The United States of America is in North America. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean and lies between Canada and Mexico. The State of Alaska to the west of Canada and Hawaii in the Central Pacific Ocean became States in 1959.The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, in the Caribbean, is a dependent of the USA but retains commonwealth status. The United States Virgin Islands is a US Caribbean Territory. The US also has Territories in Oceania. Washington DC (District of Columbia) is the capital and New York is the USA’s largest city. The US has a very large central plain and is mountainous in the west and east. There are mountains and broad river valleys in Alaska and the islands of Hawaii are volcanic in origin.

The climate of the US is very diverse; it is tropical in the States of Florida and Hawaii with arctic weather conditions in Alaska. Various parts of the US are prone to hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and forest fires.

The terrain of the US includes mountains, forests, grasslands, deserts, lakes, rivers and coastline. The Grand Canyon, a gorge created by the Colorado River, is one of the most spectacular sights in the US.

The varied landscape and weather conditions produce many different types of flora. Plant life, bird species and animals are conserved in the National Parks. Animals include bears, moose, deer, raccoons, chipmunks and alligators.

The population of the USA was estimated at 303,824,640 in 2008.

English is the official language. Spanish is spoken by over ten percent the population. Hawaiian is an official language in Hawaii. A large percentage of Americans are Christians. The United States has produced a number of evangelists such as Billy Graham. Native American food includes various breads, soups and wild green salads. Colonists brought their own culinary traditions. America became a melting pot for people from all over the world. Today, food in the USA reflects this cultural diversity. The Spanish influence is particularly evident in parts of the country colonized by Spain. The American food industry is internationally known for fast-food chains such as McDonald’s. American-style cookies, muffins and bagels have also made an impact on the international snack food market.