Overview: Although explored centuries earlier by the Vikings, America was
'discovered' by Columbus when he stumbled upon it in 1492 and for
more than 500 years people have travelled here seeking a better
life in the 'land of opportunity'. The land was fought over by
colonial powers for centuries and finally won its independence from
Britain in 1783. Despite the near-annihilation of the Native
American population, a bloody civil war, and centuries of ingrained
racism (Native Americans were not granted citizenship until 1924
and racial segregation was the norm until as late as the 1950s),
the American people have succeeded in forging one of the worlds
most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating
melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic
heavyweight of the world. The country is made up of the 48 neighbouring states of the
continental USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of
Canada, and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, located 2,000 miles
(3,219km) out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories,
which include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway Islands
and the US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly in the great
cities such as New York and Washington DC; as well as sunshine
states like California, Florida and Hawaii, where millions of
tourists congregate each year to enjoy the fine beaches, natural
wonders and man-made attractions such as Walt Disney World,
Universal Studios and Hollywood. Too many miss out on the
mind-blowing landscapes of the interior which can found in the
wealth of magnificent National Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and
the Adirondacks, as well as spectacular sights like the Grand
Canyon and the Rocky Mountains. With all this on their doorstep,
it's easy to understand why most Americans have never bothered
getting a passport.
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