Brief information on the country: a site, cities, regions, the population, a political system, economy, sights, holidays
Geography and the population
The official name of the country - the United States of America (the USA, English The United States of America, USA). The state is located in the North America. Almost all territory of the country is stretched from Atlantic ocean in the east to Pacific ocean in the west; in the south borders on Mexico, in the north with Canada. In the extreme northwest of continent there is the State of Alaska also adjoining on Canada, but from the east. In Pacific ocean – the island State of Hawaii. The USA a number of islands in Caribbean sea (for example, Puerto Rico) and in Pacific ocean (American Samoa, Miduej, Guam, etc.) also belongs. The border with Russia passes through Bering strait. Country capital – Washington.
In a relief various forms are presented: plains, heights, mountains. On the area of the USA take the fourth place in the world (9 372 610 sq. km).
The climate of the USA is characterised by the big variety: from Arctic and subarctic on Alaska and to tropical in Florida and California. A climate of east part of the country damp, in the west – more continental and dry as high mountains in the west detain a moisture going from Pacific ocean. One of optimum climatic areas Florida is considered. Here there are no sharp seasonal and daily fluctuations of temperatures. In the afternoon the maximum temperatures usually make +21–32 °s, and night of all on 6 °s more low.
The population of the USA for 2008 made 304,3 million person. On this indicator the country takes the third place in the world after China and India. The official language in the country legally is not present. For 73,5 % of inhabitants English language, for 9,55 % - Spanish is native.
80 % of inhabitants of the USA consider themselves as Christians; 15 % nereligiozny - atheists or agnostics. The others of 5 % - adherents of other religions: Islam, a Judaism etc.
History
North American Indians (so-called radical Americans) and Eskimos were the first inhabitants of these earths. In territory of the modern USA the set of the tribes separated and frequently conflicting with each other was settled. The most known tribes: algonkiny (delavary, Mohicans, odzhibve, kri), cheroki, irokezy, gurony, apaches, siu (dakota), komanchi, navaho.
The Icelandic Vikings were the first Europeans who have reached coast of the modern USA. About thousand year they have landed in territory of the present State of Maine. The epoch of mass settling of territory of the United States has begun after the next opening by Europeans of a New World (Christopher Columbus's swimming in the end of XV century).
By the end of a XVIII-th century half of territory of the modern USA was supervised by Spaniards, the extensive earths at East coast belonged to Great Britain. Still a part – Frenchmen and Dutches. British have based on the territory of 13 colonies which after war for independence of 1774-1776 have proclaimed the independence and have received the name the United States of America. In 1789 in the country presidential elections for the first time have taken place. George Vashington became the first president. The Constitution of the USA accepted in 1787 is considered the first-ever constitution in modern understanding.
With 1861 for 1865 in the USA Civil war – between abolitionist northern states and slaveholding southern lasted. Slavery prohibition became its result.
In 1929 of the USA has grasped a world economic crisis which in this country has received the name of Great depression. For first three years industrial production level has been rejected to an indicator of the beginning of the XX-th century; work have lost 13 million persons, investors began to withdraw means from the bank contributions therefore has gone bankrupt everyone two of five banks.
The country took part in both world wars. In the First World War of the USA at first kept a neutrality, however in 1917 have started military operations. Acting as the ally of England, the United States have taken part in defeat of Germany. The Second World War of the USA have entered on December, 7th, 1941, after an attack of the Japanese aircraft to Pearl Harbour, the American military base on Hawaii. In 1944 the country together with Great Britain has opened the Second front in the Western Europe – front of the armed struggle against fascist Germany. In 1945 the United States were dumped on the Japanese cities of Hiroshimas and Nagasaki by two nuclear bombs which have carried away lives of hundreds thousand of persons.
Gradually territories of the USA extended. At present the country is leading world power on political influence and economic indicators.
The USA did not stand aside of other conflicts of the last century: Americans have taken part in war in Korea of 1950-1953, have entered the Vietnamese war in 1964. They have accepted active participation and in war against Iraq (on February, 17-28th, 1991), received the name «the Storm in desert».
On September, 11th, 2001 became day of scale acts of terrorism of the Islamic organisations in relation to the USA. As a result of stealing of passenger air liners attacks to two buildings of the World shopping centre in New York and a building of the Pentagon (State of Virginia) have been put. As a result were lost about three thousand persons.
The attack to Iraq in 2003 under the pretext of search of weapons of mass destruction and the armed intrusion into Afghanistan (2001) for the purpose of destruction of terrorist groupings became one of last armed operations of the USA.
In 2006 in the USA the collapse of the market of hypothecary crediting that became the precondition to occurrence of world financial crisis in 2008 has begun.
Political structure
The USA - presidential republic. The legislature supreme body – the two-chamber Congress of the USA. The higher executive power belongs to the president. Since January, 2009 the president of the country is the Barrack Obama.
The USA are a member of following international associations and the unions: the NATO, the United Nations, the WTO, the Organization of economic cooperation and development (OESR), the Organization of the American states (OAG, OAS), G8.
In the administrative relation the country is divided into 50 states.
Economy
The economy of the USA is the world's largest. Country gross national product equaled in $2006 13,3 bln. the Greatest share in gross national product (more than 75 %) make incomes of sphere of services, namely: formations, public health services, a science, the finance, trade, various professional and personal services, transport and communication, services of official bodies. Hardly more than 20 % of gross national product give the industry, 1 % – agriculture.
The financial centre is New York in which boards of the majority of banks, the insurance companies and industrial corporations of America are placed. Motor industry heart – area of Detroit (the country northeast). High technologies are most developed in a so-called Silicon Valley (California), Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, New York. Also New York – one of the world centres of light industry, the fashion industry.
The most known companies: Boeing, Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, Procter&Gamble, Johnson&Johnson, Exxon Mobil Corporation, IBM, Intel Corporation, Google, Coca-Cola. The largest banks of the USA: Citigroup, Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase, Wells Fargo. World financial crisis has struck serious blow to many leading corporations of the USA, including on «the Big three» – to motorcar giants Ford, General Motors and Chrysler. General Motors in July, 2009 has finished procedure of bankruptcy and now is a state company.
Currency - US dollar.
The major cities and sights
Washington (federal district of Columbia) - capital USA. It is a city from white marble, a city of extensive parks and reservoirs. Its heart is Capitol Hill. Opposite to the White house the obelisk devoted to first US president George Vashingtonu is located. Height of a monument about 170 m, and the law it is forbidden to build in a city of a building above this mark. One more cult place - the memorial of the Lincoln built in honour of one more US president, Avraam Linkolna. Other sights concern the Memorial of Victims of Vietnam; National art gallery; the National museum of aircraft and astronautics; the Arlingtonsky memorial cemetery where known state and military figures are buried.
New York - one of the largest world capitals of business, show business, culture and a fashion. In shape of a city skyscrapers prevail. The first skyscraper has been constructed in New York in 1890, now in a city than 150 m. are bred by the Symbol of New York about 5,5 thousand buildings in height more the statue of Freedom located in 3 km from island Manhattan is. World famous a Broadway - the longest city street on which there is a well-known Theatrical quarter. Street - centre of high life of New York. Also known places of a city - the Central park and the Brooklyn bridge.
Philadelphia (State of Pennsylvania) - the first capital of the United States, one of the largest industrial, financial and cultural centres of the country. The main sight of Philadelphia Independence - a hall (an independence Hall) where in 1787 the Constitution of the USA has been accepted. Also Freedom Bell, the Scientific museum of institute of Franklin, the Filadelfijsky opera, Ballet of Pennsylvania are well-known. The city is indicative in the plan of history of the American architecture, the set of buildings of a XIX-th century here has remained.
Miami (State of Florida) is a pride of America. Here there live the richest people of America. The city is the centre of the large resort area located at the Atlantic coast of peninsula Florida. The soft and warm oceanic climate, mid-annual temperature +25 °s, 25 miles of magnificent sandy beaches, magnificent subtropical vegetation have made Southern Florida the best winter resort of the country, a favourite place of tourism.
Orlando (State of Florida) - the big city of peninsula Florida. On it the set of sights, including connected with a cinema (a city sometimes name east Hollywood) is bred. However the main sight is the Disneyland. Created in 1956 Walt Disney, this park of entertainments is an embodiment of the world of cartoon films and fairy tales.
New Orleans (State of Louisiana) - main to the USA and one of the world's largest seaport. The most attractive to tourists is so-called French quarter (Vyo-Karr) with located there Jackson's area with the Museum of Louisiana, a unique cathedral of Sen-Lui (1794-1819), a monastery Old-ursulin-convent - the oldest building in New Orleans (1745), with an old mint. The city also is well-known for numerous art galleries and exhibitions.
Los Angeles (State of California) - an embodiment of the American dream. Here world famous Hollywood, one of the most expensive streets of the world of the Rodeo-drive, the well-known prestigious area of Beverly Hills is located. The city is famous for the museums, magnificent shops, green parks and picturesque ocean coast.
San Francisco (State of California) - one of the world tourist centres, located on picturesque hilly peninsula on the bank of Pacific ocean. The city is well-known for the bridge «Gold gate», island Alkatras (the former prison transformed into a museum), extensive Chinese quarter.
Las Vegas (State of Nevada) is one of the largest world centres of entertainments and a gaming. Here is 74 huge gambling institutions. To services of visitors set of hotels, among which one of the largest hotels of the world – MGM, calculated on 5 690 visitors.
The Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaii located in the middle of Pacific ocean are one of the most known and desired vacation spots. The resort combines the developed network of hotels and high level of service with original culture both national ceremonies and dances. Environmental conditions are very comfortable: seasonal fluctuations of temperatures – in a range from +18 °s to +33 °s.
Among other places of the USA most visited by tourists it is possible to note natural monuments: the Grand Canyon and the Valley of monuments. The Grand Canyon (State of Arizona) – one of the largest canyons of the world, cut in thickness of rocks the river Colorado. The valley of monuments (states Arizona and Utah) with its towering monolithic blocks became world famous thanks to numerous films.
The state holidays (days off)
On January, 1st - New year
In one of days from March, 22nd till April, 25th – Catholic Easter
On July, 4th – Independence Day of the USA
The fourth Thursday of November – Day of gratitude
On December, 25th – Christmas
The USA are located in six time zones. East coast (New York) – a minus of 8 hours from the Moscow time (since last Sunday March till last Sunday September – a minus of 9 hours.) the western coast (Los Angeles) – a minus of 11 hours (since last Sunday March till last Sunday September - a minus of 12 hours).
