The plains
Further west still, the great plain which occupies the middle of the USA from Canada down to Texas is empty, featureless territory, where one can drive for hours without much change of scene, and where the vastness of America is palpable. The four states forming the heart of the plains, North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas have a combined area nearly as great as France and Italy together, and only 5 million inhabitants. Iowa and Minnesota belong here as well. These are the Northern Plains States. Iowa is considered the richest of the farming states of the Northern Planes. Nearly 96 per cent of the land is arable, that is fit for cultivation. it is the leading state in the USA in corn production
Between Kansas and the Gulf of Mexico, the vast flat open spaces of Oklahoma and Texas rear cattle but have grown rich through oil and its associated industries. Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas make up the Southern Planes states. So, oil is the most important natural resource in the Southern Plains states. Except for Alaska, Texas is the biggest state in the Union. Many people migrate to Texas from other states because of its warm climate and the availability of service jobs in the growing cities. Nearly half of its population live in the metropolitan areas of Dallas – Fort Worth and Houston.
The Rocky mountains
To the west the plains merge into rising land, The Rocky mountains and the great deserts much emptier than the plains. An area as big as Europe, it has fewer people than the Netherlands. The Rocky Mountain region is made up of the states of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Yet in some of these desert areas, such as the states of Arizona, New Mexico and Nevada, we can now see new high technology and service jobs.
Though agriculture in the area is problematic because of lack of water and poor soils, the Rocky mountains are rich in mineral and energy resources. Gold and silver were the 1st resources discovered in the 19th century. Today they mine copper, mercury and molybdenum. Coal and iron are mined in Arizona, Colorado and Utah.
The major cities of the region are Phoenix and Denver. Phoenix is an important producer of electronic products, computers, airplanes, steel, aluminium and chemicals. Denver has an economy based on federal government service including a mint where they make coined money.
The Pacific states (the West Coast)
The Pacific region includes Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington.
But for the fullest, most significant representation of the modern American image, we must go to the Pacific coast and to the southern part of it in particular. Glorious mountains, sea with majestic cliffs as well as inviting expenses of sand, scenery which leaves the east coast and the Midwest dull by comparison, warm winters, sunshine, the world's biggest trees (Redwoods) – these are only part of the story. The oranges, grapes and fertile land are still important, but the electronics industry, aeroplane factories, defence plants are more important still. California is now the country's second most important cotton-producing state. Only Texas grows more cotton. The region has important fisheries. California holds the first place in the country for its catch. Alaska and Washington are the main suppliers of salmon and halibut. The three states of the west coast – California, Oregon, Washington – have important farm lands.
The fastest growing industries in the Pacific region are in electronics and technical products. A large number of companies making electronic parts are found in an area around the city of San Jose. This area is known as the Silicon Valley.
California's population is now the biggest in the Union.
Like California the Northwest has an equable climate, not too hot in summer or too cold in winter, though the coastal areas are very wet. Forestry and agriculture flourish. The Northwest's natural wealth is timber, fish and wheat. There is good coastal and mountain scenery, and the state of Oregon in particular has been active in passing laws for protecting environment. The chief cities are San Fransisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland.
Alaska
In 1959 Alaska became the 49th state . Alaska is America's largest state, but few people live there. The highest peak in North America is mt. McKinley (6,193). Alaska has been the home of Eskimos for centuries. When gold was discovered in the Canadian Yukon, thousands rushed into Alaska, on their way to Canada. After fishing, Alaska's chief industry is lumber and paper production. There are also large deposits of coal, copper, gold and other important minerals.
Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959. About 3,5 thousand kilometres separate Hawaii from California, its closest sister state. Five volcanoes gave the island its form. Of the 2 active volcanoes, Mauna Loa is the world's largest. Honolulu, the capital and largest city, spreads at the foot of the volcanic mountain range. Close to it lies Pearl Harbour, where the US Pacific fleet is based.
1.2. Climate
The climate of the USA is extremely varied. In all the heavily populated parts of the USA the summer can be exceedingly hot, and particularly near the eastern seaboard it is very unpleasant. In the winter it can be very cold. Particularly away from the coast the winter cold can be very intense. Even near the east coast in New York and Boston there are some spells of very cold weather, though they may be interspersed with much milder weather.
On the west coast the climate is much more equable. One of the great advantages of California is that there are no extremes. Except in the desert the summer is never intolerably hot, and the winter is mild. The coastal region suffers from mist and drizzle, though only a little way inland the weather is commonly much clearer. Arizona and New Mexico can produce some of the highest temperatures of any inhabited part of the globe.
Much of America suffers constant insecurity from violent climatic happenings. Best known of these are the hurricanes which afflict the Southeast, especially during the autumn. Originating in the Caribbean these circular storms tend to move northeastwards. In general it is the areas nearest to the coasts which suffer most severely. Some hurricanes may cause severe damage in areas as far north as New York.
The Midwest is similarly subject to damage from violent wind storms, here commonly called “tornadoes”. There are several dozens of tornadoes each year, but each is short-lived and localised, likely to cause devastation in a restricted area. On the other hand, tornadoes are less easy to predict than southeastern hurricanes, and they are more likely to cause death or injury to people, and to cause severe suffering over small areas.
Another problem of the eastern half of the US behind the Appalachian Mountains, in the whole basin of the Mississippi, Missouri and Ohio Rivers, is the danger of flooding. Severe storms and heavy rainfalls can raise the level of these rivers to dangerous heights. In the history of the USA river floods have probably caused more damage than any other single climatic element.
The great plains of the Midwest correspond more closely with conditions found in southern Russia than with anything in Western Europe.