USA

The country is spread over a vast area and experiences varied weather across the land. Generally speaking, the northern part of the country tends to be cooler while the southern parts are far warmer. The American territories of Guam, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands are tropical in nature as is Hawaii while the territory of Alaska is vastly arctic in nature. The country boasts of a varied topography which makes the weather patterns in the region extremely distinct.

The Atlantic coast is relatively cold and can see some heavy snow in the winters. The Central plains see very humid summers and the winters, while cold, see strong winds. The western region of the country sees cold winters but hot and dry summers. The weather in the north, however, is vastly different than other regions. Regions as far north as Alaska often face Arctic weather with heavy snowfall. California, Arizona, New Mexico and Florida are called the sun-belt states and face some serious heat during summers.

Eastern United States consists of broad coastal plains on the Atlantic and Gulf shores. This region gives way to deciduous forests and rolling hills in the region of Piedmont. The Appalachian mountain ranges divide the eastern seaboard with the great lakes and grasslands of the midwest. The country also boasts of the fourth largest river system in the world, the Mississippi-Missouri river and it runs north-south through the heart of the country. The Grand Canyon is one of the most wonderful natural structures in the world, and is a huge tourist attraction. The Denali mountain in Alaska is the tallest peak in the United States. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is also one of the biggest tourist attractions in the country where one can see over sixty feet tall faces of four American presidents.

The Great Plains, west of the Mississippi and east of the Rocky Mountains are the most fertile region in the country. A considerable portion of the nation’s crops are grown in this area. The Great Plains end abruptly at the Rocky Mountains which form a large part of the Western United States. These mountains begin in Canada and extend all the way up to Mexico in the south. The United States also has the most ecoregions of any other country in the world.

The country also has number of climates across its length and breadth. There are humid tropical climates, humid sub-tropical, arctic regions and even arid deserts. There are 59 national parks and hundreds of other federally managed parks, forests and wildlife parks. America is home to an innumerable number of plant and animal life. There are over 428 mammal species, 784 bird species, over 300 reptile species, and almost 300 amphibian species in the country. The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States.

The country has been taking several measures to ensure that its diverse topography and wildlife is well preserved. The Environmental Protection Agency is a government appointed agency that works to preserve the country natural heritage. The diverse climatic conditions have given rise to some amazing animal species in the country. All in all the country has varied climates, topography and a vast range of animal, bird and insect life.

Washington DC is the capital of the United States. All the 50 states and 5 territories of the US have their own capitals, however, these capitals are not always the financial and cultural capitals of the state. The government of the state has three main branches – executive, legislative and judicial. Every state’s executive branch is headed by a governor directly elected by the people.

The largest city, in terms of the population, is New York, which has a population of over 20 million people. In fact, New York is so big that it is almost twice the size of the next biggest city in the United States. The city also has a density of over 1000 individuals per square kilometer. Known as the Big Apple around the world, it is considered to be the financial capital of the United States and is home to some of the biggest countries in the world.

Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States. It is widely considered to be the entertainment capital of the world and is the home to Hollywood, the world’s most powerful movie making industry. It is considered by many to be the creative capital of the world thanks to its booming movie and media industry. Chicago is in the third place among the most populated cities in America. Known as the windy city, Chicago has always ranked as one of the most interesting places to stay in north America.

Over and above these there are still a number of amazing cities to live in the United States. Houston, Texas, is a very highly populated city and one of the biggest in Texas. Philadelphia is the second largest city on the east coast and has a number of historical landmarks to peruse. Below are some of the most sought after cities in the United States:

• Boston
• Washington
• San Diego
• San Jose (Capital of the Silicon Valley)
• Dallas
• San Antonio
• Detroit
• Seattle
• Portland

The above are just a few of the many many cities in the United States that are homes to immigrants from around the world. American cities are very distinct from one another while still retaining that particular uniqueness that makes them typically American. Home to immigrants from around the world, American cities are definitely inclusive and have some of the most diverse populations in the world. Not for no reason is America considered to be a melting pot of cultures from across the world.

English is considered the de facto official language of the country. Over 80% of the population speaks English at home, although the English spoken in the United States is a little different from that of the United Kingdom. Spanish is the second most common language spoken in the United States and more than 12% of the people speak this language. Chinese, French and German are also widely spoken and taught in the country.

Different territories of the country have their own official languages. For example Hawaii has Hawaiian as one of its official languages while Alaska recognizes 20 native languages. Chamorro is the official language of Guam while Spanish is the official language of Puerto Rico.

The US economy is considered to be one of the most robust in the world. The American dollar is the foremost reserve currency in the world and is the most used currency in terms of international transactions. The US has a highly developed mixed economy. It is the world’s largest economy in terms of its nominal GDP and the second largest in terms of its purchasing power parity. Americans also have the highest average household and employee income among the OECD nations.

The nation has a well-developed infrastructure and one of the richest reserves of natural resources in the world. In fact, the total estimated value of the country’s natural resources, in 2016, came to about $45 trillion. The US is also the world’s third largest producer of natural gas and oil. In 2016 America was the world’s largest training nation and the second largest manufacturer of goods. The country corners about a fifth of the products manufactured in the world. The total US trade amounts to something around $4.92 trillion.

It is also a highly industrialized nation and is home to 134 of the world’s 500 biggest companies. The US financial markets are also some of the most influential in the world and even the slightest ripples there is felt as far away as Japan, China and India, let alone the European markets as well. The Ease of Doing Business Index and the Global Competitiveness Report rank the US far higher than any most other economies on the planet.

The private sector makes up for a majority of the US economy. While the services sector makes up for a majority of the GDP, the US is still a huge industrial power on a global scale. It is the world’s number one producer of electrical and nuclear energy, over and above natural gas, sulphur, phosphates and salt. Agriculture accounts for about one per cent of the GDP, however, the US leads the world in terms of production of corn and soybeans. The country is also the world leader in terms of the production of bio-engineered crops accounting for half of the world’s biotech crop production.

The largest private employer in the country is the healthcare sectors while a majority of employers in the country are small businesses. Industries like IT and computer technology are growing rapidly and have attracted talent from across the world. The US boasts of one of the highest workforce productivity ratios in the world, and fourth in terms of the productivity per hour. America also has the highest food affordability and food security rankings in the world. The average size of a hoe in the US is 700 square feet per person which is 50 to 100 per cent larger than most high-income countries in the world. Similarly, the country also has a high ownership of gadgets and other amenities as compared to other high-income countries.

A majority of the country’s citizens are insured by their employers. A report by the World Health Organization, in 2008, said that the country spent more on per capita health than any other nation. The US also leads the world in terms of manufacturing arms and armaments. It is the world’s largest producer of airplanes, both civilian and military. The country is also the world’s second largest automobile market and is also the second largest consumer of energy in terms of total usage.

All this and more have made the American economy the behemoth it is. The American economy continues to be the cornerstone of the world economy and a bulwark of free trade. American companies are some of the biggest employers on a global scale and continue to expand their operations around the world.

America is an amalgamation of a number of different cultures. The country has welcomed immigrants from around the world for years, and this has directly affected the country’s cuisine, music, art and culture. While the country has largely European values, it has developed a tradition that is quintessentially American in nature. The basic American ethos of liberty, equality, private property, democracy, rule of law has continued to be the cornerstone of the country’s culture.

While the country has become a sort of homogenized melting pot it is still a heterogeneous mix of cultures where every individual is allowed to retain their own culture. The American Dream is something that every immigrant aspires to achieve. The desire for a higher social mobility is the key in attracting a higher number of immigrants than anywhere in the world.

The country has a number of amazing attractions for people of all ages. Mount Rushmore in South Dakota is a huge tourist attraction and has the faces of four of America’s prominent president’s carved into a mountain side. The different cultures in the country also have given rise to a great market culture in the country, a case in point is Pike Place market in Seattle where you can get everything from fresh fish straight from the river to a variety of cheeses. Because of the country’s huge coastline there are a number of amazing beaches in the country as well making the beach culture a part of life in some regions. The Venice beach in LA is one of the most popular beach destinations as is Malibu.

There are a number of natural landscapes that make for a great outing locations in America. The foremost among them is the Mesa Verde National Park in Colorado. The national park consists of the amazingly preserved ancestral homes of the Pueblo people. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park is an amazing natural space full of incredible scenery flora and fauna. The Carlsbad Canyons and the Bryce Canyon National Park, and the Yosemite National Park are just a few of the most amazing and well-preserved natural locations in the country. The Kennedy Space center is also one of the greatest landmarks of the country and showcases the history of space exploration in the country.

The country has an amazing array of cuisines and has a brilliant dining culture. From gourmet specialties to fast food, there is something for everyone here. Mexican dishes like tortillas, quesadillas and nachos are some of the most widely consumed foods in the country. Italian preparations are also hugely popular in the country. Items like pizzas and burgers have almost attained the status of national foods. Most of these amazing cities also have a thriving night-life and restaurant culture. Dining out is quite frequent and is a part of the American tradition.

Art and literature have also played a huge role in the country’s growth. The country is home to some of the most amazing authors and painters of the modern world. Writers like Edgar Allan Poe, Hemingway, Faulkner and Herman Melville have made America a center for great writing in the modern world. The country has 12 Nobel laureates in literature which is one of the highest in the world. The music culture of the country has birthed a number of different and widely celebrated music styles like blues, country, and jazz that have found avid listeners and fans around the world. American musicians were the pioneers of a number of music styles, the most famous being rock ‘n roll and hip hop.

The movie culture in America is unparalleled. The country has churned out the biggest hits in cinema for a very long time and continues to do so today. Hollywood makes sure that Americans, and people around the world, have something to plan their weekend around. TV shows have become a favourite American pastime and a number of chartbusting shows are churned out of the country every year. America ranks high in a number of sports and has a lot of active sporting leagues. Sports like hockey, baseball and basketball have well-established leagues that find a lot of financial backing and fans around the world. In fact, the market for organized sports in the US is as large as $69 billion which is larger than that of Europe, Middle East and Africa put together.