| While the United States has a long history of unchanged national symbols, things are different in France. The Paris intelligentsia is not amused about the choice of its new Marianne, the female figure who, since the revolution, has symbolized the republic.
After Brigitte Bardot, Laetitia Casta and Catherine Deneuve there's a new title-holder, Evelyne Thomas. She is an afternoon television chat show host.
The United States of America is a country in North America. It occupies fourth place in the world with respect to territory (9 518 900 square kilometers, 9 522 057 square kilometers) and the third place population wise (304 191 257 people). The capital of the USA is Washington D.C. Administratively, the country is divided into 50 states and the federal district of Columbia and also a number of insular territories fall under the governance of the USA. The inhabitants of the USA are called Americans and the common name for America is the USA. The North American United States (NAUS) was widely used in the Russian language till the second quarter of the 20th century.
Geography:
The main territory of the USA (continental states) is located on the North American continent, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west. In the south, the USA borders with Mexico and in the north, with Canada. Apart from this, two more states form the structure of the USA. Alaska, which also borders with Canada, is located in the extreme northwest part of the continent. The Hawaiian State is located in the Pacific Ocean. The border with Russia passes through Bering Strait. A number of islands in the Caribbean Sea (for example, Puerto Rico) and in Pacific Ocean (Samoa Islands, Midway, Guam, etc.) also belong to the USA.
Subordinate territories:
The number of insular territories, having varied status, fall under one or the other administration of the US (but not part of the United States). The US constitution is fully functional on the territory of the uninhabited atoll of Palmira. Other territories have their own primary legislation. Puerto Rico is the largest of the similar territories.
Topography:
The Appalachian Mountains stretch on the main territory of the country towards the west from the Atlantic coastal plains. The Central plains (200-500m above sea level), plateau Great Plains (600-1500m) are located behind the Appalachian Mountains. Almost the entire western part of America is occupied with the mountain system Cordillera.
Nature, natural minerals and climate:
Since the country is located on a large territory, literally almost all the climatic zones — from an Arctic climate in the north of Alaska to tropical in the State of Hawaii and in the south of Florida are found.
The bowels are rich with stocks of various natural minerals including – bituminous and pitch coals, iron and manganese ores. Cordillera, Colorado plateau, Great Plains and Gulf plains possess deposits of copper, zinc, lead, silver, chromite, vanadium, tungsten, molybdenum, titanium, polymetallic, uranium, mercury ores, gold, sulphur, phosphates and other chemical raw materials.
The slopes of the Cordilleras are covered with dense coniferous woods, the Appalachian Mountains have forests from broad-leaved species (deciduous); prairies almost do not exist. Tundra vegetation is spread in the north of Alaska. Rivers which have formed deep canyons belong to basins, merging into the Pacific Ocean. The Mississipi (with an inflow from Missouri) is one of the longest river systems on the planet, stretching up to 6420 km. The Great Lakes — Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie and Ontario are found on the border with Canada.
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