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 19 th and 20 th centuries.

More General Information  Two Traumatic Experiences: Civil War ( ) 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.

N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:

Human and Environmental Interaction AAir pollution causes acid rain in the U.S. and Canada. UU.S. is the largest emitter of Carbon dioxide from the burning of fossil fuels. WWater pollution from the runoff of pesticides and fertilizers. DDesertification S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.