General characteristics of the USA. West USA: characteristic. USA and Canada: comparative characteristics. The economic characteristics of the USA

The United States and Canada are the two states of North America. Canada occupies the second place after Russia, the USA - the fourth after China. Despite the neighborhood, these countries are very unlike each other. Although the United States is considered the world economy leader, the standard of living in America is lower than in its northern neighbor. The states in this ranking occupy 11th place, while Canada - 6th. Will help understand the reasons for this characteristic of the United States. After all, the overall rating takes into account not only the level of the economy, but also the percentage of employed people, other indicators.

Economic-geographical description of the USA

The ranking of the world's largest countries assigns the 4th place (9.5 million sq. Km.) To the States. Geographical position is very advantageous, the state occupies the main part of the continent. Brega USA is washed by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. This promotes the development of trade with other countries while protecting against international conflicts. The US neighbors with Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. Isolated from the mainland Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. Through the Bering Strait the state borders on Russia.

Government structure

The United States is a federal republic. At the head of the state is the president, elected for 4 years. The supreme legislative body is the Congress, consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate. The country consists of 50 states and a separate federal district of Columbia, where the capital is located - Washington.

The population of the USA

About 325 million people live on the territory of the state. The main part of the population consists of immigrants from other countries. Indigenous people - Indians and Eskimos (in Alaska) - this is only 0.4% of the total population. In the US, you can meet representatives of all races. The national composition is very diverse, which is explained by the history of the state. After the discovery of the continent, immigrants from Europe flocked here: the British, the Irish, the French, the Dutch, and others. Then the colonizers brought Negro slaves from Africa to work on the plantations.

After the Second World War, there was a massive migration of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans from Latin America. The modern American nation is the result of ethnic mixing of all immigrants. At the census, the US population is divided into the following groups:

• White - 79%;
• African Americans - 12%;
• Asians-Mongoloids - 4,4%.

Hispanics are not singled out in a separate line, because they belong to different groups. The number of speakers of the Spanish language is 16% of the total population.

General characteristics of the United States as the world economy leader

The United States occupies a leading place in the world in terms of industrial production. Therefore, the general characteristics of the US as a state can not do without economic indicators. The country occupies leading roles in many branches. It accounts for 75% of the aviation, rocket and space industries, 65% of the electronic computing, and about 30% of the grain harvest. The economic characteristics of the United States provide an understanding that the state is leading in productivity of labor, in science-intensive technologies. The country's leadership has a significant influence on the development of this or the area of the economy, the location of production, its structure. Methods for this are used very differently - from the introduction of tax incentives to subsidizing entire industries. However, such a coin has a downside. The economic crises are becoming more and more frequent. Unjustified loans are the cause of rising inflation, which is shaking the economy. Characteristic areas of the United States is to consider each of them. Differences between them are essential. Select the following areas:

• North;
• South;
• West of the USA.

Characteristics of the latter area is most interesting, because it is only developing.

US economic areas

Each of the macroregions of the country has its own specifics. The regional characteristics of the United States depend on the geographical location.

1. The industrial north. This region is the main focus of industry and agriculture in the country. 80% of the population lives in cities. On the coast is the largest city in the US - New York. It is not only the largest port, the most important industrial center, but also the focus of the financial and business life of the state. In addition, New York is a cultural center, the city has the largest number of libraries, theaters, educational institutions, cinemas and museums. Most of it is on the islands. On one of them - Manhattan - business districts located in skyscrapers are concentrated. Here is the headquarters of the UN. A special role for the country's economy is played by machine-building enterprises, chemical plants, the garment and printing industry. The description of the United States as the world trade leader also assumes the description of the most important transport hubs. Philadelphia is another port and center of industry. Here, the petrochemical and metallurgical industries, oil refining and machine building have been even more developed than in New York.

The most powerful metallurgical complex in the USA is located in the city of Baltimore. It is also the largest port and shipbuilding and refining center. Another of the most important cities providing transport function is Chicago. It not only serves ocean vessels, but is also the starting point for 30 railways. In the industry, ferrous metallurgy, the production of electrical equipment, and the food industry are of particular importance. Another American city - Detroit - is famous for its automobile industry. It was here that Henry Ford built the first plant. Now there are a lot of them. And other plants that produce associated equipment have been built nearby. The agro-industrial characteristics of the United States make it possible to give the palm tree to the North in agriculture. In this economic region, half of the country's agricultural output is produced. Here are concentrated enterprises and crop production, and livestock.

2. The South of the USA. This economic region is called the former slave-owning South. The economic characteristics of the United States as the most important producer of cotton belongs precisely to this region of the country. For 150 years on the plantations slaves were engaged in the cultivation of cotton. The South of the USA was an agrarian appendage of the country, a supplier of raw materials.

He was considered the poorest region. But recently the situation is changing. The areas of cotton plantations have significantly decreased, agriculture has become more developed and diverse. 90% of tobacco products and fabrics are produced here. In the south, the country produces the most oil, natural gas, coal, phosphates. South without exaggeration can be called multifaceted. This is the place where the famous Marlboro cigarettes are still produced , and the broiler chicken breeding center, and traditional cotton production is also located here. It is here that the sunny state of Florida, and Miami resorts are visited by millions of tourists. The main US spaceport - Canaveral - also in the south. Thanks to the oil fever, the super modern cities - Houston and Dallas - have grown rapidly. Now it is the main center of the aerospace industry.

West. Characteristics of the United States on the basis of the description of the economy can be attributed to the west of the country to the youngest and fastest growing region. In addition, it is also the largest of the districts. Therefore, the contrasts here are most noticeable. Here the highest mountains in the country, the deepest canyons, the vast desert areas in Arizona, the richest soils in the valleys. Prior to the Second World War, the specialization of the economy was in the extractive industry and animal husbandry. After that other areas of economy quickly began to develop. Now the West of the USA occupies a special place in the life of the state. The characteristics of its economic sectors provide an understanding that the potential of the region is still being revealed. Here are Solar California, the famous Silicon Valley, Alaska and Hawaii.

Economic and geographical position of Canada

Canada is located in the northern part of North America and occupies a vast territory - almost 10 million square meters. Km. This is 1/12 of the whole land. It is washed by the waters of three oceans - the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic. The Canadian coastline is recognized as the longest in the world. And the land border with the United States is the longest unprotected border of the world. In the north, Canada is neighboring with Russia. And as a border, there is a material point - the North Pole. The vast territory of Canada is located beyond the Arctic Circle, but the main population lives in the southern regions, next to the neighbor is the United States. In addition to the mainland, the country of the maple leaf has many large and small islands in the oceans - Newfoundland, Victoria, Devon, Baffin Island and others.

The political structure of Canada

It includes 10 provinces and 2 federal territories. The form of government of Canada is a constitutional monarchy. Legislative power is represented by a bicameral parliament - the Senate and the House of Commons. The government of the country is formed by the prime minister, who is elected by the majority in the House of Commons.

The population of Canada

The aborigines living in this country make up a meager percentage of the entire population, and they were pushed to the north of the territory. The overwhelming majority of the population are descendants of either immigrants from Europe or colonists. Canada continues its traditions: the country has the most favorable conditions for emigrants. In total, 30 million people live on the territory of the state. Canada is a mystery country. Despite the crisis and the difficult economic situation in the world, it manages to achieve the highest rates of employment and continue to receive immigrants from other countries. The main part of the country's inhabitants are Christians. The population is very unevenly distributed. The north of the country is practically not inhabited, while in the south 90% of the inhabitants live. The official languages in Canada are 2 - English and French.

Climate, flora and fauna of Canada

Due to the long length of the country, the climate varies from polar in the north to tropical in the south. Temperatures beyond the polar circle rarely rise above 0 degrees. The winter of Canada is long and frosty. This is facilitated by the movement of cold air masses from the North Pole, they reach far into the interior of the continent. Deep into the mainland is the cold Hudson Bay, which is practically covered by ice throughout the year. In the east, this northern country is washed by the cold Labrador Current. In Canada there are more rivers and lakes than anywhere else. They give a huge amount of water energy. There are huge reserves of wood, only in Russia and Brazil. The most valuable species are white and black spruce, red cedar, yellow birch, oak and, of course, cedar. In the south, vast areas of fertile land. In the coastal waters there are many fish, salmonids are of particular importance.

Industry Canada

• Mining. It extracts and exports practically all the minerals of the world - iron ore, zinc, copper, lead, nickel, cobalt, titanium, gold, silver, platinum, oil, gas, etc.
• Power engineering. The country is on the 5th place in the world for the production of electricity and at the third place in the extraction of natural gas.
• Metallurgy. Non-ferrous metallurgy is aimed at export. Produce cobalt, zinc, nickel. The share of ferrous metallurgy is much lower.
• Mechanical engineering. The production of transport, equipment for agriculture, mining and paper industry is developed.
• Chemical. Mainly produce potash fertilizers (2 nd place in the world). Also produce polymeric materials, pharmaceutical products, explosives.
• Paper. Canada ranks 1st in the world in the production of paper for newspapers and the second largest in terms of output.

Agriculture Canada

It is concentrated in the continental part of the state and specializes in the production and export of grain crops - wheat, corn, and potatoes. In the coastal zone, fisheries are widely developed. Canada is the main exporter of agricultural products. It completely satisfies its needs and more than half of its products are supplied to other countries.

Transport Canada

Large areas of the country contributed to the development of all modes of transport.

• Railway. The length of railways is greater only in Russia and the United States.
• Automotive. For internal communication, roads are functioning well in the country, of the length of Canada second only to the United States.
• Aviation transport. Huge distances within the country, a sharp change of climate, peculiarities of the terrain have caused the development of air communication not only in the international format, but also inside the country.
• Water. Very well developed is the internal communication and delivery of goods on water - forests and grains.

USA and Canada. Characteristic

Two neighboring countries are interesting to compare by main indicators. The comparative characteristics of the United States and its northern neighbor are presented in the table.

We have proposed a full description of the United States. The table above gives an idea of the differences and similarities between the States and Canada. Hundreds of thousands of people come to the United States in pursuit of the "American dream," someone finds happiness in Canada. After all, any characteristics of countries give only a general idea of them.