Проект: "Сполучені Штати Америки"

Шаляпіна О.Г.

Project “The United States of America”

Geographical Position of the USA

The USA occupies the central part of the North American continent. It borders on Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean in the east, by the Pacific Ocean in the west and by the Gulf of Mexico in the south.

The present territory of the USA consists of three separate parts. The USA proper and Alaska are situated in North America. The Hawaii are situated in the central part of the Pacific Ocean. The area of the country is about 9,400,000 km2. Its population is about 256 million people. No general statement can be made about the landscape of the USA. It is a country of mountains and prairies, valleys and deserts. About one half of the territory in the west is occupied by the Cordilleras. In the east there are the Appalachian Mountains. Between these great mountain chains central and large valleys lie.

The Rocky Mountains extend from Alaska through Canada and the USA to Mexico. Together with the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California they have snow-capped peaks and clear mountain lakes. The Great Lakes are situated in the north-east of the country. They are Lake Ontario, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, Lake Superior, Lake Michigan. The largest rivers of the USA are the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Columbia, the Colorado, and the Yukon. American rivers have very expressive names: the Snake River, the Milk River, the Green River, the Sweetwater River, the White River.

The USA has rich deposits of coal, oil, iron, zinc, copper, silver, phosphate rock, natural gas, uranium and nonferrous metals. The country has one fourth of the world’s coal deposits.

The Political System of the USA

Under the Constitution, the federal government is divided into three branches. The legislative power is vested in Congress and made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives. There are 435 members in the House of Representatives and 100 senators. Each state elects two members of the 100-member Senate. The executive branch is headed by the President, who proposes bills to Congress, enforces federal laws, serves as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and with the approval of the Senate, makes treaties. President can veto a bill unless Congress by a two-thirds vote shall overrule him. The vice President, elected from the same political party as the President, acts as chairman of the Senate, and in the event of the death of the President assumes the Presidency. The judicial branch is made up of Federal District Courts, 11 Federal Courts and the Supreme Court. Federal judges are appointed by the President for life. Federal courts decide cases involving federal law, conflicts between citizens of different states. The Supreme court may rule the law to be unconstitutional.

Now about the elections. The President is chosen in nation-wide elections every 4 years together with the Vice-President. Constitution has been amended 26 times. The Bill of Rights guarantees individual liberties: freedom of speech, religion and so on. Later amendments abolished slavery, granted the right to vote to women and allowed citizens to vote at age 18.

 Cool Facts About the United States Flag

The flag of the United States of America has gone through 27 different iterations, and plays a big part in the lives of Americans and American culture. Here are some interesting and fun facts to know about the iconic Stars and Stripes.

• It was adopted in 1777. Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as the American flag on June 14, 1777. The first official version of the flag (1777) displayed 13 stripes and 13 stars, for the 13 original colonies.
• More stars than stripes. For a while, the U.S. added stripes and stars to the flag when welcoming new states. When Kentucky and Vermont joined the union, the flag took on two more stars from the original, so that from 1795 to 1818, 15 stripes and 15 stars graced the flag. Anticipating a crowded field of stripes, lawmakers decided to honor each new state with a star, and leave the stripes at the original 13, after 1818.
• It was designed by a high school student. The current flag, with 50 stars and 13 stripes, was designed in 1958 by 17-year-old high school student, Robert G. Heft, of Lancaster, Ohio. President Dwight D. Eisenhower chose his design out of 1,500 entries.
• Red, white, and blue. The colors of the flag have important meanings. Red symbolizes hardiness and valor, white symbolizes purity and innocence, and blue represents vigilance, perseverance and justice.
• Maintenance of the flag. If a flag can no longer be used or repaired, it must be destroyed in a respectful manner, such as by burning. It can be washed and dry cleaned if it gets dirty or if it touches the ground and is soiled.
• Sleep-wake schedule. According to Federal flag laws and regulations, the flag should be displayed from sunrise to sunset, except during inclement weather. It may be displayed 24 hours a day as long as it’s “properly illuminated” while it’s dark out.
• Presidential proclamations and laws authorize the display of the flag 24 hours a day at the following places:

• Fort McHenry, National Monument and Historic Shrine, Baltimore, Maryland
• Flag House Square, Baltimore, Maryland
• United States Marine Corps Memorial (Iwo Jima), Arlington, Virginia
• On the Green of the Town of Lexington, Massachusetts
• The White House, Washington, D.C.
• United States customs ports of entry
• Grounds of the National Memorial Arch in Valley Forge State Park, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

• The proper way to view the flag. The proper way to view a flag on display during a parade or review (except for people in uniform) is by facing the flag with your right hand over your heart, according to Federal flag laws and regulations. The same goes for when you witness the flag being raised or lowered as part of a ceremony.
• Old Glory origins. Old Glory was the nickname of a specific U.S. Flag — that owned by sea captain William Driver. He was given the flag by his mother and other women in his hometown of Salem. He named it Old Glory upon seeing it flying on his ship’s mast in 1831, and continued to display it outside his home. The name later went on to become synonymous with any American flag.

Washington D.C.

The city of Washington, the capital of the United States of America is located in the District of Columbia (DC for short)Many people consider Washington DC to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is filled with many parks, wide streets and impressive buildings. In the center of the city, in Capitol Park, visitors' eyes focus on the Capitol, where Congress convince to inject laws. Many visitors come to Washington DC to see the White House. It is the greatest attraction for many of them. The White House, the official residence of the President, is situated at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. The largest room in this building of over the hundreds room is the East Room, scene of many state receptions, balls and musicals. Other famous rooms are: the Green Room, the Blue Room, the Red Room, which are used for afternoon teas and for receptions held before state dinners. The Blue Room, the most formal of these "colors" room is an oval-shaped room connecting the Green and the Red Rooms. On the second floor, the floor with the family quarters and quests rooms, is the Lincoln Room, which one served as an office for president Lincoln but today serves as an honor guest room. In this room Lincoln signed the emancipation proclamation of 1863.Other landmarks in Washington DC include memorials to three Presidents: The Washington Memorial, The Lincoln Memorial and The Jefferson Memorial; The Library of Congress, The National Gallery of Art, The John F. Kennedy center for the Preforming Arts. The Capitol is in the very center of Washington. It is located on the Capitol Hill, the highest point in the city. The Capitol is the highest building in Washington. There is a law in Washington not to build buildings higher than the Capitol. The corner stone of the Capitol was laid by George Washington on Sep 18th, 1793. The Capitol is the seat of the government of the United States of America.

Our Top 10 Natural Wonders in North America

North America has a vast array of natural wonders from breath-taking mountain ranges, to lakes, deserts, canyons and beautiful beaches.

With much deliberation here is my top 10 natural wonders of America!

10 - Yellowstone National Park 

In at 10 it's beautiful Yellowstone, home to Grand Prismatic Spring, Old Faithful and the world’s largest collection of geysers.

9 - Yosemite National Park 

For its deep valleys and Giant Sequoias, Yosemite places at number 8. 

8 - Rocky Mountains 

The Rockies come in 7th for its emerald-coloured Moraine Lake, which is beautiful from any angle.

7 - Niagara Falls 

Niagara earns sixth place for the moment you get up-close and feel the spray.

6 - Mississippi River

Unbeatable for the diversity of cultures that line its banks, this river meanders through the heart of the South. 

5 - Death Valley 

Bad water Basin is unforgettable: over 200 square miles of flat and sparse landscapes. It alters your sense of perspective.

4 - Appalachian Mountains 

For the endless hiking opportunities and lush green scenery.

3 - Mount St Helens

For its ability to regenerate following its destruction from the massive volcano eruption in 1980.

2 - Bryce Canyon 

For its out-of-this-world ‘hoodoo’ landscape and amazing rock formations.

1 - Grand Canyon 

We couldn't neglect to mention the Grand Canyon, especially on its birthday - this year is the 100th anniversary of the Grand Canyon being awarded protected national park status.