The U.S. is a country of 50 states covering a vast swath of North America, with Alaska in the extreme Northwest and Hawaii extending the nation’s presence into the Pacific Ocean. Major cities include New York, a global finance and culture center, and Washington, DC, the capital, both on the Atlantic Coast; Los Angeles, famed for filmmaking, on the Pacific Coast; and the Midwestern metropolis Chicago.

Facts about the U.S.A.

Capital: Washington, D.C.

Independence Day: July 4, 1776

Motto: In God We Trust

National Bird: Bald Eagle

National Flower: Rose

National Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner

Area (50 states and District of Columbia only): 9,631,418 sq km  *Note: Area of China: 9,596,960 sq km  Area of HK: 1,092 sq km

Comparative Size: 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.

Largest State: Alaska

Smallest State: Rhode Island

Largest Cities: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia,

Border Countries and Oceans: Canada, Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Pacific San Diego, Detroit, Dallas, Phoenix, San Antonio Ocean *Note: World's third-largest country by size (after Russia and Canada) and by population (after China and India); Mt. McKinley is highest point in North America and Death Valley the lowest point on the continent.

Population: 295,734,134 (July 2005 est.)

Languages: English 82.1%, Spanish 10.7%, other Indo-European 3.8%, Asian and Pacific island 2.7%, other 0.7% (2000 census)

Religions: Protestant 52%, Roman Catholic 24%, Mormon 2%, Jewish 1%, Muslim 1%, other 10%, none 10% (2002 est.)