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| | While the United States have 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, USA 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). Capital of USA is Washington D.C. Administratively, country is divided into 50 states and federal district of Columbia and also number of insular territories fall under the governance of USA. Inhabitants of USA are called Americans and common name America is used for USA. North American United States (NAUS) was widely used in Russian language till the second quarter of 20th century.
Geography:
Main territory of USA (continental states) is located on North American continent, stretching from Atlantic Ocean in the east to Pacific Ocean in the west. In the south, USA borders with Mexico and in the north — with Canada. Apart from this, two more states form the structure of USA. Alaska, which also borders with Canada, is located in the extreme northwest part of the continent. Hawaii State is located in Pacific Ocean. Border with Russia passes through Bering Strait. Number of islands in Caribbean Sea (for example, Puerto Rico) and in Pacific Ocean (Samoa Islands, Midway, Guam, etc.) also belong to USA.
Subordinate territories:
Number of insular territories, having varied status, fall under one or the other administration of US (but not part of the United States). US constitution is fully functional on the territory of uninhabited atoll of Palmira. Other territories have own primary legislation. Puerto Rico is the largest of similar territories.
Topography:
Appalachian Mountains stretch on main territory of the country towards west from Atlantic coastal plains. Central plains (200-500m above sea level), plateau Great Plains (600-1500m) are located behind the Appalachian Mountains. Almost entire western part of America is occupied with mountain system Cordillera.
Nature, natural minerals and climate
Since the country is located on large territory, literally almost all the climatic zones — from Arctic climate in the north of Alaska to tropical in the State of Hawaii and in the south of Florida, are found.
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.
Slopes of Cordilleras are covered with dense coniferous woods, Appalachian Mountains — 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 Pacific Ocean. Mississipi (with inflow from Missouri) — one of the longest river systems of the planet, stretching up to 6420 km. Great Lakes — Superior, Huron, Michigan, Erie, Ontario are found on the border with Canada.
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