|
Serving
Students at
Santa Ana
College and
Santiago
Canyon College
UNITED STATES
Map
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Land
Area: 3,761,363 sq. mi. (9,629,091 sq. km)
Density
per sq. mi.: 73 (1990 census) for a population of
248,709,873 9.8%).
Capital
(1990 census.): Washington, D.C., 606,900
Largest
cities (1998 est.):
New York:
city proper, 7,420,166; metro. area (2000 est.), 20,250,000
Los Angeles:
city proper, 3,597,556; metro. area (2000 est.), 16,150,000
Chicago,
2,802,079
Houston,
1,786,691
Philadelphia,
1,436,287
San Diego,
1,220,666
Phoenix,
1,198,064
San Antonio,
1,114,130
Dallas,
1,075,894
Detroit,
970,196
Location:
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific
Ocean, between Canada and Mexico
Geographic
coordinates: 38 00 N, 97 00 W
Map
references: North America
Area:
total:
9,629,091 sq km
land:
9,158,960 sq km
water:
470,131 sq km
note:
includes only the 50 states and District of Columbia
Area
- comparative: about one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths
the size of Africa; about one-half the size of South America (or slightly
larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and one-half
times the size of Western Europe
Land
boundaries:
total:
12,248 km
border
countries: Canada 8,893 km (including 2,477 km with Alaska), Cuba 29 km
(US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay), Mexico 3,326 km
Note:
Guantanamo Naval Base is leased by the US and thus remains part of Cuba
Coastline:
19,924 km
Maritime
claims:
contiguous
zone: 24 nm
continental
shelf: not specified
exclusive
economic zone: 200 nm
territorial
sea: 12 nm
Terrain:
vast central plain, mountains in west, hills and low mountains in east;
rugged mountains and broad river valleys in
Alaska;
rugged, volcanic topography in Hawaii
Elevation
extremes:
lowest
point: Death Valley -86 m
highest
point: Mount McKinley 6,194 m
Natural
resources: coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite,
gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver,
tungsten,
zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber
Land
use:
arable
land: 19%
permanent
crops: 0%
permanent
pastures: 25%
forests
and woodland: 30%
other:
26% (1993 est.)
Irrigated
land: 207,000 sq km (1993 est.)
Natural
hazards: tsunamis, volcanoes, and earthquake activity around Pacific
Basin; hurricanes along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts; tornadoes
in the midwest and southeast; mud slides in California; forest fires in
the west; flooding; permafrost in northern Alaska, a major impediment to
development
Environment
- current issues: air pollution resulting in acid rain in both the
US and Canada; the US is the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide from
the burning of fossil fuels; water pollution from runoff of pesticides
and fertilizers; very limited natural fresh water resources in much of
the western part of the country require careful management; desertification
Environment
- international agreements:
party
to: Air Pollution, Air Pollution-Nitrogen Oxides, Antarctic-Environmental
Protocol, Antarctic Treaty, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental
Modification, Marine Dumping, Marine Life Conservation, Nuclear Test Ban,
Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber
94, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: Air Pollution-Persistent
Organic Pollutants, Air Pollution-Volatile Organic Compounds, Biodiversity,
Climate
Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Hazardous Wastes
Geography
- note: world's third-largest country (after Russia and Canada)
Geography
The United
States of America shares borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to
the south and has coasts on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, the
Caribbean Sea and the
Gulf
of Mexico. One of the largest countries in the world, the USA has
an enormous diversity of geographical features. The climate ranges
from subtropical to Arctic, with a corresponding
variety
of flora and fauna. By 1996 the number of overseas visitors primarily
from western Europe, Japan, Latin America, and the Caribbean was 46 million.
Millions of visitors from Canada and Mexico cross the border every year.
The United
States (US) covers the central portion of North America and includes Alaska
and Hawaii. Covering 3,618,765 square miles (9,372,610 kilometers)
it experiences many different climates and has a variety of geographical
features. The Mid-Atlantic region generally enjoys the four seasons
and becomes progressively warm as one travels South. The Northern
section of the east coast provides skiing in the winter and cool summer
climates. The Southern states, Florida and Georgia, are hot
and humid in the summer but do offer cooler temperatures during the winter
months.
Map
Links
for More Information
California
Interactive Maps
California
Beach Cams
Climate
.
Sources:
Central
Intelligence Agency |
