USA

Quick Facts

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Capital

Washington, D.C.

Government

Federal Republic

Nationality

American

Population

303,921,000^[1]

Languages

English, Spanish

Religions

Christianity (Protestant, Catholic), Judaism, Islam, Buddhism

Currency

US Dollar (USD)

Calling Code

+1

Time zone

various (UTC -5 to -10)

Summer (DST)

various (UTC -4 to -10)

Introduction

Church, Cambridge , MA

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The United States of America - "Land of the free, home of the brave." The United States' pursuit of establishing its own culture and identity has seeped through to many of today's western cultures. Through film and television, the USA has crafted an image of itself that is recognized the world over.

Despite the sense of familiarity it instills in its own citizens as well as foreigners, the United States is a fine destination for holiday-makers from within the country and from countries abroad. Vast areas are devoted to public land including a diverse national park system and many landmarks are well worth the trip: the Grand Canyon, Yosemite National Park, New York, San Francisco, just to name a few. And don't forget the 50th state of Hawaii or the 49th Alaska - complete opposites of climate which help illustrate the diversity of experiences that can be explored in the USA.

Brief History

The United States are a product of European colonialism. Discovered in 1492 by Columbus as he searched for a quick route to India, they were colonised by the English, French, Spanish, Russians and other Europeans over the next several centuries, much to the peril of Native Americans, who were fatally susceptible to the colonisers' foreign diseases. Their plight was not set to improve, as American independence in 1776 translated into the colonisers' gradual, determined march west, a move which also forced the westward migration of indigenous Americans.

In the century after the War for Independence, the issue of slavery gained momentum, culminating in the Civil War between the northern states, who had outlawed slavery, and those in the south, where slavery had not been outlawed. The war drew to a close in the 1870s, but policies formed during this time continued to limit the rights of African Americans.

The 20th century saw the United States take centre-stage as a world leader, with both world wars forging it into an industrial and military powerhouse. Following World War 2, the United States entered a period of cold war with the former Soviet Union and the world of communism in general. Controversy marked the United States' war in Vietnam in the 1970s; war is also a central and controversial theme of recent US history, as the current situation in Iraq highlights.

Geography

The USA is the third largest country in the world, after Russia and Canada and shares borders with the latter country and with Mexico to the north and south respectively. The east and west of the country borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean respectively and part of the southeast borders the Gulf of Mexico. Alaska even borders the Arctic Ocean, which gives a good reflection exact how huge the country is. This has its reflection on the different landscapes as well. In general, there are two main mountain ranges, the Rocky Mountains in the west of the country with Mount Whitney being the highest point outside Alaska at about 4400 meters, and the much lower Appalachian Mountains in the east. In Alaska, Mt. McKinley is the highest point in the USA at almost 6200 meters above sea level.

In the north, along the border with Canada are the Great Lakes, with the northernmost Lake Superior being the highest inland body of water. One of the longest and most important rivers in the country is the Mississippi River which acts as a border between many states, among which are Mississippi, Louisiana, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. Its source is located in the state of Minnesota.

Between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains are the Great Plains. West of the Rocky Mountains lays a system of basins, salt flats, plateaus and gorges, with the Grand Canyon being one of the most visited natural wonders on earth.

Although the Atlantic coastal areas are a rather flat and bleak area, the Pacific coastal zone is more rugged and mountainous with mountain ranges like the Sierra Nevada.

Apart from these general geographical divisions, there are many smaller systems. From the swamp areas of the southeast of the country, with the Everglades in Florida being on of the top spots to visit, teeming with alligators and other wildlife, to the arctic tundras in the northeast in Alaska.

But the USA has some more fragile areas as well, with areas sensitive to earthquakes (the San Andreas fold for example) and volcanic activity in the western part of mainland USA and in Alaska and Hawaii. The area from California upwards towards the southwestern islands of Alaska is also known as the Ring of Fire, with major eruptions throughout history, for example the one of Mount St. Helens in 1980.

Regions

The United States is a federal union of 50 states and a federal district. The U.S. Census Bureau splits the country into four geographic regions^[2]:

• Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York , Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont
• South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia
• Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin
• West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Cities

Listed below are 10 cities of particular interest to travellers. More cities can be found by looking for them in the regions they are located in.

• New York (New York)
• Los Angeles (California)
• Chicago (Illinois)
• San Francisco (California)
• Las Vegas (Nevada)
• Boston (Massachusetts)
• Washington, D.C.
• Seattle (Washington)
• Miami (Florida)
• New Orleans (Louisiana)

Sights and Activities

Natural Beauty

• Grand Canyon
• Yosemite National Park
• Yellowstone National Park
• Glacier National Park
• Monument Valley
• Bryce Canyon
• Zion National Park
• Denali National Park
• Everglades
• Florida Keys
• Adirondacks
• Death Valley
• Rocky Mountain National Park

Ruins

• Mesa Verde National Park
• Choco Canyon National Historical Park

Events and Festivals

Holidays

• Christmas
• Easter
• Fourth of July celebrates US independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, declared on July 4, 1776.
• Thanksgiving

Sport

• Superbowl, the biggest day in American Football and in television advertising.
• US Open (tennis)
• US Open (golf)
• The World Series (baseball)
• March Madness (university basketball tournament)

Music and Art

• South by Southwest Music and Media Conference (SXSW) showcases hundreds of acts from around the world in Austin, Texas.
• Chicago Blues Festival is a free 4-day event held in Grant Park every June. It features the best of the old-time and up-coming blues musicians.
• The CMA Music Festival is a celebration of country music held in Nashville.
• Burning Man, is a large non-corporate music and art festival in the desert out side of Reno, Nevada. The theme is to build a giant city in the desert with no money. Everyone must bring everything with them and trade for the things they did not bring with them.

Religious

• Mardi Gras celebrations held in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Weather

Getting there

If you're planning a trip to the United States, chances are that you will be flying there, unless you live in Canada, Mexico or another nearby country.

If you are coming from Mexico or Canada and don't want to travel by plane, there are plenty of roads, railroads and even some boat trips to get you across.

International arrivals will need to clear US customs and immigration services upon arrival, unless pre-cleared if traveling on the Amtrak Cascade service from Vancouver, British Columbia and Seattle, Washington, where there are pre-clearance facilities at the Pacific Central Station (Vancouver), or traveling on a ship out of the port of Vancouver and the port of Victoria in Canada, where a number of cruise liners visit Alaska or southbound to Seattle, Astoria, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego.

By Plane

The major international airports are in New York, Washington, D.C., Boston, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. From there, you will be able to fly to hundreds of smaller airports across the country.

Internationally arrivals will need to clear US customs and immigration services upon arrival, unless coming from an airport with US pre-clearance facilities. Operated by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service, travelers pass through Immigration and Customs, Public Health, and Department of Agriculture inspections before boarding their aircraft, ship or train. This process is intended to streamline border procedures, to reduce congestion at ports of entry, and to facilitate travel between the preclearance location and some U.S. airports that may not equipped to handle international travellers. Airports with pre-clearance are:

• Canada - Toronto Pearson International Airport
• Canada - Vancouver International Airport
• Canada - Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport
• Canada - Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport
• Canada - Calgary International Airport
• Canada - Edmonton International Airport
• Canada - Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport
• Canada - Halifax Stanfield International Airport
• Aruba - Queen Beatrix International Airport
• The Bahamas - Grand Bahama International Airport
• The Bahamas - Lynden Pindling International Airport
• Bermuda - Bermuda International Airport
• Ireland - Shannon Airport
• Ireland - Dublin Airport

By Train

Although both Canada and the United States have extensive rail connections, especially the latter, there are surprisingly few international connections between the two. In the northeast of the continent however, several train rides might be of some use to overland travellers. Also in the west, between Washington state and British Columbia in Canada, there is a pleasant ride as an alternative to the bus.

• New York - Montreal - There is a daily train connecting New York with Montreal. It leaves New York around 8 in the morning, arriving in the early evening in Montreal. In the other direction, the train departs Montreal at 10am, arriving in New York at 7.30 pm.

• New York - Toronto - A daily train travels from New York at 7.15 am to Toronto, arriving at 7.40 pm. It also stops at the Niagara Falls, on the American side, roughly 3 hours from Toronto. From Toronto the train departs at 8.30am and arrives in the Big Apple before 10pm.

• Seattle - Vancouver - There are 5 trains a day between Seattle and Vancouver, usually two in the morning, one around noon and two again in the late afternoon or early evening. It takes around 3,5 hours to complete the trip.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting around

By Plane

Traveling by air is the fastest way to move between major cities. There is no national carrier in the US, where the industry is fully privately run. Competition is strong on frequently traveled routes, resulting in lower fares.

By Train

Passenger rail services in the US are run by Amtrak. Although freight travel in the US is busier than anywhere else in the world, passenger numbers are low, due mostly to the convenience of domestic air travel. Traveling by train is most popular in the Northeastern United States, between the major cities of Washington, D.C., New York City and Boston.

By Car

Driving around the US is a popular choice for many travelers. Not only is it a relatively cheap way to get around, but it also allows visitors to see the beautiful countryside on offer.

By Bus

Greyhound is the main bus service in America and services almost all towns and cities. Although time consuming, Greyhound is very reasonably priced and has many discount deals.

By Boat

Red Tape

Main articles: US Visa, Visa Waiver Program

Citizens of 27 countries are able to travel to the United States for up to 90 days without getting a visa first, under the Visa Waiver Program. If you are not a citizen of one of the participating countries, you will need to apply for a visa.

Money

See also: Money Matters

The US Dollar, or "greenback", is the national currency of the United States. One dollar consists of 100 cents. Frequently used coins are the penny (1¢), nickel (5¢), dime (10¢) and quarter (25¢). 50¢ and $1 coins also exist, but are rarely used. Frequently used banknotes are the $1, $5, $10 and $20 notes. $2, $50 and $100 notes can also be found, but are rarely used.

Work

Study

Language

Although there is no official language in the US, English is considered the national language and spoken at home by close to 90% of the population. Spanish is the second most common language, spoken at home by over 10% of the population. At state level, English is the official language in over half the states. In Hawaii, both English and Hawaiian are official languages. Many Indian Reservations have their original indigenous language as the official language of the reservation.

Eat

Food in the US can be as diverse as the country is large. It is however very hard to avoid the myriad of chain-operated fast food venues that can be found on virtually every street corner. Naturally enough, the American staples of fried chicken, hamburgers, pizza and hot dogs are all well represented as is Mexican fast food and an increasing trend towards somewhat healthier sandwich shops. Restaurants often follow with similar offerings though usually cooked to a somewhat higher standard. Of course, there are many high quality restaurants within the US as well, particularly in the larger cities.

Many visitors to the US are baffled by the strict adherence to tipping protocol. Not tipping appropriately is seen as either very poor manners or an expression of disgust at the service offered. Tipping percentage usually ranges from 10% to 20% of the total bill, with 15% being a relatively average tipping amount. In some cases, particularly with larger parties (say 8 or more), a 15% tip could already be added on to the bill. You should always review the bill to ensure this isn't the case before adding your own tip. It is not necessary to tip in fast food restaurants.

Sleep

Drink

All US states have a minimum purchase age of 21, although the actual legal drinking age may be different. If you even resemble a 21 year old, carrying ID is essential to enter many establishments. Depending on the venue, an overseas driver's license may not even be enough - a passport is a safer bet to ensure you will be allowed to purchase alcohol.

Remember that the drinking laws, called blue laws, vary state by state. In some states, like Nevada, allow 24 hour 365 days a year drinking with no last call. Other states, like Utah, force people to buy alcohol at state owned stores and all bars are private drinking clubs at which people have to buy a 1 day membership. Most states are somewhere in the middle but make sure to learn the local blue laws because they can get a bit weird. Almost every state does not allow open containers in public places but some cities have areas were open containers are legal, like the French Courter in New Orleans.

In contrast to the strict drinking age, the legal blood alcohol level in the US is relatively lenient by world standards at 0.08%.

Health

See also: Travel Health

The United States' health care system is not socialized. Travelers in need of non-emergency treatment will be required to provide proof of medical insurance coverage (travelers or private insurance) or proof of sufficient funds (credit/debit cards). Emergency room services are available (though not always) regardless of monetary status and dependent on the immediate need. U.S. medical services are also considered quite expensive when compared to other countries. Travel insurance policies for the U.S. usually cost more as a result of the potentially high medical costs. It is strongly recommended that you take out a comprehensive policy to cover any unforeseen circumstances.

There are no vaccinations required for entering the United States.^[3] If you are entering from a yellow fever endemic area, you may be required to show proof of immunization. Recommended vaccinations include Tetanus (Lockjaw), Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. Rabies vaccinations are recommended for wilderness travel and/or wildlife volunteer projects. Lyme disease^[4] is endemic in the northeastern, Mid-Atlantic and upper midwest areas and transmitted via blacklegged ticks. West Nile Virus in humans has been reported in 43 of the 50 states in 2007.^[5] The use of insect repellent is highly recommended throughout the contiguous 48 states.

Safety

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