The United States - Location, Size and Regions

Summary

This video explores the vast geography of the United States, highlighting its size and unique features. With a land area of approximately 3.8 million square miles, the U.S. ranks as the third largest country in the world. The video discusses the nation's diverse regions, from the 48 contiguous states bordered by Canada and Mexico, to Alaska's immense size and Rhode Island's population. It also delves into the country's regional similarities in land, climate, and wildlife, categorizing the U.S. into seven distinct geographical regions for study.

Takeaways

• 😀 The United States is divided into smaller units for detailed study, including land areas, resources, waterways, and people.
• 😀 The total area of the U.S. is 3.794 million square miles, with over a quarter million square miles covered by water bodies like the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay.
• 😀 The U.S. is the third-largest country in the world by area, behind Russia and Canada.
• 😀 The U.S. consists of 50 states, with Hawaii being the only state not located on the North American continent.
• 😀 The lower 48 states of the U.S. share borders with Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with each state bordering at least one other state.
• 😀 Alaska is the largest state, covering nearly 600,000 square miles, more than 500 times the size of Rhode Island.
• 😀 Despite its massive land area, Alaska's population is smaller than Rhode Island's by over 400,000 people.
• 😀 Geographers group U.S. states into regions based on similar land features, climates, and species of plants and animals.
• 😀 There are seven basic regions of the U.S.: New England, Middle Atlantic, Southeastern, Midwestern, Mountain, Pacific, and Southwestern.
• 😀 Each geographical region in the U.S. has its own distinct characteristics, from land features to climate and biodiversity.

Q & A

Why do geographers divide large territories like the United States into smaller units?

Geographers divide large territories into smaller units to study them more closely, examining specific areas such as land features, natural resources, waterways, and population.

How much land does the United States encompass?

The United States covers approximately 3,794,000 square miles of land.

What portion of the United States' territory consists of bodies of water?

Over a quarter of a million square miles of U.S. territory consists of bodies of water, including the Great Lakes and Chesapeake Bay.

Which countries are larger than the United States in terms of area?

Only Russia and Canada are larger than the United States in terms of area.

How many states make up the United States?

The United States consists of 50 states.

Where is the state of Hawaii located?

Hawaii is located in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, separate from the mainland of the United States.

What is the geographical relationship between the lower 48 states and neighboring countries?

The lower 48 states are bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.

Which state does not share a border with any other state?

Alaska does not share a border with any other state, as it is located in the northernmost region of the continent and shares its eastern boundary with Canada.

Which U.S. state is the largest by land area?

Alaska is the largest U.S. state by land area, covering nearly 600,000 square miles.

Which state has the smallest land area in the U.S.?

Rhode Island is the smallest state in the U.S. by land area.

How does Rhode Island's population compare to Alaska's despite its smaller size?

Although Rhode Island is much smaller in land area, its population exceeds Alaska's by over 400,000 people.

What are geographical regions, and why are they important for study?

Geographical regions group states with similar land features, climate, and plant and animal species. They are important for studying the similarities between states in specific areas.

What are the seven basic geographical regions of the United States?

The seven basic geographical regions of the United States are: New England, Middle Atlantic, Southeastern, Midwestern, Mountain, Pacific, and Southwestern regions.