Survey of the USA Foundation: 1776.7.4. The fourth largest country in the world
Position: the central part of North America; Alaska in the northwestern part of North America and Hawaii inthe central Pacific Ocean.Northern temperature zone.
North: Canada; South: Mexico, the Gulf of Mexico; East: Atlantic Ocean; West: Pacific Ocean
Area: 6% of the Earth ≈ the whole Europe
(三大河流体系)The three river systems in the USA are: the system of the Gulf of Mexico, the system of the Atlantic Ocean and the system of the Pacific Ocean.
(三大山脉) three great mountain ranges: the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains and the Great Cordillera Mountain Range.
(the Pacific河流体系的两大河流) the Columbia River and the Colorado River.
(美国/世界最长的河流)the Mississippi River is the most important river in the system of th
e Gulf.
The Rocky Mountains(落基山脉) are “the backbone of the continent”.
Great lake(美国五大湖) They are located in the northeast part of America. 由西至东:Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario.
(黄石国家公园)Yellowstone National Park ，Wyoming /(大峡谷)Grand Canyon/
Three basic geographical areas or surface regions:
1) The Atlantic Seacoast and the Appalachian Mountains in the east
Eastern Coastal Plain; The first 13 colonies ：1624, Virginia 1629, New Hampshire 1632, Maryland
1662, Connecticut 1663, Rhode Island 1664, New York 1664, New Jery 1681, Pennsylvania
1682, Delaware 1691, Massachutts 1713, North Carolina 1713, South Carolina 1732, Georgia
2) The great Mississippi River Valley in the middle
Between Appalachian and the Rocky Mountains, 2,000 km from east to west
Chicago Great Plain: west part of Mississippi Valley
3) The Rockies west to the Pacific Ocean
Rocky Mountains: the backbone of the continent
Yellow Stone National Park,
Hoover Dam Las Vegas, the gambling city
Death Valley: 85m below the a level, the lowest place with the highest temperature in America
The highest point: Denali in Alaska (20,320 feet)
Silicon Valley – the center of America’s electronic industry
Three river systems: one of the Gulf of Mexico, one of the Atlantic Ocean, one of the Pacific Ocean
Mississippi River: the third longest river in the world (Nile River, Amazon River) “Father of Waters”
Lake Superior: the largest fresh water lake of its kind in the world (only after the largest inland lake Caspian Sea – salt water lake)
Lake Michigan is wholly within the USA
Niagara Falls: Lake Erie & Lake Ontario
Great Salt Lake: the largest inland salt lake in North America
Three mountain ranges The Appalachian Mountains，The Rocky Mountains，The Great Cordillera Mountain
People：European origin: 80% Melting pot Indians: original inhabitants
National Anthem: the Star-Spangled Banner
National Flag: The Stars and Stripes
At the left side on the top: blue background with white stars – 9 lines of stars (six, five); 13 stripes: red and white; red – bravery, white – freedom, blue – loyalty and justice
Fifty stars: fifty states; thirteen stripes: thirteen colonies
Survey of UK (=the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland)
Position: Northwestern Europe To the north of France, the west of the Netherlands, Denmark and Norway
Composition(Capital): England(London), Scotland(Edinburgh), Wales(Cardiff), Northern Ireland(Belfast)
Geographic features:
The Highland Zone: north and west
The Lowland Zone: south and southeast
The Pennines has been called “the backbone of England”.
(第一长河流)Severn River (第二长河流)Thames River
(最大的内陆湖)Lough Neagh which is located in Northern Ireland.
Weather: Dreary, the rain in protracted drizzle but not in heavy showers.Lack of sunshine: overcast skies and fog
Factors influencing English weather
A. the shores of the British Isles: warm stream North Atlantic Drift北大西洋暖流
B. westerly wind belt: the west wind from the Atlantic Ocean is mild and moist西风带
C. the configuration of Britain, particularly numerous inlets make oceanic influences pene
trate more effectively
National Anthem: God Save the Queen (King).The anthem demonstrates the spirit of the social system in terms of constitutional monarchy.
National Flag: Union Jack: combines the cross of St. George, St. Andrew, and St. Patrick
(England)St. George’s cross was rectangular, red on a white background
