USA

- Geography

- History - States - cities - sights

The lesson in the form of slide - lecture for the 10th form
Creator: Udartseva E.Y. – an english teacher
Bayevo - 2007

The USA :

name: The United States of America
Status: A federal republic, a

union of 50 states
Area: 9,364,000 squ. km.
Population: about 250 mln. people (2006)
Capital: Washington, D.C.

may have been discovered by Vikings under Leif Eriksson, but

Europeans didn’t know about its existence until Columbus’ voyages.
In 1492 three ships- the “Santa Maria”, the “Pinta”, the “Nine” under Columbus landed the continent.
In 1507 Amerigo Vespucci explored the area of South America and introduced a new land to the world. This continent was called after him - “America”.

first people from England arrived in America. They left England

because of religious problems.
In 1776 after the war with Britain, America became an independent country. Americans wrote the Declaration of the Independence and designed a new flag – The Stars and Stripes.
4th July – The Day of Independence (a national holiday)
After the war in 1861-1865 between the northern and the southern states (south lost) the government stopped slavery .
1969 – the first people on the moon were three astronauts: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, Ed Collins.

Africans - 12,4%

immigrants from Asia - 3,3% native Americans (Indians, Aleuts, Eskimos) – 0,8 %

on the river Niagara (51 meters high). It is situated

on the boarder between the USA and Canada. The waterfalls was discovered by the expedition of R. Lassal. There is always a rainbow over it.

the Missouri and the Ohio is the longest river in

the world. The history of this river is described in the book “Life on the Mississippi” by M. Twain.

50th state in 1959. Alaska is separated from Russia by

the Bering Strait. It is the biggest and the coldest state of the country.
Each of the states has its own capital, government and symbol.


What is special about Hawaii and Alaska ?

president (1789-1796).
George Washington, “the father
of his country”.
He was

an example of bravery and
approved the fight against slavery.
General Henry Li wrote : “Washington
was first in war, first in peace and
first in the hearts of his countrymen”

The capital of the country, a state, a lake,
an island, a mount, a canyon, some
universities and colleges, streets and
squares are named after him.
In 1888 the Washington Monument was
established in the capital (169 m. high)

22nd of February – birthday of J. Washington, a national holiday in the USA.

The Capitol is the highest
of the American President. building in W.,
where laws are made.
No building in the city may
be more than 40 meters high.

The Sights of Washington

A magnificent sculpture (6m.)of
(the number of

states Abraham Lincoln inside
in Lincoln days) – in a park on the
banks of the Potomac River.

Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the USA

was built in a gothic style. The first stone was

laid by Th. Roosevelt (the 26th president) in 1907. Finally it was rebuilt in 1990.

At the entrance to New York Harbour you can see

a great statue which is called the Statue of Liberty. It is 46 meters high excluding the pedestal.
The Statue was designed by Bartholdy, a French sculptor, who worked ten years at it. In 1876 the statue was taken to pieces and shipped across the Atlantic as a gift from the French government to the USA for its democratic views.

The Statue of Liberty is the symbol of New York.

New York (New York) is the city
of contrasts, financial and business centre of the USA.
It was founded some three hundred years ago.
It is situated in the mouth of the Hudson . Its nickname is “A big apple”,
because everybody wants to bite it.

banks of Lake Michigan (was founded in 1833)
Chicago – the

second economical center in the USA after New York.
The biggest river port in the world.
The biggest airport in the world.
200 colleges, 5 universities are situated here.
The home of the first skyscrapers.

Chicago is known in a sport world as a home of the best basketball club “Chicago bulls”.

“thanks to” the great fire in 1871.
The whole city was

destroyed. The cause was the cow “Mrs. O’Leary”, who pulled down a burning candle in a time she had been milked.
90 thousand people were left without houses! Almost all the buildings of wood were burnt.

Some years later the city was rebuilt. The first skyscrapers appeared with iron constructions.

The city became the most modern one from all the biggest American cities.

A wonderful fountain in a classical style near the Michigan

leads the USA in production of aircraft. This city is

the world capital of filmed entertainment. The first cinema house in the country was opened here in 1902.

Hollywood – the centre of the US film industry. In 1913 the first film was made there. The biggest film companies are here: MGM, Paramount, 20th century Fox, Columbia Pictures, Warner Bros.

The star avenue

the first park of entertainment with decorations from popular Disney

cartoons in Los Angeles. 10 mln. people visit Disneyworld every year.

Walt Disney (1901-1966)
A world famous cartoon
Director.
His Mickey Mouse and
Donald Duck are known to every child in the world.

A new Disneyland in Florida, built in 1971.

jazz or blues. Almost all the bars and clubs in

the city feature live music, there are usually more bands playing out in the streets. Other reason to visit this city is its 19th century architecture.
Las Vegas is the city that never sleeps!
San Francisco, Philadelphia …

“America! Who has seen you once, will never forget ”
J. London.

1909

1776 1955

1861

got its name?
It is 51 meters high, is situated on

the border between Canada and the USA-?
It is famous for its three universities - ?
He founded the first park of entertainment for children - ?
The home of the first skyscraper?
Who presented the Statue of Liberty to the USA and why?
Th. Roosevelt took part in the building of this sight?
What is the biggest state of the USA?
This city has no skyscrapers - ?