In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina caused widespread damage in the states of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Communications and the transport infrastructure have been badly affected. All airports in the region are closed. There have been a number of casualties. Please visit http://www.fema.gov/ for further advice on how to deal with the aftermath of hurricanes. You should check news reports regularly and keep in touch with your local travel agent about how this might affect your travel plans.

‘A country straight out of the movies!’

Mickey Mouse, Miami Vice, Sleepless in Seattle… thanks to cinema and TV we all have impressions of the United States of America. Yet nothing can prepare you for your first glimpse of Manhattan’s unforgettable skyline, your first ride in a yellow cab, the ubiquitous hamburger joints, the vast expanses of prairie, the sweet strains of New Orleans jazz or the neon-lit excesses of Las Vegas.

The USA is a huge country to explore, with 50 states to choose from, flanked by two oceans and covering an incredibly varied terrain. For five centuries, since the ‘New World’ discoveries of Christopher Columbus, people from every corner of the globe have come here in search of ‘the American Dream’. Between them, they have created the richest, most powerful country on earth, and a fascinating melting pot of cultures and traditions.

Tourism centres mainly on the subtropical states of Florida, California and Hawaii, the winter ski resorts and the huge metropolises. But it is the astonishing, vast landscapes that make the USA truly distinctive – spectacular National Parks like Yosemite and the Everglades, rugged ice fields, the Great Lakes and the desert plains – and such awe-inspiring sights as the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains should be on every visitor’s must-see list. As Gertrude Stein remarked: “In the United States there is more space where nobody is than where anybody is. That is what makes America what it is.”

Teresa Fisher

Information on the USA is provided in two parts: a general overview and individual State profiles, each of which has its own section.

9,809,155 sq km (3,787,319 sq miles).

296,410 million (official estimate 2005).

32.5 per sq km.

Washington, DC. Population: 550,521 (official estimate 2005). 20 other cities have a population larger than that of Washington, DC. New York is the largest city, with a population of over 8 million. Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Antonio and San Diego, had populations of over 1 million in 2000.

Covering a large part of the North American continent, the USA shares borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south and has coasts on the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The State of Alaska, in the northwest corner of the continent, is separated from the rest of the country by Canada, and Hawaii lies in the central Pacific Ocean. The third-largest country in the world (after the Russian Federation and Canada), the USA has an enormous diversity of geographical features. The climate ranges from subtropical to Arctic, with a corresponding breadth of flora and fauna. For a more detailed description of each region’s geographical characteristics, see the individual State sections.

Federal Republic since 1789. Gained independence from the UK in 1776. The USA is a Federal Republic with 50 States and the District of Columbia (as in ‘Washington, DC’), which lies between Maryland and Virginia. The Constitution (the final arbiters of which are the members of the Supreme Court) ensures that the powers of the executive, legislature, judiciary, presidency and the individual states are balanced by constitutional procedures. The President is elected by an electoral college system, based on universal adult suffrage, every four years. No president may be elected to serve more than two full terms of office. The legislature is bicameral; the Senate has two members from each state while the larger House of Representatives allocates seats on the basis of population. Collectively these two bodies are known as Congress. Each state enjoys a fairly high degree of self-Government. Head of State and Government: President George W Bush since 2001. Recent History: Conditions in Iraq, and national security generally, will be a major issue for Bush junior, who secured a second term at the Presidential election in November 2004. Republics tightened their grip on the Senate, kept control of the House of Representatives, and also presided over the possibility of further changes in the Supreme Court. It seems that Americans were keen to preserve stability in the White House whilst their nation remained in the midst of its 'War on Terror'. It remains to be seen how Bush junior will act in such a 'War' while in his final term as President - and, also, how the President will respond to domestic affairs and criticism of his persistent snubbing of environmental concerns, which culminated in him refusing to sign the Kyoto Protocol on greenhouse emissions.

English, with significant Spanish-speaking minorities.

Protestant majority with Roman Catholic, Jewish and many ethnic minorities.

110 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat two-pin type. European electrical appliances not fitted with dual-voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which is best purchased before arrival in the USA. The television system is NTSC I/II and is not compatible with the PAL and SECAM systems used in Asia and Europe, although cassettes can be converted.

The wide variety of national origins and the USA’s relatively short history has resulted in numerous cultural and traditional customs living alongside each other. In large cities, people of the same ethnic background often live within defined communities. Shaking hands is the usual form of greeting. A relaxed and informal atmosphere is usually the norm. As long as the fundamental rules of courtesy are observed, there need be no fear of offending anyone of any background. Americans are renowned for their openness and friendliness to visitors. Gifts are appreciated if one is invited to a private home. As a rule, dress is casual. Smart restaurants, hotels and clubs insist on suits and ties or long dresses. Smoking is becoming increasingly unpopular in the US and is often considered offensive; it is essential to ask permission from all present before lighting up. Smoking is forbidden on city transport and often restricted or forbidden in public buildings. There will usually be a notice where no smoking is requested and most restaurants have smoking and non-smoking sections. Smoking is banned in all restaurants in California and New York City.