The
United States comprises 50 beautiful states, each with its own points
of interest, cultures, climate, and landscape. With more than 3.5
million square miles of land, the United States offers almost every
type of natural and man-made landscape, from deserts to rain forests,
from farmland to bustling cities, and from swampy wetlands to
snowcapped mountain peaks. A great way to explore the varied natural and historical landscape of the United States is through the extensive system of national parks. The U.S. government maintains 83.6 million acres of parks, nature preserves, and historical landmarks that represent American landscapes and important places. See all the parks at the National Park Service site. Some of the better-known parks are:
- Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona follows the winding course of the Colorado River, which has carved a deep and scenic canyon through the red rocks of the desert Southwest.
- Gettysburg National Military Park in Pennsylvania marks the site of the largest battle of the Civil War.
- Mammoth Cave National Park in southern central Kentucky contains the longest cave system in the world. To date, cavers have explored and mapped 360 miles of underground rooms and tunnels.
- Mount Rushmore National Memorial, a mountain in South Dakota, features enormous carvings of the faces of four former U.S. presidents: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt.
- Yellowstone National Park is a vast area of geothermal activity that features many springs and geysers, which give clues to the region's explosive volcanic history. Yellowstone's territory includes parts of the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming.
- Yosemite National Park in California includes the spectacular scenery of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Each of the 50 states has a unique culture, the sum of which comes together to make the United States. You can learn more about each state through its capital city. Visit www.50states.com for a link to each capital's Web site, as well as information on the states in general.
Fodor's publishes informative guides to all areas of the world. The company got its start in 1936 with a guidebook about Europe; today they produce print and online guides to virtually every part of the world.
Amusement parks are extremely popular in the United States. These destinations feature thrill rides, food, and live entertainment. Some of the larger parks include:
- Walt Disney World and Disneyland, both of which are based on the cartoon characters and films created by Walt Disney. Popular characters include the original crew members Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy; more recent animated Disney creations include movies such as Aladdin, The Lion King, and Finding Nemo.
- Six Flags operates theme parks and water parks (with pools and waterslides) across the United States.
