United States

United States is situated mostly in central North America, where its forty-eight contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.

The United States has a broad range of climates, varying from the tropical rain-forest of Hawaii and the tropical savanna of S Florida (where the Everglades are found) to the subarctic and tundra climates of Alaska. East of the 100th meridian (the general dividing line between the dry and humid climates) are the humid subtropical climate of SE United States and the humid continental climate of NE United States. Extensive forests are found in both these regions. West of the 100th meridian are the steppe climate and the grasslands of the Great Plains; trees are found along the water courses. In the SW United States are the deserts of the basin and range province, with the hottest and driest spots in the United States. The Pacific Northwest is one of the wettest parts of the United States and is densely forested. The Rocky Mts., Cascades, and Sierra Nevada have typical highland climates and are also heavily forested.

Powers are constitutionally divided between the executive, legislative and judicial branches, and between the federal and state governments. The president heads the executive branch. The federal legislature, Congress, consists of a House of Representatives, whose members are elected from constituencies based on population, and a Senate, whose members are elected state-wide (two per state). The president is elected every four years and House members every two years. Senators serve a six-year term, with one-third elected at each congressional election.

The US has the largest and most technologically powerful economy in the world, with a per capita GDP of $48,000. In this market-oriented economy, private individuals and business firms make most of the decisions, and the federal and state governments buy needed goods and services predominantly in the private marketplace. US firms are at or near the forefront in technological advances, especially in computers and in medical, aerospace, and military equipment; their advantage has narrowed since the end of World War II. Long-term problems include inadequate investment in economic infrastructure, rapidly rising medical and pension costs of an aging population, sizable trade and budget deficits, and stagnation of family income in the lower economic groups. Agriculture products are wheat, corn, other grains, fruits, vegetables, cotton; beef, pork, poultry, dairy products; fish; forest products. Industries are leading industrial power in the world, highly diversified and technologically advanced; petroleum, steel, motor vehicles, aerospace, telecommunications, chemicals, electronics, food processing, consumer goods, lumber, mining. Natural resources are coal, copper, lead, molybdenum, phosphates, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber. Major trading partners are Canada, Mexico, Japan, UK, China, Germany. (2004).

The Arizona Beverage Company is a producer of various flavors of iced tea, juice cocktails and energy drinks from the United States, based in Queens, New York. The Bay Area is renowned for its natural beauty, liberal politics, affluence, diversity, and new age reputation. California is the third-largest U.S. state by land area after Alaska and Texas, and preceding Montana. Vermont is located in the New England region in the eastern United States and comprises 9,614 square miles (24,902 km²), making it the 45th-largest state. Of this, land makes up 9,250 square miles (23,955 km²) and water comprises 365 square miles (948 km²), making it the 43rd-largest in land area and the 47th in water area. New York City is famous for many museums, the architecture, and the endless shopping possibilities, especially along Madison Avenue. 

The Washington D.C. Temple (formerly the Washington Temple) is the 18th constructed and 16th operating temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Washington D.C. Temple's angel Moroni statue, which sits atop the tallest tower, is eighteen feet tall and weighs two tons. Another interesting feature is that the temple appears to not have any windows.

Languages is English and Spanish. Religions are Protestant, Roman Catholic, Mormon, Jewish and Muslim.

Baseball has been regarded as the national sport. Football, basketball and ice hockey are other sports.