Integrated Civics: Geography
Area and General Characteristics
The United States is the world’s third largest country in land size, surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west, and sharing a border with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.
There are 13 states that border Canada: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington and Alaska and in contrast only 4 states that share a border with Mexico: Texas, Arizona, New Mexico and California.
Located on the east coast, in the mid-Atlantic region, and bordered by Virginia and Maryland, is the nation’s capital, Washington D.C.
US Territories
The United States also has territories, acquired through either war or treaties. Currently, there are a total of sixteen territories but only five of which are inhabited: Puerto Rico, Guam, Northern Marianas, U. S. Virgin Islands and American Samoa.
Rivers
The Missouri river, 2341 miles long, is the longest river in the United States. It flows from western Montana to St. Louis, Missouri. The second longest river in the United States, is the Mississippi river at 2320 miles long which flows from northern Minnesota all the way south to the Mississippi Delta at the Gulf of Mexico.
Landmarks
The Statue of Liberty
America is rich with landmarks symbolizing freedom and democracy. No landmark is better known or more welcoming to immigrants and returning Americans than the Statue of Liberty. Located on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, the Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States by France in 1868.
"Lady Liberty" with her broken shackles at her feet and holding a tablet in one hand with the Declaration of Independence's date and a torch for enlightenment in the other, represents to all Americans, freedom.
