General characteristics of the United States. West USA: characteristic. USA and Canada: Comparative Description. US economic characteristics

The USA and Canada are two states of North America. Canada is the second largest after Russia, the United States is fourth after China. Despite the proximity, these countries are very different from each other. Although the United States is considered the leader of the global economy, in terms of aggregate indicators, the standard of living in America is lower than that of its northern neighbor. States are 11th in this ranking, while Canada is 6th. It will help to 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 residents, other indicators.

US Economic and Geographical Description

The ranking of the largest countries in the world gives the States 4th place (9.5 million sq. Km.) The geographical position is very favorable, the state occupies the bulk of the continent. The US coast is washed by the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. This contributes to the development of trade with other countries, while protecting against international conflicts. The USA coexists with Canada in the north and Mexico in the south. Separated from the mainland of Alaska and the Hawaiian Islands. Through the Bering Strait, the state borders on Russia.

Government structure

The United States is a federal republic. The head of state is the president, elected for 4 years. The highest legislative body is 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 Washington.

US population

About 325 million people live in the state. The bulk of the population are immigrants from other countries. Indigenous people of the country - 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 continent opened, immigrants from Europe poured here: the British, Irish, French, Dutch, etc. Then the colonialists brought Negro slaves from Africa to work on plantations.

After World War II, the United States saw a massive relocation of Mexicans and Puerto Ricans from Latin America. The modern American nation is the result of ethnic mixing of all immigrants. In a census, the US population is divided into the following groups:

• white - 79%;
• African Americans - 12%;
• Mongolian Asians - 4.4%.

Natives of Latin America do not single out 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 a leader in the global economy

The United States leads the world in industrial production. Therefore, the general characteristic of the United States as a state cannot do without economic indicators. The country plays the leading role in many industries. It accounts for 75% of the aviation, rocket and space industry, 65% of the electronic computing, about 30% of the grain harvest. The economic characteristics of the United States make it clear that the state leads in labor productivity, in high technology. The country's leadership has a significant impact on the development of a particular area of ​​the economy, on the location of production, its structure. The methods for this are used in a variety of ways - from introducing tax incentives to subsidizing entire industries. However, such a coin has a downside. Increasingly, economic crises are making themselves felt. Unjustified loans are causing inflation to undermine the economy. The characteristics of the US regions are to consider each of them. The differences between them are real. The following areas are distinguished:

• North;
• South;
• West USA.

The characteristic of the last district is the most interesting, because it is only developing.

US Economic Areas

Each of the macro-regions of the country has its own specifics. The regional characteristics of the United States are geographic dependent.

1. Industrial North. This area is the main focus of industry and agriculture in the country. 80% of the population lives in cities. The largest US city, New York, is located on the coast. This 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 UN headquarters. A special role for the country's economy is played by machine-building enterprises, chemical plants, and the sewing and printing industry. The characteristic of the United States as a leader in world trade also implies a description of the most important transportation hubs. Philadelphia is another port and industry center. Here, the petrochemical and metallurgical industries, oil refining and mechanical engineering have received even wider development than in New York.

The most powerful metallurgical complex in the USA is located in Baltimore. It is also the largest port and shipbuilding and oil refining center. Another of the most important cities providing a transport function is Chicago. It not only serves ocean-going vessels, but also serves as the starting point for 30 railways. Of particular importance in industry is ferrous metallurgy, the production of electrical equipment, as well as the food industry. Another American city - Detroit - is famous for automotive industry. It was here that Henry Ford built the first factory. Now there are many of them. And other factories producing related equipment were forgotten nearby. The US agro-industrial characteristic also allows us to give the palm to the North in agriculture. In this economic region, half of the country's agricultural products are produced. Here are concentrated enterprises and crop production, and livestock.

2. South US. This economic region is called the former slaveholding south. The economic characteristics of the United States as the most important producer of cotton refers specifically to this region of the country. For 150 years on the plantations, slaves were engaged in the cultivation of cotton. The south of the United States was an agricultural appendage of the country, a supplier of raw materials.

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

West. The characteristics of the United States according to the plan for describing the economy make it possible to attribute the west of the country to the youngest and fastest growing region. In addition, it is also the largest of the areas. Therefore, contrasts are most noticeable here. There are the highest mountains in the country, the deepest canyons, vast desert areas in Arizona, the richest soils in the valleys. Before World War II, the specialization of the economy was in the mining industry and livestock. After that, other areas of the economy began to develop rapidly. Now a special place in the life of the state is occupied by the West of the USA. The characteristics of its branches of economy make it clear that the potential of the region is still being revealed. Here are Sunny 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 all land. It is washed by the waters of three oceans - the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic. The coastline of Canada is recognized as the longest in the world. And the land border with the United States is the longest unguarded border in the world. In the north, Canada is adjacent to Russia. And the material point - the North Pole - acts as a border. The vast territory of Canada is located beyond the Arctic Circle, but the main population lives in the southern regions, next to the neighbor - the United States. In addition to the mainland, the maple leaf country has many large and small islands in the oceans - Newfoundland, Victoria, Devon, Baffin Island, etc.

Political structure of Canada

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

Canada population

Aborigines living in this country make up a tiny percentage of the total population, and they were also pushed to the north of the territory. The vast 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 in the state. Canada is a mystery country. Despite the crisis and the difficult economic situation in the world, she manages to achieve the highest rates of employment and continue to accept immigrants from other countries. The bulk of the country's inhabitants are Christians. The population is very unevenly distributed. The north of the country is practically uninhabited, while 90% of the population lives in the south. The official languages ​​in Canada 2 are English and French.

Climate, flora and fauna of Canada

Due to the length of the country, the climate changes from polar in the north to tropical in the south. Temperatures beyond the Arctic Circle rarely rise above 0 degrees. Canada's winter is long and frosty. This is facilitated by the movement of cold air masses from the North Pole, they reach far inland. Deep in the mainland is the cold Hudson Bay, which is covered with ice almost throughout the year. In the east, this northern country is washed by the cold Labrador Current. Canada has more rivers and lakes than anywhere else. They give a huge amount of water energy. There are huge stocks of wood, more 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. There are a lot of fish in coastal waters, salmon are of particular importance.

Industry Canada

• Mining. Here, almost all the world's minerals are mined and exported - iron ore, zinc, copper, lead, nickel, cobalt, titanium, gold, silver, platinum, oil, gas, etc.
• Energy The country is in 5th place in the world in electricity production and in 3rd place in natural gas production.
• Metallurgy. Non-ferrous metallurgy is exported. They produce cobalt, zinc, nickel. The share of ferrous metallurgy is much lower.
• Engineering. The production of transport, equipment for agriculture, for the mining and paper industries has been developed.
• Chemical. They mainly produce potash fertilizers (2nd place in the world). They also produce polymeric materials, pharmaceuticals, and explosives.
• Paper. Canada ranks 1st in the world for the production of paper for newspapers and 2nd in terms of output.

Canada Agriculture

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, fishing is widely developed. Canada is a major exporter of agricultural products. It fully satisfies its needs and supplies more than half of the products to other countries.

Transport Canada

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

• Railway. The length of railways is greater only in Russia and the USA.
• Automotive. Highways function well for internal traffic; Canada is second only to the USA out of its length.
• Air transport. Huge distances within the country, a sharp change in climate, and features of the relief became the reason for the development of air traffic not only in the international format, but also within the country.
• Water. Very well developed is the internal communication and delivery of goods by water - forests and grain.

USA and Canada. Characteristic

It is interesting to compare the two neighboring countries by the main indicators. Comparative characteristics of the United States and its northern neighbor are presented in the table.

We have proposed a complete 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 USA in pursuit of the "American dream", someone finds happiness in Canada. After all, any characteristics of countries give only a general idea of ​​them.