The USA is not the same thing as America! America refers to the whole
continent and includes North, South and Central America. It stretches from
Canada to Argentina.
The USA’s
national symbol is the bald eagle.
It is a symbol of freedom, strength and victory.
The USA has
more than six million kilometres of road – more than any other country – and Los
Angeles has the greatest density of traffic.
The first
inhabitants of the USA were the Native
Americans.
The USA’s flag is called the Stars and Stripes. There are 50 stars on it, one for each state
in the union, and 13 stripes which symbolize the original 13 states.
The USA’s
national motto is In God We Trust.
But every state has a motto that reflects some of its history and ethnic
heritage.
The Star Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the USA,
but most of the states have at least one state song.
Hamburgers and hot
dogs are the favourite food in the USA. On average, every American eats
more than 200 hamburgers each year.
Regions
Alaska
Alaska is
separated from the other states by Canada. Situated north of Canada, it is
huge, with fewer people than any other state. Part of it is covered with snow,
ice and glaciers. But it also has vast forests, and modern cities. It is an
important oil producing region. Mount McKinley, the highest mountain in North
America, is in Alaska. The Inuit (Eskimo) people live here.
The Pacific West
States:
California, Washington, Oregon, Nevada.
It is a
rich region with rocky coasts, high mountains, fertile valleys and thick rain
forests with tall trees. Many people visit California for its mild climate, and
Hollywood is the home of many movie stars, despite the risk of earthquakes.
The Southwest
States:
Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma.
An area of
contrasts, with dry, hostile desert areas, and wide open plains. The Grand
Canyon in Arizona is one of the most magnificent sights in the world. Texas,
famous for its cowboys and rodeos, is also an important oil- and gas- producing
region and has many big cattle ranches.
Hawaii
Hawaii is
about 3,700 km
from the coast of California.
People live
on seven of These 130 beautiful, sub-tropical islands in the Pacific. Volcanoes
formed these islands millions of years ago and some are still active. It is a
popular tourist destination.
The South
States:
Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky.
The states
of the South once formed a separate union and fought a war with the northern
states in the 19th century. One reason for the war was that the
South wanted to keep slavery. Many black people live and work here — their
ancestors were brought from Africa as slaves to work on the tobacco and cotton
plantations. New Orleans was originally a French city, and it is still famous
for its Mardi Gras carnival and jazz music.
The Rocky Mountain region
States:
Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado.
This spectacular
region with its high peaks, deserts and river canyons, is visited by millions
of tourists, particularly for winter sports. There are several national parks,
which are famous for their dramatic scenery and wildlife.
The Midwest
States:
North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio.
This is the
USA’s, most important agricultural region with large farms, cattle and sheep
ranches and massive fields of corn, oats, wheat and soya beans. But it is also
the heart of industrial production, particularly around the Great Lakes.
Detroit is the main centre for the automobile industry.
New England
States:
Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont.
There are
six New England states. Many of the original settlers came here from England,
including the Pilgrim Fathers, who first settled in Massachusetts. This region
is well known for its beautiful scenery and the colour of its leaves in the
fall.
Mid Atlantic region
States:
West Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New York, Maryland, Virginia.
It is a
very heavily populated and industrialized area with a lot of big titles,
although Virginia is famous for its scenery. Washington DC is the capital of
the USA where the American president lives and works. New York, the biggest
city in the USA, is known as the 'melting pot' for its incredible mix of
different nationalities.
Florida
Sunny
weather, sandy beaches and interesting places like the Everglades National Park
with its alligators, the Kennedy Space Center and Disneyworld attract millions
of tourists to the peninsula of Florida — the Sunshine State. Many Americans
choose to retire here.
Source:
Excursion, an old Italian book.
No comments:
Post a Comment