United States Guide and Resources

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Location
North America, bordering both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between Canada and Mexico

Size Comparison To U.S-located Area
about half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about half the size of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and a half times the size of Western Europe

Geographic Coordinates
38 00 N, 97 00 W

Capital
Washington, DC

Nationality
American(s)

Currency
US dollar (USD)

Languages Spoken
English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)

Population
280,562,489 (July 2002 est.)

Total Population Ratio Based On Gender
0.96 male(s)/female (2002 est.)

Migrant Ratio
3.5 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2002 est.)

Ethnic Groups
white 77.1%, black 12.9%, Asian 4.2%, Amerindian and Alaska native 1.5%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.3%, other 4% (2000)

Religion Demographics
Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)

Geographic Areas
Total :: 9,629,091 sq km
Land :: 9,158,960 sq km
Water :: 470,131 sq km
Coastline :: 19,924 km

Bordered By
Canada, Mexico

Argentina Climate
mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida, arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid in the Great Basin of the southwest;

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

Natural Resources
coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber

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

Brief Geography Notes
world's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent

Government
federal republic; strong democratic tradition

Administrative Districts
50 states and 1 district