U.S or United States of America (USA), as it is officially called, is a country located in the American continent (North America subcontinent). The country is considered the most influential in the world and exerts strong political, economic, military and cultural dominance.
The US participates in several organizations such as the Council of United Nations; the former United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), Naphtha; The nato, among others. The nation maintains diplomatic relations with most countries in all regions of the world.
The United States is also considered a nation. multicultural. THE large land area gives the country a high biodiversity and the meeting of several ethnicities, contributing to a very rich culture, full of particularities in each region of the country.
Its natural aspects are also quite diverse, whether in relief, climate, vegetation, fauna and flora, giving the country the status of “megadiverse” (a country that houses most of the species of the Earth).
Also know:the power of the United States
General data
Official name |
United States of America |
Initials |
USA (Portuguese) - USA (English) |
capital |
Washington DC |
Government |
Presidential Federal Republic |
president |
Donald Trump |
Official language |
There is no official language in the US. However, English is the most spoken language in the country, followed by Spanish. |
Area |
9,833,517 km2 - IBGE |
Population |
326,766,748 inhabitants - IBGE |
Demographic density |
33.22 inhabitants per square kilometer |
Human Development Index (HDI) |
0,924 |
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) |
$19.39 trillion |
Coin |
American dollar |
See too:Why is the United States so hit by hurricanes?
United States capital
Washington D.C. is the capital and corresponds to the area of the Federal District of the United States.
The capital of the United States is Washington DC., whose acronym means District of Columbia, corresponding to the Federal District of the country. Both country and capital are ruled by the same government, that is, they represent the same administrative organization.
(It is important to remember that in the United States there is a state called Washington, located on the West Coast, bordering the Pacific Ocean. This should not be confused with the capital.)
The District of Columbia was formed in the year of 1790, and, until the year 1871, other cities were located within its limits. These were later merged with Washington DC, which was inaugurated in 1800, through land ceded by the states of Virginia and Maryland.
The capital is known for the presence of museums and nature reserves, such as the United States Botanical Garden. The Capitol, the country's legislative center, and the White House, official residence of the President of the United States, are located in Washington D.C..
Read too:How are presidential elections held in the United States
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Why United States of America?
In the period of discovery of US lands, the US territory was inhabited by indigenous. With the arrival of French, Spanish, English and Dutch settlers, there was a dispute for territories, generating several conflicts between native peoples and Europeans.
THE East Coast of the United States, upon being colonized, was also divided into territories known as Thirteen Colonies, around 1607. The colonies corresponded to three groups: Northern Colonies, Central Colonies and Southern Colonies. declared their independence of England in the year of 1776, in day 4th of July, forming what we now know as the United States of America.
Read more:United States Independence
The colonies were:
New Hampshire Province
Massachusetts Bay Province
Rhode Island Colony
Connecticut colony
New York Province
New Jersey Province
Pennsylvania Province
Delaware colonies
Maryland Province
Virginia Dominion Colonies
North Carolina Province
South Carolina Province
Georgia Province
States and their capitals
The United States has its territory divided into 50 states. Other territories also belong to the country, such as: Guam, American Samoa, US Virgin Islands and the Associated Free States of the Northern Mariana Islands and Puerto Rico.
→ List of US states and capitals
Alabama (Montgomery) |
Indiana (Indianapolis) |
New York (Albany) |
Alaska (Juneau) |
Iowa (Des Moines) |
New Mexico (Santa Fe) |
Arkansas (Little Rock) |
Kansas (Topeka) |
Oklahoma (Oklahoma City) |
Arizona (Phoenix) |
Kentucky (Frankfort) |
Ohio (Columbus) |
California (Sacrament) |
Louisiana (Baton Rouge) |
Oregon (Salem) |
North Carolina (Raleigh) |
Maine (August) |
Pennsylvania (Harrisburg) |
South Carolina (Columbia) |
Maryland (Annapolis) |
Tennessee (Nashville) |
Colorado (Denver) |
Massachusetts (Boston) |
Texas (Austin) |
Connecticut (Hartford) |
Michigan (Lansing) |
Utah (Salt Lake City) |
North Dakota (Bismarck) |
Minnesota (Saint Paul) |
Vermont (Montpellier) |
South Dakota (Pierre) |
Mississippi (Jackson) |
Virginia (Richmond) |
Delaware (Dover) |
Missouri (Jefferson City) |
Washington (Olympia) |
Florida (Tallahassee) |
Montana (Helena) |
Wisconsin (Madison) |
Georgia (Atlanta) |
Nebraska (Lincoln) |
Wyoming (Cheyenne) |
Hawaii (Honolulu) |
Nevada (Carson City) |
|
Idaho (Boise) |
New Hampshire (Concord) |
|
Illinois (Springfield) |
New Jersey (Trenton) |
United States map
Economy
Known as the greatest power in the world, the United States boasts the first position when it comes to Gross Domestic Product, which represents the sum of all goods produced in the country over a period. The country has a GDP of $19.39 trillion, according to the International Monetary Fund, being ahead of countries like China and Japan. The economy in 2018 grew 2.9% compared to the previous year.
The US economy is based on sectors agricultural, industrialit's from services. In agriculture, the productions of corn, soybeans and cotton stand out, with the use of high tech. In the industrial sector, the highlights are the production of machinery, electronics, chemical, pharmaceutical and automotive products. The services sector contributes with more than three quarters of GDP.
It is also important to highlight the production of Petroleum in the country, as well as that of natural gas. In 2019, oil production broke a record, according to the US Federal Energy Agency, reaching 470.6 million barrels.
Oil is one of the most exported products in the United States. According to the Economic Complexity Observatory, the US corresponds to the third largest exporting economy between countries. In 2017, US$ 1.25 trillion were exported. The main products exported to countries such as China, Mexico, Canada and Japan were:
refined petroleum
planes, cars and helicopters
packaged medicines
Regarding the imports, the country imported US$ 2.16 trillion in 2017. Goods and services basically came from the same countries to which it exported. The main imports were:
petroleum petroleum;
transmission equipment;
digital disk drives;
vehicle parts.
read more: Difference between export and import
United States Culture
In the various world sporting tournaments, the United States has very competitive teams in most of the sports played.
The culture of the United States exerts a great influence in many regions around the world. THE gastronomy, trends in the world of fashion, O training (cinema, television or music) and the sport are recognized by thousands of people around the planet.
The American people are well known for two characteristics: a individuality it's the patriotism. Different, for example, from the people of Latin America, most Americans have a more reserved personality. Patriotism is seen everywhere. There are flags hoisted in most establishments, and people also often wear clothing that bears symbols of the country.
There are a variety of ethnicities in the country and thousands of foreigners from different parts of the world. THE cultural plurality it is one of the main characteristics of the population that inhabits the United States. This great diversity is due not only to the colonization in the country but also the strong attraction that the nation exerts in relation to other regions. Many people migrate to the country looking for better life conditions and opportunities to job.
The gastronomy is represented especially by the fast food, which turned into a fever in several other countries, such as Brazil. Large companies such as McDonald's and Burger King were founded and have their headquarters in the country.
You sports they are also quite representative in North American culture. The United States has great teams in many sports. In several world tournaments, the country presents extremely competitive teams. sports like baseball, football and basketball are highly appreciated by Americans.
Read too:Founding Fathers of the United States
Population
The American population has approximately 326.766.748 inhabitants, according to IBGE. Much of the population is made up of immigrants, coming from countries in Latin America and the Asian continent especially. According to the 2017 report prepared by the Center for Immigration Studies, the number of immigrants in the US surpassed 43 million, with Mexicans being the ones who most migrate to that country.
the state of California it is the one that receives the most immigrants, since its policy aimed at these, different from other states. About the Brazilians, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there are approximately 1.4 million of these in US territory.
Read too: The Constitution of the United States
most visited cities
The United States is one of the countries with the highest number of most visited cities in the world. For various reasons, tourists from all over the world travel to the country, whether looking for entertainment, contact with nature, shopping or romantic getaways. Let's look at some of these cities:
→ San Francisco
The main postcard of the United States is the famous Golden Gate Brigde.
The city of San Francisco it is found in the state of California, east of the United States. Considered one of the country's financial centers, San Francisco has approximately a million inhabitants and with large companies in your area, such as Uber, Google and Facebook, placing themselves in the 18th position in the ranking of richest cities in the world.
The city is also known for the liberal activism, and so there is a huge homosexual population in the area. There are several tourist attractions in the city, such as the famous bridge Golden Gate Bridge and also the neighborhood Chinatown.
→ Las Vegas
Las Vegas is the city of entertainment.
The city of las vegas is located in the state of Nevada. Many visitors come to the city looking for training. Las Vegas is known for nightly shows, theaters, music, casinos and luxury hotels.
About 42 million people visit the city each year. THE economy is based on tourism and also in the concentration of large companies and industries. Many movies are shot in the city, making it known worldwide.
→ Honolulu
Honolulu is the Hawaiian city known for its beautiful beaches.
Honolulu is located in the state of Hawaii, which is located in a archipelago in the Pacific Ocean. The city is also the state capital and attracts tourists from all over the world looking for paradise beaches and good waves.
O climate in Honolulu is tropical, due to its location near the Ecuador. There is a record of high temperatures even during winter. In addition to the beautiful beaches, the main tourist attractions in the city are: the base of Pearl Harbor, the Chinatown district and the Bishop Museum.
→ New York
One of the main sights in New York is Central Park.
The city of New York is located in state of the same name. It's city most populous of the United States, with approximately more than 8 million inhabitants and more than 20 million in the metropolitan region. New York is considered one of the best cities in the world to live.
Culture, entertainment, gastronomy and fashion are the main landmarks in the city. In it you find the so busy Times Square,as well as a huge green area full of nature and tranquility, the Central Park.
→ Orlando
Orlando is the most visited city in the United States.
The city of Orlando is located in the state of Florida on the East Coast of the United States. the city is quite famous, known by theme parkss from Disney. In 2017, the city received more than 72 million tourists.
According to Forbes, Orlando was the best city for real estate investment in 2018. Theme parks are constantly expanding and have an enviable structure. Orlando is currently the most visited city in the United States and the second most visited in the world.
US relationship with Canada
United States and Canada are mutually their main economic partners.
The relationship between the United States and Canada it is historical. The countries are bordering and have very similar characteristics in terms of development, economy and public policies. Together correspond to the largest and most efficient commercial partnership in the world. Canada and the United States are part of groups like the nato it's the USMCA.
Read too:Monroe Doctrine
*Image credits: Leonard Zhukovsky / Shutterstock
**Image credits: Navintar / Shutterstock
By Rafaela Sousa
Graduated in Geography
