995)
4. The capital is Washington.

HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY'S SETTLEMENT.

• St. Augustine in Florida is the oldest settlement in the United States, founded by the Spanish in 1565. Jamestown, the first permanent English settlement at the mouth of the James River on the shores of Chesapeake Bay, marked the beginning of the first English colony of Virginia, owned by the London Company ( beginning of XVII V.)
• In 1620, the Plymouth Company organized an expedition on the Mayflower ship. The second English colony arose on the shores of Massachusetts Bay. Following New Plymouth, other urban settlements appeared, among which Boston quickly rose to become the center of New England.
• The Dutch mastered the city of New Amsterdam (later New York).
• The West Coast was explored by the Spaniards (from the mid-16th century): Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco
• French: Great Lakes and Mississippi basin from the north from Canada.
• Russians: Alaska. The southernmost Russian settlement is Fort Ross in the San Francisco area.
• In 1776, at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, the independence of 13 former English colonies and their separation from England was proclaimed. The original states included: New York, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Carolina, Georgia). After the Revolutionary War, the territory of this country, since 1983, officially extended from the Atlantic coast westward to approximately the Mississippi line. Since then, as a result of wars, purchases, expansion, settlement and economic development of other territories, the United States moved in the direction from east to west, which led to a change in the EGP and GGP of the country.

EGP OF THE COUNTRY.

• Wide front of sea borders (12 thousand km). On Kruzenshtern Island in the Bering Strait next to Ratmanov Island there is a maritime border between the United States and Russia. Wonderful natural harbors. The United States' access to the Atlantic and Pacific oceans promotes transport and economic relations with countries of the world, both in the eastern and western hemispheres. Oceans separate the country from hotbeds of war in Europe and Asia, which has a positive effect on the development of the country's economy and improving the well-being of the population.
• The borders with neighboring countries (Canada and Mexico) run mostly along conventional lines; natural boundaries do not interfere with connections with them, which contributes to the development of trade and economic ties with Canada and Mexico, which, along with the United States, are members of the NAFTA economic customs union.
• Due to the country's position on a variety of tectonic structures and a large area, the United States is well endowed with almost all natural resources.

Overall assessment of the country's EGP: beneficial for economic and social development countries to exert economic and political influence on other countries.

ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL DIVISION OF THE COUNTRY AND FORM OF POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

The USA is a federal state consisting of 50 states and the District of Columbia. The Federation has developed historically. Different territories were part of the United States in different time and at various times received state status. Thus, Alaska, purchased in 1867 for $7.2 million from Russia, received state status only in 1959, simultaneously with Hawaii (49 and 50 US states). In 1792, the presidential residence, the White House, was founded on the banks of the Potomac, and in 1793, George Washington laid the first stone in the foundation of the Capitol, the seat of the US Congress. In 1800, the President and Congress moved from Philadelphia to Washington. The Federal District of Columbia was created in 1871.

Currently the USA is a typical presidential republic. It has a constitution adopted in 1787 and subsequently only supplemented by amendments. The head of state is the president, elected for a 5-year term by universal suffrage. Legislative power belongs to Congress.

NATURAL CONDITIONS AND RESOURCES OF THE USA.

The USA is diverse natural conditions and wealth of natural resources. Fuel and energy resources are especially large.

Fuel and energy resources.

Coal. According to reliable reserves, coal basins account for 10% of the country's territory (1.6 trillion tons).

Coal-bearing provinces: Appalachian (coking coals and open method mining; as a result of extremely favorable mining and geological mining conditions, the cost of coal is much lower than in the basins of Europe), within the Central Plains - Western and Illinois (open and closed), at the junction of the Central Plains and the Rocky Mountains (open and closed method mining), including the country's largest lignite basin, Fort Union.

Oil and natural gas. Proven explored reserves - 4.6 billion tons (among developed capitalist countries - 1st place) and 5.6 trillion. m3 (5th place in the world after Russia, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia) respectively. The country ranks 2nd in the world in the extraction of these resources.

The largest oil and gas basins The USA is concentrated in Alaska (Prudhoe Bay is a giant deposit, the largest in the USA), on the territory from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico ("Gulf" - "Gulf" covers the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama) in the interior of the USA ( states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri - Western Inland Basin), California Basin, Michigan, Illinois and Pre-Appalachian Basins of the eastern United States.

Iron ores. 4th place in the world in terms of reserves after Brazil, Russia, China. One of the largest iron ore deposits in the United States is the Mesabi Range, which extends across the states of Michigan and Minnesota, where the folded foundation of the ancient North American platform, the Canadian Shield, comes to the surface. A significant part of the reserves consists of high-quality hematites with an iron content of 50-55%. However, from the middle of the 19th century, when the development of the basin began, they were the main object of exploitation and have already been largely exploited.

Copper. 2nd place after Chile. Polymetallic (lead-zinc): 3rd place after Canada and Australia. Phosphorites and apatites: 2nd place after Morocco. Large deposits are located in Florida. Uranus: 6th place after Australia, South Africa, Niger, Brazil, Canada. By production gold The USA is in 2nd place after South Africa. By production silver: 2nd place after Mexico.

There are also significant resources of molybdenum and tungsten in the deposits of mountainous states, platinum group metals, sulfur, etc.

However, the country is still forced to import nickel, manganese, cobalt, bauxite, tin, and potassium salts. The country is also poor in aluminum ore reserves.

Land resources.

In the central part there are prairies with fertile black soils, almost completely plowed. To the west of the prairies are the dry steppes of the Great Plains, which are used for natural pastures (and partially for arable land).

Forest cover in the USA is 33%.

The main timber producing regions of the United States are the northwest and southeast of the country.

In terms of forest area, the United States ranks 4th in the world after Russia, Brazil, and Canada.

Water resources.

Varied water resources unevenly distributed throughout the country. On the border with Canada there is the largest lake system in the world - the Great Lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron, Ontario, Erie), which are of transport and water resource importance. The main river system of the country is the Mississippi and its tributaries. The left deep tributaries (Ohio, Tennessee) have significant hydropower resources, and the right ones - Missouri, Arkansas - are used for irrigation. Mountain rivers of the Pacific basin (Columbia, Colorado) are used both as sources of irrigation and as sources of hydroelectric power.

Table 4. Space resources. Geothermal resources. Tidal resources, etc.

Recreational resources

Florida, California, etc.

US POPULATION.

Number, reproduction, composition and structure of the population.

• Third place in the world in terms of population after China and India.
• Population growth rate - 0.9%
• Sex composition of North America: 982 men per 100 women
• EAN: 131 million people. (1994)
• Employment structure by sector: 3 / 28 / 69 (1994)

Figure 3. US age-sex pyramid.

Population distribution. Urbanization.

• The average population density is 28 people/km2, while the world average is 34 people/km2. But it is unevenly distributed. So in the northeastern regions the population density is over 100 people/km 2, in agricultural areas and sparsely populated mountain states from 2 to 11, and in Alaska it is even less. The largest population is typical for the states of California (31.2 million people, 1993), New York (18.2 million), Texas (18 million), Florida (13.7 million)
• In the USA, a city is a populated area with a population exceeding 2.5 thousand people. There are 9 thousand of them.
• The urbanization rate in the USA is 76%. Eight millionaire cities: New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Philadelphia, Detroit, Dallas, San Diego.
• The majority (2/3) of Americans live in the suburbs (suburbanization, “one-story America”), and in the central parts of cities there is a large proportion of the black population.

  Table 5. US megacities.

• The rural population of the United States should not be confused with the population living on agricultural farms. Many of these residents are not associated with the agricultural sector. And the rural settlements themselves, which are very comfortable, have a full range of city services.

Population migration.

External

Every year, on average, people enter the country permanent place residence 1 million people The maximum was in 1900-1914, when 13.4 million people arrived in the country.

The last 30-40 years - from Latin America (2/3) and Eastern and South-East Asia(22%). The main flow is from Mexico (braceros), Puerto Rico and Cuba.

Immigration structure:
1st place - close relatives
2nd place - illegal immigrants

Domestic

From “snow belts” (North) to “Sunny” (South). In 1950, the ratio of the population of the North and the South was 55:45, in 1990 - 45:55.

The fastest growing populations are in California, Texas, and Florida.

National composition.

Ethnic groups:
1. US Americans - descendants of settlers - 3/4;
2. Transitional emigrant groups (not yet “naturalized”) are relatively recent settlers;
3. Aboriginal residents (Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts, Hawaiians) - about 0.8%.

In the United States as a whole, European Americans make up 80% of the country's population. A special racial-ethnic group among the residents of the United States are blacks, whose number at the beginning of the 90s was about 30 million people. (12% of the population).

"Black South" (53% of the total black population of the United States): Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia. 84% of blacks live in cities. The most “black” cities in the USA are Detroit (more than 4/5 are black), Washington, Chicago, New York.

Hispanic Americans take third place. Only for the period from 1980 to 1990. their share in the country's population increased from 6.4% to 9%. Their share is especially large in Texas, California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Illinois (Mexicans), New York State (Puerto Ricans), and Florida (Cubans).

Fourth place is occupied by Americans of Asian-Pacific origin, whose share for the period 80-90. increased from 1.5 to 2.9%. Most of them settled in California and the Hawaiian Islands.

Fifth place - indigenous people. About half of the Indians live in cities, half on reservations. The total number of reservations in the United States is approaching 300. The Navajo reservation in Arizona has an area of ​​64 thousand km 2, which corresponds to the size of a fairly large European country.

The share of people of color is growing. If in 1960 the ratio of “white” to “non-white” population was 9:1, then in 1990 this ratio was 8:1. The population of color predominates in cities such as Los Angeles, Miami, San Antonio, and approaches 1/2 in Houston, New Orleans, and San Francisco.

Nowadays, 14% of the population does not speak English. In the state of New York almost 1/4 do not own it, and in the state of California almost 1/3 of all residents do not own it.

According to the forecast, by 2040 the proportion of the population of color will be 59%.

Figure 4. Settlement of the black population in the United States.

US ECONOMY

Industry

The USA ranks 1st in terms of industrial output (18.9% of the world's industrial output).

Table 6. US leadership

1 place	2nd place	3 (4) place
Metallic aluminum Lead and zinc (together) Rough and refined copper		Cast iron (4) Steel Alumina Lead smelting Gold production Silver production (4)
Mechanical engineering (1st place both in volume and variety) Trucks	Cars	Machine tool industry Tractors (3-4) Cameras
Chemical industry (both in volume and variety) Sulfuric acid Fertilizers Production of plastics, chemical fibers, synthetic rubber Pharmaceuticals Wood harvesting Lumber production Pulp production Paper production (1/3 of the world)	Phosphorus fertilizers
Fabrics Silk fabrics (70%) Made from chemical fibers (30%) Carpets Knitwear Shoes		Cotton fabrics (4)
Oil production (1996) Brown coal mining Oil refining (refinery) Power generation Energy production at thermal power plants, nuclear power plants and geothermal power plants The largest cascade of hydroelectric power stations in the world on the river. Colombia	Coal mining Gas production Electricity generation at hydroelectric power stations
The largest shipping canal is Beregovoy River and lake fleet By volume of cargo turnover of water transport Rail length, highways and pipelines Car and air fleet O'Hare is the largest airport in the world		New Orleans is a universal port (by cargo turnover)
Corn production, Soybeans, Meat milk	Grain production Wheat production Tobacco Fibrous cotton Production chicken eggs	Sunflower Peanuts (4) Potatoes (4) Sugar beets (4-5) Large cattle USA
	International tourism (after Europe)

Figure 5. US industrial belts.

Geography of agriculture.

The country has large land resources and a favorable structure of the land fund; Cultivated lands, meadows and pastures occupy almost 1/2 of the main territory of the United States. On the slightly hilly, fertile Central Plains, plowing sometimes reaches 80-90%. Lands unfavorable for agriculture prevail only in Alaska, in the high mountain and desert regions of the Cordillera belt.

Figure 6. Crop production in the United States.
(to enlarge the image, click on the picture)

The US agroclimatic resources are also very significant. You can get a better idea of ​​this by comparing geographical position The USA with the situation of Europe. Temperature conditions allow the cultivation of all crops of the temperate and subtropical zones, and tropical crops in the south of Florida and Hawaii. Moisture supply in eastern half the country is sufficient. But west of the 100° meridian, which is considered a kind of climatic boundary, sustainable agriculture is only possible with artificial irrigation. This is why 3/4 of all irrigated land is in the western states.

The profile of crop production in the United States is primarily determined by grain crops, which occupy 2/3 of all areas. The main food crop is wheat, but much more fodder crops (corn, sorghum) are harvested. Among oilseeds, the leading place belongs to soybeans, the harvest of which has increased significantly in recent decades.

Among fibrous crops, cotton plays a special role, which in the 19th century. was the main export item. Among sugar crops, sugar beets and sugar cane. The role of fruits and vegetables in the daily diet of most Americans is very important.

The profile of the US livestock industry is primarily determined by the breeding of cattle for both dairy and beef purposes. Raising pigs and poultry is also widespread. The meat chicken (broiler) industry is the most industrialized sector of US agriculture and can be considered more of an industry located in rural areas. Up to 4 billion broilers are produced annually. They can be bought at any canteen or snack bar.

Agricultural areas.

The United States represents perhaps all the major types of agriculture found in economically developed countries; Scientists identify 13 such types in the country. At the same time, a huge variety of natural conditions, high marketability, and the development of transport providing mass transportation of agricultural goods created the prerequisites for a rather narrow specialization not only of individual farms, but also of entire regions, which in the United States are usually called agricultural belts. This is a wheat belt formed on the Great Plains, with very high level mechanization of farms - real “grain factories”, often occupying many thousands of hectares. This is a corn belt that originated in the northern Central Plains, where soil and climatic conditions are extremely favorable for growing this crop. This is the milk belt in the Lake District and the states of the Northeast. This is the cotton belt that developed along the lower Mississippi. This is the ranching belt of the southern Great Plains and Mountain States. We can also talk about specialized areas for growing peanuts, tobacco, rice, fruits and vegetables.

GEOGRAPHY OF TRANSPORT.

The framework of the US transport network is formed by transcontinental highways of latitudinal and meridional directions, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean and from Canada to Mexican border. A network of inland waterways seems to be superimposed on it. In the latitudinal direction, this is primarily the system of the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, in the mid-50s. turned into a deep sea passage. In the meridional direction, this is the “American Volga” - the Mississippi. At the intersection of land and waterways and air lines large transport hubs were formed.

The largest transport hub in the USA is Chicago. Dozens of railways and roads converge here, and a large number of various cargoes are transshipped. Chicago is home to the world's largest airport, O'Hare.

Large transport hubs have developed in many seaports, which are located on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the country, as well as on the “third sea coast” of the United States - the Great Lakes. There are about a hundred major ports in the country. The most important of the port-industrial complexes are located on the northern section of the Atlantic coast, which is characterized by an abundance of convenient natural harbors, and on the Gulf Coast.

GEOGRAPHY OF RECREATION AND TOURISM.

In terms of the development of international tourism, the United States is significantly inferior to Europe, but nevertheless, more than 45 million people visit the country every year. At the same time, neighboring tourism with Canada is especially developed. Domestic tourism has received great development, and the “hospitality industry” is highly developed, including car service.

The United States has very large and diverse natural and recreational resources, on the basis of which large natural and recreational areas have developed. The main areas of coastal tourism are Florida, California and Hawaii, mountain tourism - the states of the West, especially within the Rocky Mountains, and lakeside tourism - the Lakeland states.

There are 50 national parks in the United States, which are visited annually by more than 50 million tourists. The most famous of them are Yellowstone, Yosemite, Sequoia, Glacier, the Grand Canyon of Colorado in the West and the Great Smoky Mountains in the Appalachians.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE.

Thanks to a very capacious domestic market, the US economy is less “open” compared to the economies of Europe and Japan. However, external economic relations have great importance and for this country. The United States ranks first in the world in terms of foreign trade turnover. Their merchandise exports consist of industrial and agricultural products. In general, about 15% of industrial products are exported directly or indirectly (including 1/4 of metals, 1/5 of machinery and chemical goods). The exportability of agriculture is much higher and amounts to 1/2 for wheat, 1/3 for soybeans and tobacco, and 1/5 for corn.

US imports are dominated by raw materials, machinery and equipment. Imports exceed exports in value, so the country's trade balance is usually negative. The geography of US foreign trade is primarily determined by its ties with two other NAFTA members - Canada and Mexico, as well as with foreign Europe and Japan.

The United States is a major exporter of capital, which goes mainly to Western countries. But direct investment European countries and Japan in the US are also very large. They are almost equal to the export of American capital. Therefore, as they say, a “two-way street” has been formed.

Main intercountry trade flows
1. USA - Canada - 4.7% (share in world trade turnover) - 1st place in world trade turnover;
2. USA - Japan - 3.3% (share in world trade turnover) - 2nd place in world trade turnover;
3. USA - Mexico - 4th place in world trade turnover;
4. USA - UK;
5. USA - Saudi Arabia;
6. USA - Germany.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS.

In the 60-70s. Some of the most industrialized and urbanized areas of the United States are on the brink of an environmental crisis. The expansion of open-pit mining led to an increase in the area of ​​"badlands", the increase in thermal energy - to the spread of acid rain, the continuation of rapid motorization - to the transformation of a number of cities into real "smog cities". began to fade away organic life in the Great Lakes, especially Lake Erie. Under these conditions, the USA adopted the federal law on national environmental policy, and then laws on clean air, clean water etc. Expenditures on environmental protection measures were increased. New technology began to be introduced. The public began to show significant initiative. Environmental education and youth education have improved. As a result, the state of the environment began to gradually improve. But in some areas the environmental situation continues to be difficult.

US MACRO ZONATION: FOUR MAIN PARTS.

Until recently, the division of the United States into three main economic regions was widely used. However, in the 80s. American statistics began to distinguish four macro-regions, differing both in historical and cultural characteristics and in the nature of modern social economic development: Northeast, Midwest, South and West.

Figure 7. US macroregions.

Northeast: "workshop of the nation." The Northeast is the smallest macroregion in area, but its role in the life of the country has been and remains extremely important.

In 1620, the Mayflower ship with the first English settlers arrived from England to the coast of the bay. This is how New England arose, which can be called the cradle of the United States; It is to its natives that the word “Yankee,” symbolizing Native Americans, primarily refers.

For a long time, the Northeast developed faster than other regions. This was facilitated by the benefits of its EGP, its wealth of coal, and the peculiarities of colonization. It was in the Northeast that the US industrial belt was born, turning this area into the “workshop of the nation.” And although in the second half of the 20th century. Its share by most indicators is declining; it continues to remain a very important economic region of the country. The geographical pattern of its economy and settlement primarily determines the North-Eastern megalopolis already known to you, which is often called the “Main Street” of the country. It is home to the country's "economic capital" - New York - and its political capital - Washington.

New York is the largest financial, industrial, transport, commercial and Cultural Center USA. It accounts for more than 1/10 of the country's total GDP. New York is especially important as the main financial center of the United States. The boards of the largest banks and insurance companies are located here. The New York Stock and Commodity Exchanges are the largest centers of financial and banking operations not only in the United States, but also in the world.

There are three groups of industries in New York City industry. Firstly, these are heavy industries related to the port function of the city and the processing of the resulting by sea raw materials - oil, non-ferrous metals. Secondly, these are industries that arose with a focus on labor and the consumer - engineering, clothing, food. Thirdly, this is the printing industry, which also created its worldwide fame as the “news capital”. New York plays a "legislative" role in the world of culture and spectacle.

As the “main gate” of the United States, through which 90% of immigrants arriving in the country passed, New York is distinguished by the greatest diversity of national composition, people of 177 nationalities live in it; at least 2/5 of its inhabitants are relatively recent immigrants and their children.

Washington has been the capital of the United States since 1800. Washington is more reminiscent of European cities than other US cities. This is the only major US city where there are no skyscrapers, since the construction of buildings taller than the Capitol, the seat of the country's Congress, is prohibited. Washington has few industrial enterprises, but it is a major scientific and cultural center.

If New England for a long time was the main area of ​​light industry in the United States, then the western part of Pennsylvania acquired the fame of the “American Ruhr” back in the last century, where one of the foundations of the industrial belt was formed on the basis of the Appalachian Basin. The main center of this coal and metallurgical base is Pittsburgh, located on the river. Ohio acquired the title of "metallurgical capital" of the USA. But for a long time now this old industrial area has been in decline and is classified as depressed. Almost all of its metallurgical plants have already been closed, and other industries and services are developing.

Midwest: region of large industry and agriculture.

The Midwest was settled and developed already in the 19th century. The territory of the industrial belt from New York and Boston gradually moved westward, covering the Lake District. Here, on the basis of the rich resources of fuel and raw materials and the benefits of EGP, such large industrial centers as Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland were formed. In the second half of the 20th century. The Lakeside megalopolis also emerged.

Chicago can rightfully be called the capital of the Midwest. This city has long become a kind of symbol of the power and dynamism of American industry, the main market for grain and livestock.

It is also the largest financial, commercial and cultural center and the largest transportation hub in the United States. Chicago is a very striking example of suburbanization. Its agglomeration includes dozens of satellite cities, “bedroom” cities.

But the Midwest isn't just rich in coal and iron ore. Its wealth also consists of exceptionally favorable soil and agroclimatic conditions. Occupying only 1/5 of the US territory, it provides about 1/2 of their agricultural products. Within this macro-region there is a dairy belt, which is characterized by large farms. Milk, butter, cheese are distributed from here throughout the country. It also includes the corn belt, where farmers raise beef cattle and pigs.

Here is the belt of spring wheat, which has long replaced natural landscapes prairie. And to the south there is a belt of winter wheat.

South: macro-region of great changes.

The American South has long developed much more slowly than the Northeast and Midwest, primarily due to the dominance of the slave plantation economy. For a century and a half, these were the possessions of the “Cotton King”. And subsequently, the South served as an agricultural and raw materials appendage of more developed macro-regions. Associated with it were the ideas of poverty, backwardness, and extreme manifestations of racism.

However, in recent decades this traditional image of the South has largely become a thing of the past. The region took first place in the country in the production of oil, natural gas, coal, phosphorites, and in the capacity of power plants and petrochemical plants. 9/10 of the production of textiles and tobacco products is now concentrated here.

The cotton belt has greatly reduced in size, but Agriculture has become diversified and intensive. In terms of welfare, the South is still inferior to other macroregions, primarily this applies to the most “black” states - Mississippi and Alabama.

The South can be called many-sided. Geographers distinguish several parts in it.

This is the Old South, famous for its tobacco plantations; It was here that Marlboro cigarettes were invented and are still produced. This is also the main area for the production of broiler chickens. This is the Deep South, famous for its cotton monoculture. The city of Atlanta can serve as a symbol of its rapid growth. This is the “sunny state” of Florida, which is visited annually by 50 million tourists and vacationers, making Miami the largest resort in the world; Citrus fruits from here are distributed throughout the country. The main US spaceport is located at Cape Canaveral. This is the New South (Texas), which after the “oil rush” turned into one of the richest and most prosperous areas of the United States. Its main centers are the ultra-modern cities of Dallas and Houston. Large aerospace production is located here, and space flights are controlled from here.

The West is the youngest and most dynamic microregion in the United States.

The West is the youngest macro-region of the United States in terms of time of development and the largest in territory. Therefore, probably, the contrast within its limits is especially pronounced. Here are the highest mountains in the country, the deepest canyons, the largest deserts (it is no coincidence that the state of Arizona is called “Egypt in America”) and the most fertile valleys. Here is the greatest mixture of Anglo-American, Spanish-American, Asian-American and Indian cultures, the most striking combination of huge cities and almost lifeless spaces. Here are perhaps the greatest contrasts in people’s living standards.

For a long time, the West specialized in the mining industry and grazing livestock. Its rapid development began only after the Second World War, and since then it has outpaced other macroregions in terms of economic growth.

Despite a number of common features, the West is internally heterogeneous. It is customary to highlight the Far West (in relation to the eastern part of the country), occupying the prairies of the Great Plains - the land of vast pastures, cattle and sheep, the land of ranches, cowboys and their traditional competitions - rodeo. Next, this is the Mountain West - the land of the Rocky Mountains and deserts, many copper, molybdenum, uranium, gold mines and coal mines, the land of irrigated agriculture, the land of national parks, ski resorts and year-round tourism. This is, finally, the Pacific West, within which there are various parts, but the “golden state” of California stands out.

California is often called a “state within a state.” Indeed, this state is approximately equal in area to Japan, and in population - to Canada. California is the main scientific and military-industrial arsenal of the United States. California is also the country's premier agricultural state, primarily thanks to the Central Valley, which is a 700-mile orchard stretching across 700 km. California only has half as many cars as the rest of the 49 states in the country.

The face of California is largely determined by its largest city, Los Angeles. Founded by Spanish missionaries in 1781, it owed its growth first to agriculture, then to gold, cinematography (Hollywood), oil, and then Lately- a complex of military-oriented industries: the production of aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, as well as instruments and electronics for them. As an industrial center it is second only to New York.

Los Angeles is one of the largest cities in the world by area, it stretches along the ocean coast for 100-120 km, and on its streets and highways the house numbers reach 12 and even 16 thousand. It is also the most “one-story” of the US cities. The Los Angeles metropolitan area includes more than 220 communities, and 3/4 of its population lives in the suburbs.

The second most important center of California is San Francisco, which is considered perhaps the most beautiful city in the United States, and before the rise of Los Angeles it was the economic and cultural capital of California, and indeed the entire West. The famous Silicon Valley is located near San Francisco.

The West also includes Alaska, the main resource area for new development in the United States, and Hawaii, the island of pineapples and tourism.

In connection with the development of the mining industry in Alaska, special measures are being taken to protect the nature of the North, but it is not possible to completely avoid an environmental disaster.

LATIN AMERICA

Table 7. Demographic, socio-economic indicators of the world, Latin America.

Indicators	The whole world	L. America	Central America	West Indies	South America	Brazil	Mexico
Area, thousand km 2	132850	20076	2496	230	17350	8512	1973
Population in 1998, million people.	5930	499,5	130,7	36,9	331,9	165,2	95,9
Fertility, ‰	24	25	29	23	25	25	27
Mortality, ‰	9	7	5	8	7	8	5
Natural increase	15	18	25	15	18	17	22
Life expectancy, m/f	63/68	66/73	69/75	67/71	66/73	63/71	70/76
Age structure, under 16 / over 65	62/6	33/5	37/4	31/7	33/5	32/5	36/4
Proportion of urban population in 1995, %	45	68	68	62	78	78	75
GDP per capita in 1995, $	6050	6840	6840	4040	6140	5400	6400

SUBREGIONS OF LATIN AMERICA

Figure 8. Subregions of Latin America.
(to enlarge the image, click on the picture)

LA PLATA BASIN COUNTRIES
(Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay)

• Most urbanized (80% except Paraguay);
• minerals: oil, natural gas;
• In the 19th century The main flows of immigrants were sent to Argentina, Uruguay, and the southeastern and southern regions of Brazil, since these areas most closely resembled the “old homeland.”
• the main branches of specialization are agriculture: livestock breeding (cattle, sheep, goat breeding) and crop production (wheat, corn, soybeans, fruits); production and export of leather, wool, meat, grain, wines, vegetable oils.
• Members of MERCOSUR ("Southern Market"), which includes Brazil, and Chile as an observer.
• Together with Chile they form the so-called “Southern Cone”.

Argentina

In 1527, Sebastian Cabot, in search of the “silver kingdom,” went up the Parana River, but never found anything. Nevertheless, this river began to be called Rio de La Plata, i.e. "Silver River" In 1810, a rebellion against Spanish rule began here, which led to the formation of the "United Province of the Silver River." And in 1826, the new state proclaimed itself the Republic of Argentina (Argentina - from the Latin word "argentum", which means "silver")

Argentina is the second largest country in Latin America.

13th of the population lives in Buenos Aires. In Argentina they want to move the capital to Viedma. "Porteños" - "port dweller" - indigenous people of Buenos Aires.

The basis of the nation is Creoles(descendants of mixed marriages between Europeans and Indians).

Gaucho- Argentine cowboy, shepherd - an ethnic group formed as a result of marriages between Spaniards and Indian women; estancia(latifundia) - "meat factories" - livestock farms in Argentina; pump- Argentine steppe; Wheat and corn are grown here, but the main agricultural activity is cattle breeding: cattle, sheep, goat breeding.

Paraguay

The country is landlocked. The population is dominated by Indians. Paraguay remains poor country. The main export items are cotton, soybeans, timber, meat, and vegetable oil.

Uruguay

In the capital of this country (Montevideo) 34 total industrial production, which is worthy of the Guinness Book of Records.

Latin American countries are generally characterized by the concentration of main production in capitals, "economic capitals" And "ports of export", which may not coincide (for example, in Brazil: the capital is Brasilia, the “economic capital” is São Paulo, the “port of export” is Santos, “penetration lines” are roads connecting the port of export with mining areas located in the interior of the territory and plantations). The largest: Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires; smaller in scale: Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Santiago, Caracas, Bogota, Havana, where 50 to 80% of the country's industrial output is produced.

The core of the Uruguay nation is made up of Creoles. The main export items are meat, leather, hides, wool, fish, textiles.

ANDEAN COUNTRIES
(Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile)

Brief characteristics of the countries of the subregion.

Region specialization:
• mining and processing of minerals: oil, gas, copper, tin, iron, polymetals, saltpeter, precious stones, including diamonds;
• fishing;
• crop production - coffee, bananas, sugar cane, flowers.

Venezuela

In 1499, a Spanish expedition discovered an Indian village built on stilts in the Gulf of Maracaibo. This reminded the Spaniards of the famous Italian city, from which the name of the country came - Venezuela, i.e. "little Venice" (capital - Caracas). The country has the largest waterfall in the world on a tributary of the river. Caroni (bass. Orinoco) - Angel.

Oil- 12 reserves in the region, of which 45 reserves are in the Maracaibo basin (developed since the 20s of the twentieth century, within its boundaries is the unique Bolivar field). High sulfur content. One of the world's largest oil terminals.

Heavy oil- "asphalt belt" lower reaches of the river. Orinoco. Not developed due to lack of technology.

Guayana- the largest of the new industrial areas of new development in Venezuela, the largest industrial area of ​​integrated development: electric power (Guri - hydroelectric power station and the largest Latin America reservoir on the river Caroni), black and non-ferrous metallurgy(iron ore deposit Serra - Bolivar; bauxite). Venezuela ranks first in Latin America in the smelting and export of primary aluminum, and in the future, 1st place in the world. Tractor manufacturing and the pulp and paper industry are based in this area. Here is the largest export port of Venezuelan Guayana - Ciudad Guayana.

Ecuador

The capital is Quito.

Main minerals: oil, copper

Main export items: bananas, oil, shrimp, coffee, cocoa, sugar. IN last years along with the Netherlands and Kenya, it is the largest supplier of flowers to the world market, including Russia.

Colombia

The capital is Santa Fe de Bogota.

Copper, emeralds (1st place in the world for precious stones).

Main crops: coffee (Arabica), bananas, cocoa.

Bolivia

La Paz (translated as "peace") is the de facto capital of this highland state. Sucre - the official capital is named after one of the heroes of the liberation struggle against the Spanish colonialists and the first president of this state.

Main natural wealth Bolivia - tin. Llallagua and Potosí are one of the largest deposits of tin ore in the world (silver mines previously existed in Potosi). There are deposits of iron ore.

The population is dominated by Indians. Bolivia is one of the highest altitude countries in the world, where more than half the population lives on the Altiplano plateau, located at an altitude of 3300-3800 m, and La Paz is the highest millionaire city that arose at such an altitude.

Peru

The capital is Lima (translated from the Quechua Indian means “navel”). This city was located in the center of the Inca Empire and was the capital and residence of the Great Inca. It was revered as the “city of the Sun” and was, along with Tenochtitlan, the largest city of pre-Columbian America.

Deposits of copper, polymetals, silver, noble and rare metals, precious stones; oil and gas; cotton growing.

Leader in world fisheries.

Official languages ​​- Spanish and Quechua - ancient language Incas.

Chile

The capital is Santiago.

Copper - 23 reserves in Latin America, the copper content in the ore is 1.6%, which is higher than in other deposits, and also contains molybdenum; Chuquicamata - largest deposit copper-molybdenum ores, on the basis of which there is a large industrial region of Chile.

The world's largest saltpeter deposit is located in Chile.

BRAZIL AND NORTHEAST (AMAZON COUNTRIES)
(Region composition: Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, Guiana)

Brazil.

Brazil (from the name of sandalwood "pau brazil").

Member of MERCOSUR.

The capital is Brasilia. It has an airplane shape in plan and is included in the UNESCO list as a monument world heritage. Architects - L. Costa, O. Niemeyer. The Temple of All Religions is located here, where you can meet representatives of almost all faiths. The purpose of creating this city is to develop the interior of Brazil.

Sao Paulo- the largest city in this country was founded by the Portuguese Jesuits on St. Paul's Day, which is reflected in its name. This city is the third largest in the world. It is home to about 90 nationalities.

Rio de Janeiro- another millionaire city in the country. Translated from Spanish it means "River of January". It is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, if, of course, you don’t notice the neighborhoods of shacks - favelas. The five-kilometer Copacabana embankment is the most famous recreational area in the world. No less famous is Mount Corcovada (The Hunchback), on which there is a huge white marble figure of Christ. Guanabara is the bay where Rio is located. Cariocas - this is what the residents of Rio de Janeiro call themselves. They are temperamental, especially value pleasure and entertainment, and “everyone in white pants” - according to O. Bender. Samba is a famous carnival dance. The Maracana Stadium is the largest in Latin America.

Brazil is one of the top five countries in terms of population.

About 50% of the population lives on 7% of the country's coastal territory.

Economy of Brazil.

Natural resources
• Mineral. 1st place in terms of wealth and diversity in Latin America: iron ores (Itabira, Carajas), oil, coal, bauxite, manganese, diamonds, etc.
• Water: In terms of total flow, it ranks 1st in the world and accounts for 13 water resources in Latin America (Amazon). The world's largest hydropower complex "Itaipu" on the Parana River (on the border of Paraguay and Brazil).
• Forest(rural Amazon).

Specialization: iron ore industry, mechanical engineering (second only to the USA, Japan, Germany in the production of mini-computers; aircraft, locomotives, ships, etc.), food (sugar, meat), light goods (clothing, shoes), world leader in in the production of coffee, sugar cane, bananas, and in the collection of soybeans and oranges it is second only to the United States.

Industrial area based on the Itabira deposit.

The area of ​​new development is Karazhas on the basis of an iron ore deposit (open-pit mining). Obage fabric, a specialized iron ore port of Ponta de Madeira, one of the world's largest hydroelectric power stations - Tucurui on the river. Tocantins.

Main crops: sugar cane (1st place in sugar production in Latin America), coffee (southeast of the country, Sao Paulo is the main “coffee state” of the country), rubber, bananas. In addition: cocoa, soy, oranges, etc.

"Arabica" - coffee itself High Quality, grown in Central America and Colombia. Homeland - Africa (Ethiopia). This is a tree from Java was delivered to botanical exhibition to Holland, 8 years later the Dutch presented its sprouts to the French king Louis XIV. One of the governors of the French possessions in the Caribbean, while in Paris, took with him one of the young shoots, which migrated to French Guiana, where they began to grow this plant. Further, the wife of one of the French officials, as a sign of favor, gave several fruits of this tree to the Portuguese diplomat, which he secretly took to Brazil.

Table 8. Main plantation crops in Latin America

NORTHEAST
Guyana (Georgetown), Suriname (Paramaribo), French Guiana (Cayenne)

The main natural resources are bauxite and forest resources.

In Suriname and Guyana, nations were formed on the basis of Asian origin.

In Guyana the official language is English, in Guiana it is French.

Low population density.

Main crops: sugar cane (Guyana).

MIDDLE AMERICA
(Region composition: Mexico, Central America and the West Indies)

Central America and West Indies.

Table 9. Composition of the subregion and its brief characteristics.

Central America	West Indies
1. Belize (Belmopan) 2. Guatemala (Guatemala) 3. Honduras (Tegucigalpa) 4. Salvador (San Salvador) 5. Panama (Panama) 6. Costa Rica (San Jose) 7. Nicaragua (Managua)	1. Antigua and Barbuda (St. John's) 2. Aruba (independence since 1994) 3. Bahamas (Nassau) 4. Barbados (Bridgetown) 5. Dominica (Roseau) 6. Dominican Republic (Santo Domingo) 7. Cuba (Havana) 8. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (Kingstown) 9. Saint Kitts and Nevis (Basseterre*) 10. Saint Lucia (Castries) 11. Trinidad and Tobago (Port of Spain) 12. Grenada (St. George's) 13. Haiti (Port-au-Prince) 14. Jamaica (Kingston*)
Region specialization: coffee (Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador); bananas (Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama); cotton (Nicaragua). SEZ** (Panama).	Nations formed on the basis of the African population: Haiti, Jamaica. The highest population density in Latin America (Barbados - 700 people 2, Grenada - 300 people 2) Haiti was the first Latin American country to gain independence on January 1, 1804. Specialization - tourism, mineral resources(nickel, on the basis of whose deposits an industrial region was formed in Cuba; bauxite - Jamaica (industrial region), Dominican Republic; oil - Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago), agricultural crops: sugar cane (Cuba - 1st place in the world in exports , Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Haiti), cocoa (Sao Tome and Principe, Grenada), nutmeg (Grenada - 2nd place in the world after Indonesia), cotton, citrus fruits. Industrial Products: Electronic Equipment (Barbados); ammonia (Trinidad and Tobago); starch (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the world's leading producer); clothing, sports equipment, chemicals (Barbados). SEZ** (Bahamas, Aruba, etc.)
** SEZ - free economic zones.

Mexico

Mexico City is the capital of Mexico. This city was built on the site of Tenochtitlan - a city that had the longest “experience” in the Western Hemisphere (since 1176). The central place in it is occupied by the Cuatemoc region, named after the last supreme ruler of the Aztecs. It is in this city that you can find murals by outstanding artists on the streets: D. Rivera, J. C. Orozco, D. Siqueiros. Environmental problems have become very acute ("smogopolis"). "Tugurios" - slum areas.

Mineral resources(in terms of richness and diversity - 2nd place in Latin America after Brazil): copper, polymetallic ores, iron ores, sulfur, graphite, mercury, silver, etc.; oil (Faja de Oro - "Golden Belt" - a chain of fields in the waters of Capeche Bay in the Gulf of Mexico; now the main oil and gas production is here - an area of ​​​​new development), coal.

Manufacturing industry: oil refining and petrochemistry, ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering (including automotive, electrical engineering and electronics), production of building materials.

Maquildoras - assembly plants, branches of US TNCs (General Motors, Ford, Chrysler, IBM, etc.) - an area of ​​new development and SEZ in the border zone with the USA, on the basis of which a system of paired cities was formed (Tijuana - San -Diego, etc.)

Production of sugar (3rd place after Brazil and Cuba), corn, grains, coffee, cotton.

Tasks and tests on the topic "Regional characteristics of the world. America"

• Geographical location and natural features of North America - North America 7th grade

  Lessons: - South America 7th grade

  Lessons: 4 Assignments: 10 Tests: 1

Leading ideas: show the diversity of cultural worlds, models of economic and political development, interconnection and interdependence of countries around the world; and also be convinced of the need for a deep understanding of the laws of social development and the processes that occur in the world.

Basic concepts: Western European (North American) type of transport system, port-industrial complex, "development axis", metropolitan region, industrial belt, "false urbanization", latifundia, ship stations, megalopolis, "technopolis", "growth pole", "growth corridors"; colonial type sectoral structure, monoculture, apartheid, subregion.

Skills and abilities: be able to assess the influence of EGP and GGP, the history of settlement and development, characteristics of the population and labor resources of the region, country on the sectoral and territorial structure of the economy, the level of economic development, the role in the MGRT of the region, country; identify problems and predict prospects for the development of a region or country; highlight specific, defining features of individual countries and explain them; find similarities and differences in the population and economy of individual countries and give an explanation for them, draw up and analyze maps and cartograms.

Geography of North America
Click to enlarge

North America, the third largest continent in the world, includes 6 countries (some sources also include countries in North America Central America and the Caribbean, however, in our directory they were placed in a separate section for clarity). In addition, North America includes the world's largest island, Greenland.

Situated in the northern and eastern hemisphere, the region is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, and to the west by the Pacific Ocean.

Mountains, foothills, and plains of North America

Alaska Range

These mountains of south-central Alaska extend from the Alaska Peninsula to the border with Yukon Territory (Canada). The highest point in all of North America is located here - Mount McKinley (height - 6,194 m).

Coast Range

Mountains along the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. They also extend along the western border of British Columbia in Canada, and the southern tip of Alaska, all the way to the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island.

Great Plains

The Great Plains of North America slope east from the Rocky Mountains, and extend to the edge of the Canadian Shield and the western borders of the Appalachian Mountains. This land, is generally flat, with large areas without trees and valleys with shallow rivers. Small hills and mountains occur in the Ozark Plateau (Missouri) and in the Boston and Ouachita Mountains northwest of Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover areas of north-central Nebraska.

Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachians, approximately 2,600 km long, stretch from central Alabama (USA) through the New England states and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Quebec.

Significant chains of the Appalachian Mountains include: Cumberland (Tennessee), Blue Ridge (Virginia), Allegans (Pennsylvania), Catskill (New York), Green Mountains (Vermont), White Mountains (New Hampshire) .

The highest point is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina (height - 2,037 m).

Canadian shield

A plateau region found in eastern and northern Canada and the Great Lakes region of North America, consisting primarily of rugged and rocky terrain and large areas of coniferous (evergreen) forest. Additionally, the northern regions along the Arctic Circle are rocky, frozen tundra. The highest elevation is supposedly 500 meters.

Cascade Mountains

A mountain range extending from northeastern California through Oregon and Washington. Major peaks include Mount Hood, Rainer, and St. Helens.

Continental Divide

In North America, the Western Continental Divide is an imaginary line running through a series of mountain peaks across North America that divides the continent into two major drainage areas.

Atlantic lowland

This large area in the southern and southeastern United States extends to the continental shelf, and is generally characterized by forested plains different types. Coastal areas contain estuaries and streams, swamps, swamps, etc.

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains are approximately 3,000 km long, stretching from the US state of New Mexico, across the western United States, and all the way to the northernmost borders of British Columbia in Canada.

The largest mountain ranges in this chain include: Absaroka, Bear River, Beaverhead, Big Belt, Big Horn, Bitterroots, Canadian, Clearwater, Columbia, Front, Guadalupe, Laremy, Lemley, Lewis, Lost River, Medicine Bow, Monashee, Auhi, Purcell , Sacramento, Samon River, San Andres, Sangre de Cristo, Southwatch, Shawshone, Steans, Stillwater, Swan, Tetons, Unita, Wallowa, Wasatch, Wind River, Wyoming, Zuni.

The highest point in the Rocky Mountains is Mount Elbert, located 15 kilometers from Leadville, Colorado. Its height is 4,399 meters.

Sierra Madre

The Sierra Madre includes two large mountain ranges and one smaller one. The Sierra Madre Occidental runs parallel to the Mexican ocean coast, with some of its peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. The Sierra Madre Oriental runs parallel to the Gulf Coast, and some of its peaks also exceed 3,000 meters. The Sierra Madre Sur is located in the southern Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca.

Brooks Range

Mountains in northern Alaska. The highest point is Mount Isto (height – 2,760 m).

Rivers of North America

Hundreds of rivers and their tributaries flow through North America. Some of the largest and most significant of them will be listed and described below.

Brazos

This Texas river originates in the northern part of the state in Stonewall County, and flows south to Brazoria County, and then to the Gulf of Mexico. Its length is 1,351 km.

Colorado

Rising in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, the river flows southwest and ends in the Gulf of California. Its length is 2,333 km. Over the centuries, the river has formed many canyons along its meandering path. The most famous of them is the Grand Canyon, in northern Arizona. Along the entire route of the river there are 30 power plants, as well as dozens of dams and reservoirs.

Colombia

This wide, fast-flowing river begins in the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia in Canada, then flows south through Washington State, then forms the natural border between Washington and Oregon. It ends in the Pacific Ocean and is 1,857 km long. Hydroelectric development in the river basin brought inexpensive electricity to residents of the Pacific Northwest, but greatly impacted salmon spawning and the migration of native fish.

Mackenzie

It is Canada's longest river and divides the Northwest Territories. It flows mainly northwest into the Mackenzie Gulf and Beaufort Sea. This river of historical significance was discovered by Alexander Mackenzie, and along its route are lush green forests and dozens of lakes. Its length is 1,800 km. When combined with its tributaries, the Slave, Peace, and Finlay, its total length is 4,240 km, making it the second longest river in North America, behind the Mississippi/Missouri River system (which is 6,236 km long). .

Mississippi

It is the main river of North America and the United States, with a length of 3,765 km. It flows from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, near the city of New Orleans. It is an important transportation artery, and if connected to its main tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio Rivers), it will become the third largest river system in the world, with a length of 6,236 km.

Missouri

This river originates in southern Montana in the Rocky Mountains, and flows first north, then southeast, through the heart of the United States, ending in the Mississippi River, north of St. Louis, Missouri. It is the longest river in the United States (4,203 km).

Ohio

Formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Ohio River flows generally southwest. It forms the natural border between Ohio and West Virginia, between Ohio and Kentucky, and part of the border with Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. It ends in the Mississippi River in Illinois and is 1,569 km long.

St. Lawrence River

This river flows northeast from Lake Ontario into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is 1,225 km long and can be used by deep-sea vessels between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. It includes several man-made canals, locks and dams, and is considered one of the most important trade routes on the planet.

Rio Grande

It is one of the longest rivers in North America (length - 3,034 km), it begins in the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado, then flows south through New Mexico. It forms the natural border between Texas and Mexico as it flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. In Mexico the river is known as the Rio Bravo del Norte. The waters of this river, used by both countries for drinking water, are becoming increasingly polluted as the settlements surrounding the river's path grow in size and dump more sewage and pesticides into the water.

Fraser

This river in British Columbia, Canada, begins in the Canadian Rockies, then flows in different directions (mostly south), then finally turns west to end in the Strait of Georgia, south of Vancouver. Its length is 1,368 km.

Churchill

This river, which flows in central Canada, originates in northwestern Saskatchewan, then flows east to Manitoba, and on to Hudson Bay. It flows through a series of lakes and is known for its fast currents. Its length is 1,609 km.

Yukon

This river originates in the southwestern part of the Yukon Territory of Canada, and then flows northwest across the border into Alaska. This massive river then continues southwest through central Alaska, ending in the Bering Sea. Despite its length (2,035 km), and the fact that, for the most part, this river is navigable, it freezes from October to mid-June.

USA.

The name of the country comes from the continent of America.

The capital of USA. Washington.

US area. 9629091 km2.

US Population. 321.2 million people ()

US GDP. $17.42 trl. (

US location. The United States is the fourth largest country, located in the territory from to, from in the east to and the Rocky Mountains in the west. The territory of the United States includes Alaska, the Hawaiian Islands, and a number of islands in the western Pacific Ocean. In the north it borders with, in the south - with. Alaska is separated from the strait and has borders with Canada.

Administrative division USA. The state includes 50 states (48 contiguous, as well as Alaska and Hawaii) and the federal (capital) district.

US form of government. A republic with a federal government structure.

Head of State of the USA. President, elected for a term of 4 years.

Supreme legislative body of the United States. Congress, consisting of two chambers: the Senate (elected for 6 years) and the House of Representatives (term of office - 2 years).

Supreme executive body of the United States. Government - The Cabinet of Ministers, appointed by the President with the consent of the Senate.

Big cities USA. New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Miami, Detroit, Dallas, San Diego, Boston, Houston, Phoenix, Atlanta, St. Louis, Buffalo, Cleveland.

Official language of the USA. English.

Religion USA. They profess Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism.

Ethnic composition of the USA. 84% are from , 12% are African-American, 3% are from Asia, 0.8% are Indian.

US currency. US dollar = 100 cents.

USA climate. in the United States it is mostly continental. In Alaska (climate), the average January temperature is -25 °C, on the Florida Peninsula -+20 °C. The average July temperature on the west coast ranges from + 14°C to + 22°C, on the east - from + 16°C to +25°C. At American resorts almost all year round Summer reigns. Temperatures below 0°C in winter are observed throughout the entire territory except California, Florida and Hawaii. The most rain falls on Hawaii (10,000 mm per year), the least on Mojave (less than 100 mm).

Flora USA. a third of the country's territory is occupied. Thus, in the south of Alaska there are extensive coniferous forests The rest of the state is covered predominantly with mosses and lichens. The central part of the country is characterized by mixed vegetation (spruce, pine, oak, ash, birch, sycamore). The north of the east coast is characterized by cedar, pine, and deciduous forests. To the south, the vegetation acquires a subtropical character - magnolias and rubber plants appear here. The Gulf Coast is covered with mangroves. The western part of the country is a region of deserts and deserts, characterized by yucca, shrubs and subshrubs. Desert areas are home to many cacti and succulents. Citrus fruits and various palm trees are common in California. The Sierra Nevada is considered the land of the giant sequoias.

Fauna USA. Fauna also varies depending on the region. Thus, the northern regions are inhabited by bears, lynxes, deer, and ground squirrels. The coast of Alaska is home to walruses and seals. In the east there are grizzly bears, deer, foxes, wolves, skunks, badgers, a large number of birds, including pelicans, flamingos, kingfishers, alligators, and many snakes. On the Great Ones one can find mainly ungulates and herds of bison. The mountainous regions are inhabited by elk, pronghorn, mountain goats, thickhorns, bears, and wolves. In desert areas - reptiles, small mammals, rodents.

and lakes USA. The main rivers are the Missouri, Columbia. Colorado. The largest lakes are the Great Lakes bordering Canada: , Erie, Ontario.

sightseeings of USA. In New York - Rockefeller Center (15 skyscrapers), British Empire Building, Radio Corporation of America Building, St. Patrick's Cathedral (19th century), New York Public Library, Grand Central Station building, Headquarters, Empire skyscraper State Building (102 floors), Immigration Museum, New York State Theater, Metropolitan Opera Building, Cleopatra's Needle Obelisk, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Museum of Modern Art, Museum American Indians, Museum of African Art, Museum of the City, Museum of the Sea and much more. Natural attractions include mountain ranges and bay coasts.

Useful information for tourists

Americans are proud that they are citizens of the best country in the world, and they do not like stiffness either in clothing or in manners. A European may be surprised by the simplicity of their appearance - they prefer comfortable clothes, address each other simply, informally, even if there is a difference in age and social status between the interlocutors.

Americans are very concerned about their health and the health of others, which is why there are designated areas for smoking in restaurants and bars. Do not smoke in taxis, airports, train stations, and even on some streets you can be fined for smoking a cigarette.

As for communication in an informal setting, receptions in the USA - ordinary thing. This is a favorable opportunity to talk about family and hobbies. It is better to bring a bottle of good wine as a gift. In the United States, tips are a legal form of additional remuneration in the service sector. It is distributed in taxis, at airports, in hotels, in restaurants. The porter is paid an additional 0.25-0.5 dollars per seat. A bellhop (“beltooy”) in a hotel earns somewhat more (0.5-1 dollar per bed). It is customary to tip the head waiter, receptionist, and maid. Tips for waiters and taxi drivers are equal to 10-15% of the bill.

You should never offer money to a police officer or government official. This attempt may be classified as a criminal offense.