美国概况地理人文

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1、 The United States of America 美国概况 Geography 美国地理I. Location and SizeA. Namea. the United States of Americab. the United Statesc. the U.S.d. AmericaB. LocationThe continental United States lies in central North America with Canada (加拿大) to its north, Mexico (墨西哥) and the Gulf of Mexico (墨西哥湾) to its

2、 south, the Atlantic Ocean (大西洋) to its east and the Pacific Ocean (太平洋) to its west. The two newest states Alaska (阿拉斯加) and Hawaii (夏威夷) are separated from the continental United States: Alaska borders on northwestern Canada, and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific.C. Benefit of its locationThe Uni

3、ted States has an ideal location for trade. Its Atlantic coast faces the developed countries of Western Europe and its Pacific coast and Hawaii give the nation an approach to the Far East (远东) and Australasia (澳大利西亚). In the past the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans served as natural barriers between the

4、 United States and the rest of the world. This allowed the United States to grow and become strong with little outside interference. Today with the development of the means of communication and transportation the world has become smaller and the United States is well connected to the rest of the wor

5、ld.D. Land areaa. The U.S. has a land area of 9.3 million square kilometers. It is the fourth largest country in the world in size after Russia, Canada and China.b. The U.S. is a federal republic with many states.48 states +Alaska +Hawaii (1959)Alaska: largestRhode Island: smallestTexas: the largest

6、 on the main land. TopographyThe Face of the LandA. Two mountain ranges 两大山脉a. the Appalachian mountains/ the Appalachians 阿巴拉契亚山脉走向：from the northeast to southwestolder, lowernoted for forests and minesseven different local names: 阿巴拉契亚山脉在不同地区的七个名称：the Green Mountains 格林山脉the White Mountains 怀特山脉th

7、e Catskills 卡茨基尔山脉the Alleghenies 阿勒格民山脉the Cumberlands 坎伯兰山脉the Blue Ridge mountains 蓝山山脉the Great Smokies 大雾山脉b. the Rocky mountains/ the Rockies 落基山脉走向：from the northwest of southeastyounger, higheras young as the Himalayas 喜玛拉雅山脉 the highest peak: the Elbert 坎尔伯特峰Known as the backbone of the Nor

8、th American continent 北美大陆的脊梁 the Continental Divide 大陆分水岭The tops of the Rocky Mountain chain form the imaginery north-south line known as the Continental Divide. It separates the major river systems of the United States. The rivers that descend from the eastern slopes of the Rockies flow into the

9、Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Those that begin on the western slopes of the Rockies flow to the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California.B. Rivers and Lakesa. Rivers The Mississippi 密西西比河The Mississippi, lying between the Appalachian Mountains and the Rocky Mountains is one of the worlds great

10、 continental rivers. The Mississippi proper (干流) rises in the lake region in North Minnesota (明尼苏达州北部) and flows south to the Gulf of Mexico. It is 3,782 kilometres long.The Missouri 密苏里河the chief headstream of the MississippiThe Missouri rises in southwest Montana among the Rocky mountains. It runs

11、 3,725 kilometres before it joins the Mississippi at St. Louis.The Ohio 俄亥俄河It flows from the rainy east at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and joins the Mississippi at Cairo, Illinois. It is about 1,500 kilometres long.The Ohio River has been called the American Ruhr (after the Ruhr River 鲁尔河in Germany).

12、As in Germany, the area along the river is rich in valuable deposits of high-grade coking coal and is well-known for its steel industry. The river provides cheap water transportation for raw materials.The Colorado 科罗拉多河The Columbia 哥伦比亚河：rises in CanadaThe Colorado River rises in the snow-capped Roc

13、ky Mountains. It flows 2,330 kilometres and empties into the Gulf of California (加利福尼亚湾). In the dry western country, both rivers are vital sources of life. The Colorado drains an enormous area. All the farms and cities of the southwestern corner of the country depend on its water. Today a system of

14、 dams have been built on the river to supply water and electricity for farms, factories and homes.The Rio Grande River 格兰德河The Rio Grande River rises in the southern Rocky mountains and flows to the Gulf of Mexico. It is about 3,200 kilometres long and forms a natural boundary between Mexico and the

15、 United States.The Hudson 哈得孙河The Potomac 波托马克河b. LakesThe Great Lakes (五大湖区)：They are all located between Canada and the U.S. except Lake Michigan.Lake Superior 苏必利尔湖：the largest fresh waterlake in the world 全世界第一大淡水湖 Lake Michigan 密歇根湖：the only one entirely in the U.S. Lake Huron 休伦湖 Lake Erie 伊利湖

16、 Lake Ontario 安大略湖The Importance of the Great Lakes 五大湖的重要性These lakes are joined together by canals and are linked to the Mississippi River and its tributaries in the Interior Plains and the Atlantic Ocean forming a complete system of waterways. The Great Lakes are the economic lifeline of the Midw

17、est. They provide cheap transportation for materials such as iron ore, coal, and grain. The upper lakes region is a land of great natural wealth, whereas the lower lakes region is a land of industries. The cheap and easy transportation between these two regions is of great importance.C. Benefits of

18、the topography of U.S.The United States is a varied land of forests, deserts, mountains, plateaus and fertile plains. The long and irregular seacoasts provide many excellent harbours. The mountains are rich in mineral resources. The fertile gently rolling plains are easy to cultivate. A large networ

19、k of lakes and the Atlantic and Gulf rivers links the interior of the country with the coastal cities. Many swift rivers provide good sources of hydroelectric power. The United States is a large country, but no single part of it is isolated from other parts. The topography and the excellent system o

20、f internal transportation have made possible the free exchange of goods among all sections of the country. With the increased use of automobiles and airplanes, people now travel easily from one part of the country to another. Climate 气候A. Six types of climate the humid continental climate 湿润的大陆性气候in

21、 the north-eastern part of the country (New England) the humid subtropical climate 湿润的亚热带气候in the south-eastern part the continental steppe climate 大陆性草原气候the Great Plains the continental desert climate 大陆性沙漠气候the inter mountain region the maritime climate 海洋性气候the Pacific northwest the Mediterranea

22、n climate 地中海式气候the southern part of the Pacific coast in CaliforniaB. Factors influence the climate of the U.S.Many factor beside latitude influence the climate in the United States. Large bodies of water such as the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes are the most i

23、mportant factors. They keep temperatures moderate in the regions bordering them. Ocean currents also influence the climate over wide regions. The Gulf stream (墨西哥湾暖流), the Labrador Current (拉布拉多寒流), the cool California Current (加利福尼亚寒流) and the Japan current (日本暖流) are the most important ones. The m

24、ountain ranges are another factor. For example, the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges prevent westerly winds from bringing moisture to the intermountain region of the West. Geographical Regions 地理区划Traditionally from the east to west the United States can be divided into seven geographical r

25、egions. They are New England, the Middle Atlantic states, the Midwest, the South, the Great Plains, Rockies and Intermountain region or the American West, the Pacific Coast and the New States.New England 新英格兰The birthplace of America 美国的发源地Famous for its position in education:Yale 耶鲁大学Harvard 哈佛大学th

26、e Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) 麻省理工学院New Englanders were originally known as Yankees (杨基佬), which came to stand for all Americans.The Middle Atlantic States 大西洋中部各州a highly industrialized areathe nerve centre of the country 全国的神经中枢Famous cities: Washington D.C., New YorkThe Midwest 中西

27、部Its Americas most important agricultural areaIt is also a major manufacturing region and the nations leading centre of heavy industry.Chicago 芝加哥Detroit 底特律: the automobile capital of the world Toledo and Cleveland 托莱多和克利夫兰（俄亥俄州）St. Louis 圣路易丝Omaha 奥马哈：the agricultural capital of the United StatesT

28、he South 南部rich in mineral resourcesone of the richest oil-producing regions in the worldFlorida 佛罗里达The American West 美国西部3 parts: the Great Plains the Rocky Mountains the Intermountain Basin and PlateausColorado 科罗拉多：the steel city of the westDenver 丹佛Mining is the chief industry in the Rocky Moun

29、tains.Another important industry is the tourist trade (旅游业)National Parks: 国家公园Yellowstone National Park: 黄石国家公园Rocky Mountain National Park: 落基山国家公园Glacier National Park: 冰川国家公园Hoover Dam 胡佛水坝the Grand Canyon 科罗拉多大峡谷The region of the Pacific Coast 太平洋沿岸地区Californias Imperial Valley 帝国山谷Los Angeles

30、洛杉矶San Francisco 旧金山Portland 波特兰Seattle 西雅图Alaska and HawaiiGeographical differences between Alaska and Hawaiia. Alaska extends northward into the Arctic Circle, and Hawaii extends southward into the Tropic of Cancer.b. Alaska has the largest land area of all the states, and Hawaii has one of the sm

31、allest land areas.c. Alaska is rich in natural resources, and Hawaii has rich volcanic soil.Inuits 因纽特人Eskimos 爱斯基摩人Mauna Loa 冒纳罗亚火山：the worlds largest active volcanoSugar cane and pineapples are Hawaiis two main crops.Tourism is Hawaiis most important industry.Population, Race and Ethnic Groups人口与民

32、族I. IntroductionA. The United States of America, with a population of 255.5 million in July 1992, is the third most populous country in the world after China and India.B. Immigration (移民) accounts for a major source of population growth. The United States had a more or less open-door policy to immig

33、rants from independence until the 1960s. Ellis Island of New York was an important immigration reception spot in the 1890s and at the turn of the century. Even with later restrictions, immigration has continued at a high level.C. Great changes took place in the recent decades in the population of di

34、fferent regions in the United States. Such population movements reflected the shift from traditional manufacturing industries in the Northeast and Midwest to high-technology industries, whose growth has been most notable in the sunbelt states of the South and Mountain regions. Arizona (亚利桑那), Nevada

35、 and Florida have been the fastest growing states in population for the last 20 years.D. Most of the population in the United States live in city areas. The biggest city was New York, which was followed by Los Angeles (洛杉矶), Chicago (芝加哥), San Francisco (旧金山) and Philadelphia (费城).E. Changes in age

36、structure during the 1980s reflect past trends in child bearing: the low birth rate in the two decades ending in 1945, the higher birth rate during the “baby boom” (1946-1964) and the lower birth rate afterwards. ImmigrationA. The first immigrants in American history came from England and the Nether

37、lands. Though immigration had been a familiar aspect of American development throughout the colonial period, the largest immigration movement did not take place until 1815.B. In American history, there were three major immigration waves. The first wave began in the mid 1810s, grew steadily during th

38、e 1830s and 40s and reached the highest point in 1845. The second wave happened between 1860 and 1890. The third wave was the largest of the three. It happened between 1890 and 1914 and was drawn mainly from southern and central European countries. Population MovementA. Mobility is considered to be

39、one of the characteristics of the American people. B. There are four great population movements in the history of the United States. The first was between the end of the civil war and 1880 when the westward movement came to a halt. In this period, the flow of population was from the densely-populate

40、d east coast to the sparsely-populated west. The second was between 1890 and 1920, a period when the United States realized its industrialization and urbanization. The main feature was the movement of population from the rural areas to cities. The third was from 1920 to 1960 with the 1940s, the war

41、years, as the peak. In this period a large number of black people moved out of the south to other areas. The fourth and the last one so far is from the end of the 1960s till now. In this period, the population flow is from the Northeast and Central North to the West and the South, that is, to the su

42、nbelt areas. Population in the South increased by 55.47% between 1960 and 1990 and population in the west increased by 88.17% in the same period. Racial and Ethnic Minorities 少数民族A. Blacks 黑人a. The largest of the racial and ethnic minorities in the U.S. is the blacks. The first blacks were brought t

43、o North America as slaves in 1619. Uncle Toms Cabin汤姆叔叔的小屋and Roots根are two novels giving a vivid description of the miserable life of the black slaves.b. The slave system was formally ended by Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation in 1863 and the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. But e

44、ven after the abolition of slavery, open or covert, organized or individual discrimination was practiced against black Americans.c. The civil rights movement in the 1960s. The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Voting Rights Act of 1965.B. Hispanics 拉美裔美国人 Hispanic: Spanish-speaking people of any racea.

45、The Spanish-speaking population of the United States is a large diverse and rapidly growing one.b. Three major Hispanic groups historically have had the greatest influence on the United States. Mexican-Americans (墨西哥裔美国人), or Chicanos, make up the largest group and most of them have settled in the s

46、outh-western United States. The next largest group are the Puerto Ricans (波多黎各人). They have settled in the large cities in the eastern seaboard.In the third place are the Cuban-Americans (古巴人) who got away from Cuba after the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and are now gathered in the Miami area. In genera

47、l, the Cuban-Americans have done the best economically.Another group: least known. They are the recent Central and South American immigrants (中南美洲移民) who fled their countries as a result of political and social unrest. They are actually refugees (难民) who are poorer, less educated and mostly from rur

48、al backgrounds.c. Many Hispanics are in lower-paying jobs. The most important obstacle to Hispanic success in the labor market is their low education. Hispanics have the highest school dropout rate of any major racial and ethnic group;d. The Hispanics are getting organized today to fight for equal t

49、reatment.C. Asian-Americans 亚裔美国人a. The Asian and Pacific Islander population was 3% of the total population in the United States. Most Asian-Americans are doing well in the United States. A higher percentage of Asian-Americans complete university study. Experts say three Asian traditions best expla

50、in the success of Asian-Americans: education, hard work, and family.b. The largest group of Asian-Americans are the Chinese-Americans. the gold rush the construction of the railroad in the 1860s In May, 1882, Congress passed the Chinese Exclusion Act which stopped Chinese immigration for 10 years. I

51、n 1902 Chinese immigration was stopped for an indefinite period. It was not canceled until 1943 during the Second World War when China became an ally to the United States.c. The Japanese-Americans form the second largest group.D. Indians 印第安人a. For centuries before the arrival of the first Europeans

52、, the lands of what is now the United States were populated by “Indians” called by Columbus.b. After the civil war, government reservations (印第安人保留地), land specially set aside for the Indians, were established. Today, Native Indians live on the 278 reservations scattered around the United States. Th

53、e social and economic conditions of the Indians are often poor. Their average life expectancy (寿命) is around 50 years.c. Since the 1960s, a militant social movement, the American Indian Movement, has arisen.E. White ethnics 白人的民族背景Traditionally, the mainstream Americans were called WASPs, that is, White Anglo-Saxon Protestants. But actually there is a much greater variety of ethnic groups. 13.1% of the U.S. population had English roots, 23.2% had German roots and 15.5% had Irish roots.