The United States of America

government · geography · north-america

Fifty states. The United States has 50 states, from Alaska and Hawaii in far-away places to the 48 states that touch each other on the mainland. Washington, D.C. is the capital city where the national government makes big decisions for the whole country.

Huge and diverse. The U.S. has the third-largest land area in the world and is home to more than 341 million people. You can find deserts, mountains, forests, swamps, and coastlines all within its borders.

Federal republic. Power in the United States is split between the national government and the state governments, so decisions are made at different levels. This is called a federal system, and it helps protect people's freedoms.

Borders Canada and Mexico. The 48 contiguous states (the ones that touch each other) share a long border with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south. Alaska and Hawaii are separated from the rest of the country.

Island territories. Besides the 50 states, the United States also controls several island territories in the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.