Introduction to Modern America

Introduction to Modern America

The American Continent

The geography of America has an essential role in the rise of the United States over the past two centuries. Its wealth of resources and relatively isolated position, allowed it to develop economically largely without fear from attack to become the nation we see today. Few could have anticipated such as transformation as the first Europeans arrived just a few centuries ago. Nonetheless, America's position as one of the great world powers would have not been possible without its geographic advantages which it exploits to this day.

The Geography of North America

The United States sits at the heart of North America. The North American landmass lies in the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic to the north, the continent of South America and the Caribbean Sea to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific to the west. The land is rich in resources like coal, natural gas, oil, timber products, freshwater, and an abundance of plant and animal species. Renewable resources such as wind, water, biomass, geothermal, and solar are widely used as well.

The land is very diverse with a variety of climates, vegetation zones and other geographical features. Due to its latitude and longitude, the climates range greatly. Around the Arctic Circle, the climate is cold and is home to the Tundra region and very barren landmasses covered in snow and ice. Move closer the equator and the climate and vegetation change. Although the elevation varies due to the Rocky Mountains, this region contains the Great Plains, forested and desert regions. In other places, the land narrows and contains a wide variety of climates and vegetation zones for such a small area.

With an abundance of fresh water, North America is truly blessed. The Great Lakes are a dominant part of the physical and cultural heritage of North America. Shared with Canada and spanning more than 750 miles from west to east, these vast inland freshwater seas provide water for consumption, transportation, power, recreation and a host of other uses. The Great Lakes are the largest surface freshwater system on the earth. The Mississippi River is one of the world's major river systems in size, habitat diversity and biological productivity. It flows 2,350 miles from its source through the center of the continental United States to the Gulf of Mexico.

The United States

The United States is a vast and very diverse nation which covers over 3 million square miles across the continent. Its settlement, begun in the 17th century by European settlers, now includes immigrants from all over the world. In general settlement began in the east and slowly moved west over the first centuries. These settlements developed into colonies and later states after America's Revolution from 1775-83. As the country pushed westward it continued to add more states. Today the United States has a total of 50 states with a variety of sizes, populations, and cultures which have developed collectively as well as independently into the nation we know today.