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Visitor Information |
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Geography |
The United States is the world's third-largest country after Russia and Canada. Located in North
America, the U.S. borders both the North Atlantic Ocean and the North Pacific Ocean, between
Canada and Mexico.
With total area of 9,629,091 square kilometers (land and water), the United States of America is
about one-half the size of Russia; about three-tenths the size of Africa; about one-half the size
of South America (or slightly larger than Brazil); slightly larger than China; about two and
one-half times the size of Western Europe.
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Climate |
The climate of the United States are mostly temperate, but tropical in Hawaii and Florida,
arctic in Alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the Mississippi River, and arid
in the Great Basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated
occasionally in January and February by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the
Rocky Mountains.
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Time Zones |
The United States has six time zones: Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaska,
and Hawaii-Aleutian Time Zone which is two hours behind Pacific Standard Time and five
hours behind Eastern Standard Time.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is applied in most of the U.S. states but not in Hawaii.
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People |
Population: Based on U.S. Bureau of the Census estimate, in April 2000 the U.S. population
is about 274,563,072.
Ethnic groups: white 83.5%, black 12.4%, Asian 3.3%, Amerindian 0.8% (1992)
Religions: Protestant 56%, Roman Catholic 28%, Jewish 2%, other 4%, none 10% (1989)
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population: 97%
male: 97%
female: 97% (1979 est.)
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Language |
Languages: English, Spanish (spoken by a sizable minority)
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Holidays |
Holidays in the United States:
| New Year's Day |
1 January
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| Martin Luther King Day |
the third Monday of January
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| President's Day |
the third Monday of February
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| Good Friday |
the Friday before Easter
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| Memorial Day |
the fourth Monday of May
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| Independence Day |
4 July
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| Labour Day |
the first Monday of September
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| Columbus Day |
the second Monday of October
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| Veterans Day |
11 November
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| Thanksgiving |
the fourth Thursday of November
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| Christmas Day |
25 December
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[NOTE] (1) When these holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, workers are entitled to the following Monday off.
(2) Additional holidays may be established by the government of a state or city.
(3) Government, banks, most business offices are closed on these holidays.
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