ASSIGNMENT No.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA)

GIT (Geography & International Tourism)

Submitted to Faculty of GIT:

Biswas Sir
Submitted by:
Atreyee Ganguli – 15
Avadesh Kumar – 16
Avinash Sharma – 17
Bal Gopal Subudhi – 18
Bikash Dash – 19
Chirag Gautam – 20
Dave Riddhi - 21
PGDM – TT 1ST SEMISTER
IITTM (Indian Institute Of Tourism and Travel Management), Bhubaneswar
26th Oct, 2009

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INTRODUCTION
The United States of America (commonly
referred to as the United States, the U.S., the USA, or
America) is a federal constitutional republic
comprising fifty states and a federal district. The
country is situated mostly in central North America,
where its forty-eight contiguous states and
Washington, D.C., the capital district, lie between the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, bordered by Canada to
the north and Mexico to the south. The state of Alaska
is in the northwest of the continent, with Canada to its
east and Russia to the west across the. Bering Strait.
The state of Hawaii is an archipelago in the mid -
Pacific. The country also possesses several territories
in the Caribbean and Pacific. At 3.79 million square
miles (9.83 million km2) and with about 308 million
people, the United States is the third or fourth largest
country by total area and the third largest by land area
and population.

The United States is one of the world's most ethnically

diverse and multicultural nations, the product of large
scale immigration from many countries. The U.S.
economy is the largest national economy in the world,
with an estimated 2008 gross domestic product (GDP)
of US $14.4 trillion (a quarter of nominal global GDP
and a fifth of global GDP at purchasing power parity).
Indigenous peoples, probably of Asian descent, have
inhabited what is now the mainland United States for
many thousands of years. This Native American
population was greatly reduced after European
contact by disease and warfare. The United States was
founded by thirteen British colonies located along the
Atlantic seaboard. On July 4, 1776, they issued the
Declaration of Independence, which proclaimed their
right to self-determination and their establishment of
a cooperative union.

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The rebellious states defeated Great Britain in the
American Revolutionary War, the first successful
colonial war of independence. The Philadelphia
Convention adopted the current United States
Constitution on September 17, 1787; its
ratification the following year made the states
part of a single republic with a strong central
government. The Bill of Rights, comprising ten
constitutional amendments guaranteeing many
fundamental civil rights and freedoms, was
ratified in 1791.

In the 19th century, the United States acquired

land from France, Spain, the United Kingdom,
Mexico, and Russia, and annexed the Republic of
Texas and the Republic of Hawaii. Disputes
between the agrarian South and industrial North
over states' rights and the expansion of the
institution of slavery provoked the American Civil War of the 1860s. The North's victory
prevented a permanent split of the country and led to the end of legal slavery in the United
States. By the 1870s, the national economy was the world's largest. The Spanish–American
War and World War we confirmed the country's status as a military power. In 1945, the
United States emerged from World War II as the first country with nuclear weapons and a
permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. The end of the Cold War and
the dissolution of the Soviet Union left the United States as the sole superpower. The
country accounts for two-fifths of global military spending and is a leading economic,
political, and cultural force in the world.

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History

Native Americans And European Settlers

The indigenous peoples of the U.S. mainland, including Alaska Natives, are most commonly
believed to have migrated from Asia. They began arriving at least 12,000 and as many as 40,000
years ago. Some, such as the pre-Columbian Mississippian culture, developed advanced agriculture,
grand architecture, and state-level societies. After Europeans began settling the Americas, many
millions of indigenous Americans died from epidemics of imported diseases such as smallpox.

In 1492, Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus, under contract to the Spanish crown,
reached several Caribbean islands, making first contact with the indigenous people. On April 2, 1513,
Spanish conquistador Juan Ponce de León landed on what he called "La Florida"—the first
documented European arrival on what would become the U.S. mainland. Spanish settlements in the
region were followed by ones in the present day southwestern United States that drew thousands
through Mexico. French fur traders established outposts of New France around the Great Lakes;
France eventually claimed much of the North American interior, down to the Gulf of Mexico. The
first successful English settlements were the Virginia Colony in Jamestown in 1607 and the Pilgrims'
Plymouth Colony in 1620. The 1628 chartering of the Massachusetts Bay Colony resulted in a wave
of migration; by 1634, New England had been settled by some 10,000 Puritans. Between the late
1610s and the American Revolution, about 50,000 convicts were shipped to Britain's American
colonies. Beginning in 1614, the Dutch settled along the lower Hudson River, including New
Amsterdam on Manhattan Island.

In 1674, the Dutch ceded their American territory to England; the province of New
Netherland was renamed New York. Many new immigrants, especially to the South, were indentured
servants—some two-thirds of all Virginia immigrants between 1630 and 1680. By the turn of the
century, African slaves were becoming the primary source of bonded labor. With the 1729 division of
the Carolinas and the 1732 colonization of Georgia, the thirteen British colonies that would become
the United States of America were established. All had local governments with elections open to
most free men, with a growing devotion to the ancient rights of Englishmen and a sense of self-
government stimulating support for republicanism. All legalized the African slave trade. With high
birth rates, low death rates, and steady immigration, the colonial population grew rapidly. The
Christian revivalist movement of the 1730s and 1740s known as the Great Awakening fueled interest
in both religion and religious liberty. In the French and Indian War, British forces seized Canada from
the French, but the francophone population remained politically isolated from the southern
colonies. Excluding the Native Americans (popularly known as "American Indians"), who were being
displaced, those thirteen colonies had a population of 2.6 million in 1770, about one-third that of
Britain; nearly one in five Americans were black slaves. Though subject to British taxation, the
American colonials had no representation in the Parliament of Great Britain.

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Geography, Climate, and Environment
The total land area of the contiguous United States is approximately 1.9 billion acres.
Alaska, separated from the contiguous United States by Canada, is the largest state at 365
million acres. Hawaii, occupying an archipelago in the central Pacific, southwest of North
America, has just over 4 million acres. After Russia and Canada, the United States is the
world's third or fourth largest nation by total area, ranking just above or below China. The
ranking varies depending on how two territories disputed by China and India are counted
and how the total size of the United States is calculated: the CIA World Factbook gives
3,794,101 sq mi (9,826,676 km2), the United Nations Statistics Division gives 3,717,813 sq
mi (9,629,091 km2), and the Encyclopedia Britannica gives 3,676,486 sq mi (9,522,055 km2).
Including only land area, the United States is third in size behind Russia and China, just
ahead of Canada. The coastal plain of the Atlantic seaboard gives way further inland to
deciduous forests and the rolling hills of the Piedmont. The Appalachian Mountains divide
the eastern sea board from the Great Lakes and the grasslands of the Midwest. The
Mississippi–Missouri River, the world's fourth longest river system, runs mainly north–south
through the heart of the country. The flat, fertile prairie of the Great Plains stretches to the
west, interrupted by a highland region in the southeast. The Rocky Mountains, at the
western edge of the Great Plains, extend north to south across the country, reaching
altitudes higher than 14,000 feet (4,300 m) in Colorado. Farther west are the rocky Great
Basin and deserts such as the Mojave. The Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges run
close to the Pacific coast. At 20,320 feet (6,194 m), Alaska's Mount McKinley is the country's
tallest peak. Active volcanoes are common throughout Alaska's Alexander and Aleutian
Islands, and Hawaii consists of volcanic islands. The super volcano underlying Yellowstone
National Park in the Rockies is the continent's largest volcanic feature.

The United States, with its large size and geographic variety, includes most climate
types. To the east of the 100th meridian, the climate ranges from humid continental in the
north to humid subtropical in the south. The southern tip of Florida is tropical, as is Hawaii.
The Great Plains west of the 100th meridian are semi-arid. Much of the Western mountains
are alpine. The climate is arid in the Great Basin, desert in the Southwest, Mediterranean in
coastal California, and oceanic in coastal Oregon and Washington and southern Alaska. Most
of Alaska is subarctic or polar. Extreme weather is not uncommon—the states bordering the
Gulf of Mexico are prone to hurricanes, and most of the world's tornadoes occur within the
country, mainly in the Midwest's Tornado Alley. The U.S. ecology is considered
"megadiverse": about 17,000 species of vascular plants occur in the contiguous United
States and Alaska, and over 1,800 species of flowering plants are found in Hawaii, few of
which occur on the mainland. The United States is home to more than 400 mammal, 750
bird, and 500 reptile and amphibian species. About 91,000 insect species have been
described. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 protects threatened and endangered
species and their habitats, which are monitored by the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service. There are fifty-eight national parks and hundreds of other federally managed parks,
forests, and wilderness areas. Altogether, the government owns 28.8% of the country's land
area. Most of this is protected, though some is leased for oil and gas drilling, mining,
logging, or cattle ranching; 2.4% is used for military purposes.

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Flora & Fauna
At least 7,000 species and subspecies of indigenous US flora have been categorized. The
eastern forests contain a mixture of softwoods and hardwoods that includes pine, oak,
maple, spruce, beech, birch, hemlock, walnut, gum, and hickory. The central hardwood
forest, which originally stretched unbroken from Cape Cod to Texas and northwest to
Minnesota - still an important timber source - supports oak, hickory, ash, maple, and
walnut. Pine, hickory, tupelo, pecan, gum, birch, and sycamore are found in the southern
forest that stretches along the Gulf coast into the eastern half of Texas. The Pacific forest is
the most spectacular of all because of its enormous redwoods and Douglas firs. In the
southwest are saguaro (giant cactus), yucca, candlewood, and the Joshua tree.

The central grasslands lie in the interior of the continent, where the moisture is not
sufficient to support the growth of large forests. The tall grassland or prairie (now almost
entirely under cultivation) lies to the east of the 100th meridian. To the west of this line,
where rainfall is frequently less than 50 cm (20 in) per year, is the short grassland. Mesquite
grass covers parts of west Texas, southern New Mexico, and Arizona. Short grass may be
found in the highlands of the latter two states, while tall grass covers large portions of the
coastal regions of Texas and Louisiana and occurs in some parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and
Florida. The Pacific grassland includes northern Idaho, the higher plateaus of eastern
Washington and Oregon, and the mountain valleys of California.

The intermontane region of the Western Cordillera is for the most part covered with desert
shrubs. Sagebrush predominates in the northern part of this area, creosote in the southern,
with saltbrush near the Great Salt Lake and in Death Valley.

The lower slopes of the mountains running up to the coastline of Alaska are covered with
coniferous forests as far north as the Seward Peninsula. The central part of the Yukon Basin
is also a region of softwood forests. The rest of Alaska is heath or tundra. Hawaii has
extensive forests of bamboo and ferns. Sugarcane and pineapple, although not native to the
islands, now cover a large portion of the cultivated land.

Small trees and shrubs common to most of the United States include hackberry, hawthorn,
serviceberry, blackberry, wild cherry, dogwood, and snowberry. Wildflowers bloom in all
areas, from the seldom-seen blossoms of rare desert cacti to the hardiest alpine species.
Wildflowers include forget-me-not, fringed and closed gentians, jack-in-the-pulpit, black-
eyed Susan, columbine, and common dandelion, along with numerous varieties of aster,
orchid, lady's slipper, and wild rose.

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An estimated 432 species of mammals characterize the animal life of the continental United
States. Among the larger game animals are the white-tailed deer, moose, pronghorn
antelope, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, black bear, and grizzly bear. The Alaskan brown
bear often reaches a weight of 1,200–1,400 lbs. Some 25 important furbearers are common,
including the muskrat, red and gray foxes, mink, raccoon, beaver, opossum, striped skunk,
woodchuck, common cottontail, snowshoe hare, and various squirrels. Human
encroachment has transformed the mammalian habitat over the last two centuries. The
American buffalo (bison), millions of which once roamed the plains, is now found only on
select reserves. Other mammals, such as the elk and gray wolf, have been restricted to
much smaller ranges.

Year-round and migratory birds abound. Loons, wild ducks, and wild geese are found in lake
country; terns, gulls, sandpipers, herons, and other seabirds live along the coasts. Wrens,
thrushes, owls, hummingbirds, sparrows, woodpeckers, swallows, chickadees, vireos,
warblers, and finches appear in profusion, along with the robin, common crow, cardinal,
Baltimore oriole, eastern and western meadowlarks, and various blackbirds. Wild turkey,
ruffed grouse, and ring-necked pheasant (introduced from Europe) are popular game birds.

Lakes, rivers, and streams teem with trout, bass, perch, muskellunge, carp, catfish, and pike;
sea bass, cod, snapper, and flounder are abundant along the coasts, along with such
shellfish as lobster, shrimp, clams, oysters, and mussels. Garter, pine, and milk snakes are
found in most regions. Four poisonous snakes survive, of which the rattlesnake is the most
common. Alligators appear in southern waterways and the Gila monster makes its home in
the Southwest.

Laws and lists designed to protect threatened and endangered flora and fauna have been
adopted throughout the United States. Generally, each species listed as protected by the
federal government is also protected by the states, but some states may list species not
included on federal lists or on the lists of neighboring states. (Conversely, a species
threatened throughout most of the United States may be abundant in one or two states.) As
of August 2003, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed 987 endangered US species (up from
751 listed in 1996), including 65 mammals (64 in 1996), 78 birds (77 in 1996), 71 fish (69 in
1996), and 599 plants (432 in 1996); and 276 threatened species (209 in 1996), including
147 plants (94 in 1996). The agency listed another 517 endangered and 41 threatened
foreign species by international agreement.

Threatened species, likely to become endangered if recent trends continue, include such
plants as Lee pincushion cactus. Among the endangered floral species (in imminent danger
of extinction in the wild) are the Virginia round-leaf birch, San Clemente Island broom, Texas
wild-rice, Furbish lousewort, Truckee barberry, Sneed pincushion cactus, spineless
hedgehog cactus, Knowlton cactus, persistent trillium, dwarf bear-poppy, and small whorled
pogonia.

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Transportation
Railroads have lost not only the largest share of intercity freight traffic, their chief source of
revenue, but passenger traffic as well. Despite an attempt to revive passenger transport
through the development of a national network (Amtrak) in the 1970s, the rail sector has
continued to experience heavy losses and declining revenues. In 1998 there were 9 Class I
rail companies in the United States, down from 13 in 1994, with a total of 178,222
employees and operating revenues of $32.2 billion. In 2002 there were 212,433 km
(132,005 mi) of mainline routes, all standard gauge. In 2000, Amtrak carried 84.1 million
passengers.

The most conspicuous form of transportation is the automobile, and the extent and quality
of the United States road-transport system are without parallel in the world. Over 213
million vehicles—a record number—were registered in 2000, including more than 127.7
million passenger cars. In 2000, there were some 4,346,068 motorcycles registered as well.

The United States has a vast network of public roads, whose total length as of 1998 was 6.37
million km (3.9 million mi). Of that total, about 5,733,028 km (3,562,503 mi) were paved,
including 74,091 km (46,040 mi) of expressways. In 1999, federal and state funds for
highway construction were $95.5 billion. In 2000, federal funds for highway construction
were $27.7.8 billion. The United States also has 41,009 km (25,483 mi) of navigable inland
channels, exclusive of the Great Lakes.

Major ocean ports or port areas are New York, the Delaware River areas (Philadelphia), the
Chesapeake Bay area (Baltimore, Norfolk, Newport News), New Orleans, Houston, and the
San Francisco Bay area. The inland port of Duluth on Lake Superior handles more freight
than all but the top-ranking ocean ports. The importance of this port, along with those of
Chicago and Detroit, was enhanced with the opening in 1959 of the St. Lawrence Seaway.
Waterborne freight consists primarily of bulk commodities such as petroleum and its
products, coal and coke, iron ore and steel, sand, gravel and stone, grains, and lumber. The
US merchant marine industry has been decreasing gradually since the 1950s. In 2002, the
United States had a merchant shipping fleet of 258 vessels of more than 1,000 gross
registered tons with a combined GRT of 8,259,914.

In 2001, the United States had an estimated 14,695 airports, of which 5,1631 had paved
runways. Principal airports include Hartsfield at Atlanta; Logan International at Boston;
O'Hare International at Chicago; Dallas-Fort Worth at Dallas; Detroit Metropolitan; Honolulu
International; Houston Intercontinental; Los Angeles International; John F. Kennedy, La
Guardia, and Newark International at or near New York; Philadelphia International; Orlando
International; Miami International; San Francisco International; L. Munoz Marin at San Juan,
Seattle-Tacoma at Seattle, and Dulles International at Washington. Revenue passengers
carried by the airlines in 1940 totaled 2.7 million; by 2001, the figure exceeded 619 million
for US domestic and international carriers, along with 28,042 million freight tonkm (17,425
million freight ton-mi).

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Languages
The United States does not have an official
language; however, the majority of the population
speaks English as a native language (some 82%).
The variety of English spoken in the United States
is known as American English; together with
Canadian English it makes up the group of dialects
known as North American English. 96% of the
population of the U.S. speaks English "well" or
"very well". There have been several proposals to
make English the national language in
amendments to immigration reform bills. None of
these bills have become law with the amendment
intact.

Spanish is the second most common language in

the country, and is spoken by over 12% of the
population. The United States holds the world's
fifth largest Spanish-speaking population,
outnumbered only by Mexico, Spain, Argentina,
and Colombia. Throughout the Southwestern
United States, long-established Spanish-speaking
communities coexist with large numbers of more
recent Spanish-speaking immigrants. Although
many new Latin American immigrants are less than
fluent in English, second-generation Hispanic
Americans commonly speak English fluently, while
only about half still speak Spanish.

According to the 2000 US census, people of German ancestry make up the largest single ethnic
group in the United States, and the German language ranks fifth. Italian, Polish, and Greek are still
widely spoken among populations descending from immigrants from those countries in the early
20th century, but the use of these languages is dwindling as older generations pass away. Russian is
also spoken by immigrant populations.

Tagalog and Vietnamese have over one million speakers in the United States, almost entirely within
recent immigrant populations. Both languages, along with the varieties of the Chinese language,
Japanese, and Korean, are now used in elections in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York,
Texas, and Washington.

There is also a small population of Native Americans, who still speak their native languages, but
these populations are decreasing, and the languages are almost never widely used outside of
reservations. Hawaiian, although having few native speakers, is still used at the state level in Hawaii
along with the English language. Likewise, Louisiana declared French an official language alongside
English in 1974. Besides English, Spanish, French, German, Navajo and other Native American
languages, all other languages are usually learned from immigrant ancestors that came after the
time of independence or learned through some form of education.

Approximately 337 languages are spoken or signed by the population, of which 176 are indigenous
to the area. 52 languages formerly spoken in the country's territory are now extinct.

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Culture
The United States is a multicultural nation, home to a wide variety of ethnic
groups, traditions, and values. Aside from the now small Native American and Native
Hawaiian populations, nearly all Americans or their ancestors immigrated within the
past five centuries. The culture held in common by most Americans—mainstream
American culture—is a Western culture largely derived from the traditions of
European immigrants with influences from many other sources, such as traditions
brought by slaves from Africa. More recent immigration from Asia and especially
Latin America has added to a cultural mix that has been described as both a
homogenizing melting pot and a heterogeneous salad bowl in which immigrants and
their descendants retain distinctive cultural characteristics. According to Geert
Hofstede's cultural dimensions analysis, the United States has the highest
individualism score of any country studied. While the mainstream culture holds that
the United States is a classless society, scholars identify significant differences
between the country's social classes, affecting socialization, language, and values.
The American middle and professional class has initiated many contemporary social
trends such as modern feminism, environmentalism, and multiculturalism.
Americans' self-images, social viewpoints, and cultural expectations are associated
with their occupations to an unusually close degree. While Americans tend greatly to
value socioeconomic achievement, being ordinary or average is generally seen as a
positive attribute. Though the American Dream, or the perception that Americans
enjoy high social mobility, plays a key role in attracting immigrants, some analysts
find that the United States has less social mobility than Western Europe and Canada.
Women now mostly work outside the home and receive a majority of bachelor's
degrees. In 2007, 58% of Americans age 18 and over were married, 6% were
widowed, 10% were divorced, and 25% had never been married. Same-sex marriage
is contentious. Several states permit civil unions in lieu of marriage. Since 2003, four
state supreme courts have ruled bans on same-sex marriage unconstitutional, while
voters in more than a dozen states approved constitutional bans on the practice. In
2009, Vermont, Maine, and New Hampshire became the first states to permit same-
sex marriage through legislative action.

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Cuisine of the United States
The cuisine of the United States is a style of food preparation derived from the United States
of America. The cuisine has a history dating back before the colonial period when the Native
Americans had a rich and diverse cooking style for an equally diverse amount of ingredients.
With European colonization, the style of cookery changed vastly, with numerous ingredients
introduced from Europe, as well as cooking styles and modern cookbooks. The style of
cookery continued to expand into the 19th and 20th centuries with the influx of immigrants
from various nations across the world. This influx has created a rich diversity and a unique
regional character throughout the country.

Land Animal Foods

The largest amount of animal protein came from game meats. Large game included
bison, deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, and bear, cougar, along with Mountain goat
and pronghorn found in the Rocky Mountains. The small game cooked included
rabbit, raccoon, Virginia Opossum, squirrel, wood rat, chipmunk, ground hog,
peccary, prairie dog, skunk, badger, beaver, and porcupine. Game birds included
turkey, partridge, quail, pigeon, plover, lark and osprey. Water fowl was quite
abundant and varied, particularly on the coasts such as ducks, geese, swan, crane
and sea crane. Other amphibious proteins included alligators and frogs, which the
legs were enjoyed from, especially bullfrogs. Snail meat was also enjoyed, along with
various turtles such as the painted turtle, wood turtle, and snapping turtle along with
their eggs. In addition the sea turtle and green turtle, endangered today were
considered an important spiritual protein by the Native Americans.

Seafood
Saltwater fish eaten by the Native Americans were cod, lemon sole, flounder,
herring, halibut, sturgeon, smelt, drum on the East Coast, and olachen on the West
Coast. Whale was hunted by Native Americans off the Northwest coast, especially by
the Makah, and used for their meat and oil. Seal and walrus were also utilized. Eel
from New York's Finger Lakes region were eaten. Catfish seemed to be favored by
tribes, including the Modocs. Crustacean included shrimp, lobster, crayfish, and giant
crabs in the Northwest and blue crabs in the East. Other shellfish include abalone
and geoduck on the California coast, while on the East Coast the surf clam, quahog,
and the softshell clam. Oysters were eaten on both shores, as were mussels and
periwinkles.

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Cooking Methods
Native Americans utilized a number of cooking methods. Grilling meats was
common. Spit roasting over a pit fire was common as well. Vegetables, especially
root vegetables were often cooked directly in the ashes of the fire. As early Native
Americans lacked the proper pottery that could be used directly over a fire, they
developed a technique which has caused many anthropologists to call them "Stone
Boilers." The Native Americans would heat rocks directly in a fire and then add the
bricks to a pot filled with water until it came to a boil so that it would cook the meat
or vegetables in the boiling water. Another method was to use an empty bison
stomach filled with desired ingredients and suspended over a low fire. The fire would
have been insufficient to completely cook the food contained in the stomach
however; as the flesh would burn so heated rocks would be added to the food as
well. Some Native Americans would also use the leather of a bison hide in the same
manner. The Native Americans are credited as the first in America to create fire-
proof pottery to place in direct flame. In what is now the Southwestern United
States, Native Americans also created ovens made of adobe called hornos in which
to bake items such as breads made from cornmeal. Native Americans in other parts
of America made ovens out of dug pits. These pits were also used to steam foods by
adding heated rocks or embers and then seaweed or corn husks (or other coverings)
placed on top to steam fish and shellfish as well as vegetables; potatoes would be
added while still in-skin and corn while in-husk, this would later be referred to as a
clambake by the colonists. The hole was also a location for producing what has
become Boston baked beans made from beans, maple sugar and a piece of bear fat.

Livestock and Game

The more commonly hunted and eaten game included deer, bear, buffalo and wild
turkey. The larger muscles of the animals were roasted and served with currant
sauce, while the other smaller portions went into soups, stews, sausages, pies and
pasties. In addition to game, mutton was a meat that colonists would enjoy from
time to time. The Spanish in Florida originally introduced sheep to the New World, in
the north however, the Dutch and English introduced sheep. The keeping of sheep
was a result of the English non-practice of animal husbandry. The keeping of sheep
was of importance as it not only provided wool, but also after the sheep had reached
an age that it was unmanageable for wool production; it became mutton for the
English diet. The forage–based diet for sheep that prevailed in the Colonies produce
a characteristically strong, gamy flavor and a tougher consistency, which required
aging and slow cooking to tenderize.

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Fats and Oils
A number of fats and oils made from animals served to cook much of the colonial
foods. Many homes had a sack made of deerskin filled with bear oil for cooking,
while solidified bear fat resembled shortening. Rendered pork fat made the most
popular cooking medium, especially from the cooking of bacon. Pork fat was used
more often in the southern colonies than the northern colonies as the Spanish
introduced pigs earlier to the south. The colonists enjoyed butter in cooking as well,
but it was rare prior to the American Revolution, as cattle were not yet plentiful.

Seafood
Those living near the New England shore often dined on fish, crustaceans, and other
animals that originated in the waters. Colonists ate large quantities of turtle, and it
was an exportable delicacy for Europe. Cod, in both fresh and salted form was
enjoyed, with the salted variation created for long storage. The highest quality cod
was usually dried, however, and exported to the Mediterranean in exchange for
fruits not available in the American colonies. Lobsters proliferated in the waters as
well, and were extremely common in the New England diet. Vegetables A number of
vegetables grew in the northern colonies, which included turnips, onions, cabbage,
carrots, and parsnips, along with a number of beans, pulses and legumes. These
vegetables kept well through the colder months in storage. Other vegetables grew
which were salted or pickled for preservation, such as cucumbers. As control over
the northern colonies’ farming practices came from the seasons, fresh greens
consumption occurred only during the summer months. Pumpkins and gourds were
other vegetables that grew well in the northern colonies; often used for fodder for
animals in addition to human consumption. In addition to the vegetables, a large
number of fruits were grown seasonally. Fruits not eaten in season often saw their
way into preservation methods like jam, wet sweetmeats, dried or cooked into pies
that could freeze during the winter months.

Alcoholic Drinks
Prior to the revolution New Englanders consumed large quantities of rum and beer
as they had relatively easy access of the goods needed to produce these items from
maritime imports. Rum was the distilled spirit of choice as the main ingredient,
molasses, was readily available from trade with the West Indies. Further into the
interior, one would often find colonists consuming whiskey, as they did not have
similar access to the sugar cane. They did have ready access to corn and rye, which
they used to produce their whiskey. However, up until the Revolution many
considered whiskey to be a coarse alcohol unfit for human consumption, as many
believed that it caused the poor to become raucous and unkempt drunkards. One
item that was important to the production of beer that did not grow well in

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 the colonies however was hops. Hops only grew wild in the New World, and as such,
importation from England and elsewhere became essential to beer production. In
addition to these alcohol-based products produced in America, imports were seen
on merchant shelves, including wine and brandy.

American Literature
American literature is the written or literary work produced in the area of the United States
and Colonial America. For more specific discussions of poetry and theater, see Poetry of the
United States and Theater in the United States. During its early history, America was a series
of British colonies on the eastern coast of the present-day United States. Therefore, its
literary tradition begins as linked to the broader tradition of English literature. However,
unique American characteristics and the breadth of its production usually now cause it to be
considered a separate path and tradition.

Colonial literature
Some of the earliest forms of American literature were pamphlets and writings
extolling the benefits of the colonies to both a European and colonist audience.
Captain John Smith could be considered the first American author with his works: A
True Relation of ... Virginia ... (1608) and The General Histories of Virginia, New
England, and the Summer Isles (1624). Other writers of this manner included Daniel
Denton, Thomas Ashe, William Penn, George Percy, William Strachey, Daniel Coxe,
Gabriel Thomas, and John Lawson.

The religious disputes that prompted settlement in America were also topics of early
writing. A journal written by John Winthrop discussed the religious foundations of
the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Edward Winslow also recorded a diary of the first
years after the Mayflower's arrival. Other religiously influenced writers included
Increase Mather and William Bradford, author of the journal published as a History
of Plymouth Plantation, 1620–47. Others like Roger Williams and Nathaniel Ward
more fiercely argued state and church separation.

Some poetry also existed. Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are especially noted.
Michael Wigglesworth wrote a best-selling poem, The Day of Doom, describing the
time of judgment. Nicholas Noyes was also known for his doggerel verse. Other late
writings described conflicts and interaction with the Indians, as seen in writings by
Daniel Gookin, Alexander Whitaker, John Mason, Benjamin Church, and Mary
Rowlandson. John Eliot translated the Bible into the Algonquin language.

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Music of the United States
The music of the United States reflects the country's multi-ethnic population through a
diverse array of styles. Rock and roll, blues, country, rhythm and blues, jazz, pop, techno,
and hip hop are among the country's most internationally-renowned genres. The United
States has the world's largest music industry and its music is heard around the world. Since
the beginning of the 20th century, some forms of American popular music have gained a
near global audience.

Native Americans were the earliest inhabitants of the land that is today known as the United
States and played its first music. Beginning in the 17th century, immigrants from the United
Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Germany and France began arriving in large numbers, bringing with
them new styles and instruments. African slaves brought musical traditions, and each
subsequent wave of immigrants contributed to a melting pot.

Much of modern popular music can trace its roots to the emergence in the late 19th century
of African American blues and the growth of gospel music in the 1920s. The African
American basis for popular music used elements derived from European and indigenous
music’s. The United States has also seen documented folk music and recorded popular
music produced in the ethnic styles of the Ukrainian, Irish, Scottish, Polish, Hispanic and
Jewish communities, among others. Many American cities and towns have vibrant music
scenes which, in turn, support a number of regional musical styles. Along with musical
centers such as Seattle, New York City, New Orleans, Detroit, Minneapolis, Chicago,
Nashville, Austin, and Los Angeles, many smaller cities have produced distinctive styles of
music. The Cajun and Creole traditions in Louisiana music, the folk and popular styles of
Hawaiian music, and the bluegrass and old time music of the Southeastern states are a few
examples of diversity in American music.

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Dance in the United States
There is great variety in dance in the United States of America, it is the home of the hip hop
dance and its derivative Rock and Roll, and modern square dance (associated with the
United States of America due to its historic development in that country nineteen U.S.
states have designated it as their official state dance) and one of the major centers for
modern dance [citation needed]. There is a variety of social dance and concert or
performance dance forms with also a range of traditions of Native American dances. The
reality shows and competitions So You Think You Can Dance, Americas Best Dance Crew,
and Dancing with the Stars have broadened the audience for dance.

African American Dance

African American dances are those vernacular dances which have developed within
African American communities in everyday spaces, rather than in dance studios,
schools or companies. African American vernacular dances are usually centered on
social dance practice, though performance dance and concert dance often supply
complementary aspects to social dancing.

Placing great value on improvisation, African American vernacular dances are

characterized by ongoing change and development. Because they exist in social
spaces and their main 'purpose' is self-expression, they are continually changing to
reflect the needs, interests and personalities of their participants.

Alvin Ailey and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater is an important example of
African American involvement in performance or concert dance.

Swing Dance
The term "swing dance" refers to a group of dances that developed concurrently
with jazz music in the 1920s, 30s and 40s. The prototypical swing dance is lindy hop,
a popular partner dance that originated in Harlem and is still danced today. While
the majority of swing dances began in African American communities as vernacular
African American dances[citation needed], some forms, like Balboa, developed
within Anglo-American or other ethnic groupcommunities.

Dances such as the Black Bottom, charleston and tap dance travelled north with
Dixieland jazz to New York, Kansas City, and Chicago in the Great Migration (African
American) of the 1920s, where rural blacks travelled to escape persecution, Jim Crow
laws, lynching and unemployment in the South (during the Great Depression).

Swinging jazz music features the syncopated timing associated with African
American and West African music and dance — a combination of crotchets and
quavers which many swing dancers interpret as 'triple steps' and 'steps' — yet also
introduces changes in the way these rhythms were played — a distinct delay or
'relaxed' approach to timing. Swing dance is now found globally, with great variety in
their preferences for particular dances.

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African American Culture
African-American culture in the United States refers to the cultural contributions of
Americans of African descent to the culture of the United States, either as part of or distinct
from American culture. The distinct identity of African American culture is rooted in the
historical experience of the African American people, including the Middle Passage, and thus
the culture retains a distinct identity while at the same time it is enormously influential to
American culture as a whole.

African American culture is rooted in Africa. It is a blend of chiefly sub-Saharan African and
Sahelean cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Americans of African
descent to practice their cultural traditions, many practices, values, and beliefs survived and
over time have modified or blended with European American culture. There are some facets
of African American culture that were accentuated by the slavery period. The result is a
unique and dynamic culture that has had and continues to have a profound impact on
mainstream American culture, as well as the culture of the broader world.

After emancipation, unique African American traditions continued to flourish, as distinctive

traditions or radical innovations in music, art, literature, religion, cuisine, and other fields.
While for some time sociologists, such as Gunnar Myrdal and Patrick Moynihan, believed
that African Americans had lost most cultural ties with Africa, anthropological field research
by Melville Herskovits and others demonstrated that there is a continuum of African
traditions among Africans of the Diaspora. The greatest influence of African cultural
practices on European culture is found below the Mason-Dixon in the American South.

For many years African American culture developed separately from mainstream American
culture because of the persistence of racial discrimination in America, as well as African
American slave descendants' desire to maintain their own traditions. Today, African
American culture has become a significant part of American culture and yet, at the same
time, remains a distinct cultural body.

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Tourist Attractions
The United States is perhaps the most glorious and diverse country on Earth. Each state is
like a country that provides vacationers and with an enormous amount to do. There’s so
much to do in America that can be overwhelming. Here we’ve listed the ten pots that we
think any visitor should start with to get a first taste of the USA.

1. Los Angeles, California:

This second largest city in the entire United States is also the biggest metropolitan area
on the. If you wish to see celebrities or at least check out their homes, this is the place to
go. You can visit Hollywood, the movie capital or Beverly Hills where movie stars live.
L.A. has a favorable subtropical climate with many white sand beaches. Some scenic
spots there include the Big Sur coastline, the alpine beauty of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains and the awesome Mojave Desert.

2. San Francisco, California:

Though smaller than Los Angeles with no beaches, San Francisco offers more great
sceneries. This hilly place is famous for its Golden Gate Bridge and historic. Victorian
houses also line up the hillside streets and overlook a huge blue bay surrounded by
mountains. The bay area, as it is often called, also features the crookedest street and a
Chinatown.

3. Las Vegas, Nevada:

This city boasts of being the adult entertainment capital of the world with the existence
of so many casinos. Experience different forms of gambling here as well as world-class
entertainment. Las Vegas also features grandiose architecture from the giant pyramids
of glass, multi-colored fantasy castles, replicas of the Eiffel Tower and the skyline. The
place is also near other natural scenic spots like the Grand Canyon Zion and Death
Valley.

4. Orlando, Florida:
Orlando is the biggest entertainment center for the family in the whole world. There’s
Disney World, the largest and most famous amusement complex as well as the Universal
Studios, Sea World, Wet and Wild and other attractions the whole family will enjoy.
Tropical beaches also abound in Florida plus visitors can enjoy golf and tennis in various
locations.

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5. New York City:
Who can ever miss the Big Apple, the biggest metropolitan center in the U.S.? Its famous
tourist spots include the Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, United Nations,
museums, Broadway theaters, Times Square Central Park and shopping as well as
nightlife districts. New York is the city that never sleeps owing to the varied
entertainment offered nightly at nightclubs, bars, theaters and sports centers. The city’s
museums, art galleries and concert halls offer various cultural attractions as well.

6. Hawaii:
Though small as it may be, Hawaii is a great place to visit. Consisting of a string of
volcanic islands in the center of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii is a tourist’s paradise what
with its great weather all year round, wonderful beaches with awesome surf and
scenery. The place has been a favorite haven for couples on a honeymoon and very ideal
for swimming, tanning, surfing, fishing, boating, golf and tropical adventure.

7. Grand Canyon, Arizona:

The Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona should not be missed. A natural wonder of
the world, the Grand Canyon is 1,500 meters deep and more than 20 kilometers wide by
150 kilometers long. The Canyon’s interior features a wide maze of multicolored mesas,
cliffs and headlands that contain smaller canyons. The interior can be reached by hiking
or riding on mules down the trails. The continuous play of sun and shadow on the rock
layers creates an awesome display.

8. Washington, D.C:
The capital of America is a very interesting city to visit. Washington D.C. Has various
Tourist Attractions such as its numerous monuments, museums and public parks that
include the White House, the U.S. Capitol and other government buildings. These places
can be visited free of charge so there’s no need to worry about your budget. The city
also has great ethnic restaurants for your dining pleasure.

9. Boston:
While New York is defined by its skyline, Boston is distinguished by its vibrant
neighborhoods. From the fashionable Back Bay to oldest Beacon Hill to colorful
Chinatown to historic North End – all neighborhoods of Boston has its own personality
and distinct appeal. A stroll around this old city is like reading an American history
textbook. Follow the red line marking the Freedom Trail and come across Boston
Common, the Old North Church, Paul Revere's house and Bunker Hill. Each stop
represents a chapter in American history. Being cultural and commercial hub of New
England, Boston absorbed all best from the region, including best food such as Maine
lobster and New England clam chowder.

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10. San Diego:
Blue skies and 70 miles of great beaches, Mediterranean climate and Mexican
specialties, aquatic parks, aquariums and zoos – the jewel of South California have it all.
For beach lovers a visit to La Jolla is a must. The most magnificent beach on the West
Coast offers fantastic surfing, excellent snorkeling and diving, amazing sunsets and
beautiful sands. San Diego Old Town, the historical heart of the city, is the "birthplace"
of California - San Diego is the site of the first permanent Spanish settlement in
California. The Spanish and Mexican heritage of the city is celebrated throughout Old
Town, including best Mexican food and Margaritas.

11. Seattle:
If you think that Seattle is only about rain, you are absolutely wrong. The Emerald City is
a real green gem, with a wealth of evergreen trees throughout, and breathtaking views
of the Cascade Mountains to the east and the Olympic mountains to the west. Mt.
Rainier looks down on Seattle from its majestic heights. Driving through Seattle on a
clear day has been compared to floating on a cloud in an emerald sky. Go to the top of
the Space Needle and enjoy a panoramic view of the city, have a lunch at a sidewalk café
in Pike Street Market and embrace best of what Seattle can offer – splendid views and
great freshest seafood.

12. San Francisco:

The city's famous steep hills and trolley cars, astonishing bay views, the iconic golden
Gate Bridge, lively Fisherman's Wharf and Chinatown, numerous beautiful gardens and
delicious food make San Francisco very unique and, from my point of view, the most
beautiful city in America. When in San Francisco, take a trip to Napa Valley for a glass of
wine or two while enjoying breathtaking scenery of a wine country. Or go to Lake Tahoe,
to see “the jewel of the Sierras”, one of the most beautiful lakes in the country.

13. New Orleans, Louisiana:

The home of jazz music, New Orleans is a blend of the Spanish and French culture with
influences from Afro-American and the Carribbean. Located at the mouth of the
Mississippi River, this city is renowned for its jazz music, wild nightlife and Cajun cuisine.
Who could also forget its famous weeklong Mardi Gras festival celebrated every
February.

14. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming:

This national park features a huge collection of geysers, hot springs and thermal
phenomena in the entire globe. Bison’s, elk, bears and wildlife abound in this huge
national park. Its wilderness can easily be reached from the roads and visitors can get a
chance to have close encounters with wildlife. Yellowstone is located near the Grand
Tenton National Park, the Rocky Mountains and the open spaces of Montana.

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15. Miami:
Located in the sunny state of Florida, Miami is often called the most modern city in USA.
Miami is mostly famous for its sunny weather, golden beaches, and hip and rocking
nightlife. This city is always full of life and is very popular amongst people of all ages. It
has a number of great tourist destinations. South beach is a popular hot spot of Miami.
The clear blue waters and unique landscape offer an enjoyable experience.
Sea Aquarium, located close to the Miami Beach, is a one of its kind outdoor aquarium
unique to Miami and is a must visit. Miami Metro Zoo, a famous zoo; Everglades
National Park, Miami sky lift, Miami Science Museum and The Children’s museum are
other famous attractions in Miami. Another city Key West, which is close to Miami, is a
beautiful island definitely worth visiting. Deep blue oceans, gorgeous beaches, swaying
palms and water sports make it an exciting holiday spot.

16. Niagara Falls:

Niagara Falls is a massive waterfall located on the Niagara River on the border of USA
and Canada. This natural wonder can be seen both from USA and Canada, since there
are two cities surrounding the Niagara Falls – Buffalo, New York on the US side and
Ontario on the Canadian side. The waterfalls are simply gorgeous and the view is
astounding. A boat ride called ‘Maid of the mist’ offers an awesome experience of the
falls. A boat leaves every 15 minutes from the base throughout the day. The ‘Cave of the
Winds’ is another exciting experience in which an elevator takes you to the rocks at the
base of the fall where you can experience the tremendous power of the spray and
water.

17. Orange Country:

Last but definitely not the least, Disneyland rightfully called the happiest place on earth
is an absolute fun experience. This world famous amusement park built by Walt Disney
is a place that is enjoyed by one and all - people of all ages. The kingdom style parks, the
adventurous rides, toon town, parades and the beautiful fireworks make Disneyland a
truly memorable, thrilling and out and out fun experience.

18. Red Rock Country (Sedona, Ariz.):

Ever since the early days of movies, when Hollywood has wanted to show the unique
beauty of the West, it has gone to Sedona, a place that looks like nowhere else.
Beginning with The Call of the Canyon in 1923, some hundred movies and TV shows
have been filmed in and around town. We fell under Sedona's spell, too, and while
debating our No. 1 spot kept returning to it for the same reasons Hollywood does: The
area's telegenic canyons, wind-shaped buttes and dramatic sandstone towers embody
the rugged character of the West -- and the central place that character holds in our
national identity. There's a timelessness about these ancient rocks that fires the
imagination of all who encounter them. Some 11,000 years before film cameras

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discovered Sedona, American Indians settled the area. Homesteaders, artists and, most
recently, New Age spiritualists have followed. Many cultures and agendas abound, but
there's really only one attraction: the sheer, exuberant beauty of the place. People come
for inspiration and renewal, tawny cliffs rising from the buff desert floor, wind singing
through box canyons, and sunsets that seem to cause the ancient buttes and spires to
glow from within. We hear the canyon's call and cannot resist.

19. Nighttime View from Mount Washington In Pittsburgh:

In a nation with a wealth of stunning cities full of compelling stories, ranking Pittsburgh
as the No. 2 beauty spot is perhaps our most surprising choice. But the Steel City's
aesthetic appeal is undeniable, as is its very American capacity for renewal. Standing
atop Mount Washington, the steep hill that rises giddily on the city's south side,
sightseers enjoy the unforgettable panorama of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers
flowing together to create the mighty Ohio, that waterway so essential in the nation's
settlement. The rivers cup downtown's lustrous Golden Triangle, where landmark
skyscrapers thrust upward like rockets. At night, lights twinkle on no fewer than 15
bridges. Almost as breathtaking as the vista it is the urban renewal that made it possible.
A century ago, a pall of smoke lay so thick over town that streetlights burned all day. As
Pittsburgh continues an evolutionary course that has taken it from trading post to
transportation hub to industrial goliath, we salute its reinvention into one of America's
most scenic and livable communities. In the life of a city, there's nothing more beautiful,
or inspiring, than a renaissance.

20. The Upper Mississippi River:

For third-place honors, we turn to an area less celebrated than others, but nonetheless
packed with the unique beauty our nation abounds in. Its low profile makes it all the
more charming. To truly appreciate the Mississippi, we leave the familiar territory of
Huck and Tom and take a spin on the Great River Road as it runs alongside Old Muddy's
upper reaches through Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin and Minnesota. One of the nation's most
scenic routes, it winds over hills, atop towering bluffs and through one 19th-century
river town after another. The sites along the way read like chapters in American history.
Ancient Indian burial mounds punctuate rolling parkland, sidewheelers ply the river, and
villages on either bank present fine examples of Steamboat Gothic, the ornate
architectural style born in the heyday of river travel. In Galena, Ill., 85% of the buildings
are on the National Register of Historic Places. At Trempealeau, Wis., the Trempealeau
Hotel has offered haven to watermen since 1888. The whole laid-back region's real draw
is the river itself. Steady and timeless, it makes one fine traveling companion as it rolls
toward the Gulf.

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21. Hawaii's Na Pali Coast:
At the country's extreme western edge, half a world away from the cradle of the
American Revolution, we gain a flash of insight into the restlessness that drove our
forebears from New England to the Pacific Ocean and beyond. They pushed west in
search of paradise. Amid the coral reefs, beaches and mist-shrouded volcanic peaks of
Hawaii's oldest island, they surely found it. Along the Kalalau Trail on the Na Pali coast of
Kauai, verdant mountains plunge 4,000 feet into the sparkling Pacific. A short hike
inland, where Hanakapi'ai Falls pours into a crystal pool and tropical flowers dapple the
lush hillsides, the play of color and light creates the effect of an Impressionist painting
gone native.

22. Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco:

Engineering marvel, art deco icon, monument to progress: The Golden Gate Bridge does
much more than connect San Francisco to Marin County. Named for the strait it spans --
the 3-mile passage between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific -- the bridge is a grand
symbol of one of the world's most striking cities. Completed in 1937, the $35 million
structure of concrete and steel embodied a city's unquenchable spirit - and, by
extension, the nation's. Set off by its signature orange paint job, twin 750-foot towers
that seem to disappear into the heavens and spidery cables that stretch like harp strings,
the Golden Gate was unlike anything else ever built. At 4,200 feet, the main suspension
span was easily the worlds longest. (Almost 70 years later, it ranks seventh.) Facts and
figures tell only a partial story: Admired as a practical feat, the bridge is beloved as a
work of art, one of the greatest the 20th century produced in any medium.

23. Grafton, Vt.:

Had the French explorer Samuel de Champlain arrived in Vermont in the autumn of 1609
instead of summer, he never would have dubbed the land "Vert Mont." In fall, the
foothills of the state's namesake Green Mountains blaze red, yellow and orange. Among
the choicest spots to take in nature's annual art show is Grafton, right, one of the state's
prettiest hamlets and, thanks to the efforts of the non-profit Windham Foundation,
arguably its best preserved. The foundation has rehabilitated more than 50 historic
buildings, including the Old Tavern at Grafton, a one-time stagecoach stop. Other man-
made attractions include the award-winning Grafton Village Cheese factory, a pair of
graceful New England churches, a nature museum, a smattering of art galleries and the
almost obligatory covered bridge. But the compact village of 600 isn't really about
picturesque buildings. It's about the Yankee virtues of simplicity, modesty and saving
things that matter. Past and present harmonize sweetly in this vital community. Come
fall, you'd swear you can hear the brilliant hillsides singing.

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24. Jenny Lake in Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming:
America has older mountains than the Tetons, and higher ones. But it has none more
dramatic. The jagged range was formed 6 million to 9 million years ago, when grinding
pressure along the Teton Fault caused two massive sections of the Earth's crust to come
unhinged. On the rift's west side, a block reared up to form the Teton Range. On the
east, a separate block buckled under, creating the valley known as Jackson Hole. This
geologic violence is what makes the Tetons so spectacular: Forgoing the nicety of
foothills, a dozen 12,000-foot peaks shoot abruptly from the valley floor, literally an
eruption of granite. Amid the grandeur lies glittering Jenny Lake, left. Named for the
Shoshone bride of a 19thcentury trapper, the pristine, 2.5-mile-long body of water
mirrors the mountains' glory. Beloved by canoeists, hikers and honeymooners, lovely
Jenny is also popular with elk, moose and trumpeter swans. Small and dazzling, she is
one of the true jewels of our glorious national park system.

25. From Key Largo to Key West in Florida:

So little actual land, so many associations: coral reefs, Key deer, manatees, pirates, Key
lime pie, silver palms, Bogart and Bacall downing gangsters in Key Largo, Hemingway
downing mojitos at Sloppy Joe's in Key West. Florida's freewheeling Keys, it has been
said, is where things settle when you pick up the continent and shake it. This much is
certain: In the Conch Republic, as Key West is sometimes called, a spirited sense of
American individualism prevails. Skipping down the fragile, ribbon-thin 110-mile
archipelago on U.S. 1, visitors see things that exist nowhere else in the country. With a
peak elevation of 18 feet, the land mass can seem but an afterthought to the
shimmering Atlantic on one side and the bluegreen Gulf on the other. In places the only
thing separating them is the roadway itself, panoptic water enchanting travelers with
the deliciously disorienting sensation that they've become one with the sea. Along with
famously colorful residents and fauvist sunsets, it's one more Key reason to visit this
beguiling place.

26. Clingmans Dome along The Appalachian Trail In Great Smoky Mountains National Park:
Winding through 14 states as it makes its rugged way from Georgia to Maine, the entire
Appalachian Trail ranks high on any list of scenic gems. First proposed in 1921 by hiking
enthusiast Benton MacKaye, the trail came into service as a continuous footpath across
the Eastern states in 1937. A monumental achievement, and one that has given
countless Americans fresh appreciation for the vastness of the land, it rewards
exploration of every well-trod mile. Clingmans Dome, at Tennessee's eastern edge, rises
to 6,643 feet, the highest point along the 2,172-mile trail. The surrounding Smokies
support more than 4,000 species of plants, 230 types of birds and some 65 mammal
species. From a lookout at the summit, hikers gaze upon a fog-streaked wilderness and
see the East as it existed hundreds of years ago, lush forest stretching unbroken in every

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 direction. Among the clouds, one feels doubly awed: by our county's magnificent nature,
and by our duty to steward it.

27. The Squares of Savannah, Ga.:

In this charmed city, the urban and the pastoral gracefully mingle in a uniquely Southern
way -- that is, with gentility and a generous dollop of mystery. Shaded by live oaks,
perfumed by magnolias and surrounded by historic buildings, 22 enchanting public
squares (including Columbia Square, above) beckon like secret gardens. Feasts for the
eyes, balm for the soul, the vest-pocket parks serve as gathering places, serene retreats
and tourist attractions all rolled into one. Spanish moss romantically drapes Pulaski
Square, named for Revolutionary War hero Gen. Casimir Pulaski. At Chippewa Square,
lorded over by a statue of Georgia's founder, James Oglethorpe, pay respects to the man
who drew up Savannah's triumphant 18th-century street plan. Forrest Gump had the
right idea: He contemplated life from a bench in Chippewa Square.

Inbound & Outbound Travel

 Inbound Travel:
International travel into the U.S. is set to hit record levels in 2007, nearly 54 million,
exceeding the previous record arrival in 2000. This, according to an October 2007
news release from the U.S. Commerce Department, Office of Travel and Tourism
Industries. And outbound U.S. travel may also rise.

Growth in international travel to the U.S. is expected to continue through 2011,

reaching as high as 61 million visitors, an increase of nearly 20%.

This sounds like good news for the hospitality industry. However, it may also
challenge event and meeting planners because increased travel -- whether leisure or
business -- may result in increased competition to secure limited space available at
some top tier hotels, resorts and venues. Therefore, it is important for event
planners to plan early and sharpen hotel negotiating strategies.

Results from IPK International’s World Travel Monitor for 2007, which will be
presented at the ITB Future Day at ITB Berlin 2008, and published in the World Travel
Trends Report 2008 the same month, confirm that US inbound tourism is well on the
way to making a full recovery. However, estimated arrivals from overseas markets –
as measured by the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries (OTTI) in the US
Department of Commerce – are still down on their 2000 peak.

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 Trends for the first ten months of the year from OTTI point to a 17% increase in
arrivals from Mexico (excluding ‘frontier’ arrivals), with a 10% growth from both
Canada and overseas markets. These figures correlate with IPK International’s own
estimates (through the month of September).

 France Leads The Growth In European Travel To The USA:

According to IPK, west European travel to the USA rose by 11% over the period, in
terms of trip volume, as against +10% for east European markets. The leading
European sources, in order of importance, are: the UK (+6% over 2006 in terms of
trips), Germany (+9%), France (+28%), Italy (+20%), Spain (+22%), the Netherlands
(+13%) and Ireland (+17%). Russia also increased by 20%, although it is not among
the leading sources.

“With the exception of the UK, which grew by a comparatively modest 6%, Europe’s
leading markets all performed remarkably well,” says Rolf Freitag, President & CEO
of IPK International. “This was hardly surprising, either, given the favourable
exchange rates and pent-up demand in some markets.

“France’s exceptional growth, for example, follows a poor 2006,” says Freitag,
“attributed to confusion and delays over new passport and visa regulations for the
USA. French leisure travel to the USA increased by an even more impressive 36%.”

 Outbound Travel:
There’s also a significant amount of outbound travel from the U.S. In 2006, the U.S.
Commerce Department tracked nearly 40 million U.S. citizen air traffic passengers to
overseas regions, Canada and Mexico. An informal review of published data to date
reflects an increase of 1.3% during the first seven months of 2007 compared to the
same period in 2006.

This is good news for the hospitality industries in regions with higher concentrations
of travelers originating from the U.S.: Europe, Caribbean, Asia, South America and
Central America. Of course, event planners in those regions are also conscious of the
impact on limited high end conference and hotel spaces.

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• Mixed Results for US Outbound Travel
Official data from OTTI indicates that outbound travel by air from the USA
increased by 2% over the first nine months of 2007. While overseas destinations
were up more than 3%, the overall average was brought down by stagnation in
demand for Mexico and a 3% decline in air travel to Canada. Although the overall
trend is disappointing – albeit not surprising given the weak dollar – some
destination regions recorded very good increases. The Middle East was up 14.5%
and Africa 11%, for example, while Central and South America both registered
growth of 8% and Asia attracted 9% more American arrivals.

It should be noted that trends identified so far by IPK International – which have
traditionally proved to be the most accurate – are rather more pessimistic,
pointing to a 1% decline in US outbound travel overall for the full year. But trip
volume to Asia appears to have grown by 4%, bucking the general trend.

One thing is clear – Europe is still down on its 2000 peak. However, there have
been sharply contrasting performances from one European destination to
another, according to arrivals data filed with the European Travel Commission
(ETC) – and, in some cases (eg Cyprus), between arrival and overnight trends in
the same destination.

Many of the European countries recording healthy increases are smaller,

secondary destinations – like Malta, Monaco, Estonia, Montenegro and Serbia.
But Spain also attracted a 21% increase in arrivals from the USA in the first ten
months of the year, as against Italy’s 10%, and Greece, continuing to benefit
from increased exposure as a result of the 2004 Olympic Games, saw a further
30% rise from January through August.

• Prospects for US Outbound Travel In 2008

Nevertheless, despite the welcome recovery of the US market to some
destinations, the weak outlook for the US economy, coupled with the low US
dollar, the housing downturn and the sub-prime crisis in the USA, led a number
of participants at the annual World Travel Monitor Forum in Pisa in October 2007
to predict sluggish demand in US outbound travel during 2008. Moreover, all
these factors combined increase the risk of a recession in the USA, and this in
turn increases the downside risk for outbound tourism demand.

There are also signs that Americans are starting to put more of their disposable
income into savings – something they have not done for several years – which
tends to suggest that there will be less money available for foreign or even
domestic travel.

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Conclusion

Tourism in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) is a major industry and attracts millions of
tourists each year natural attraction can be attributed to its cultural diversity that reflects its
colonial history. It is also environmentally friendly, and maintains natural and heritage
conservation program.

Tourism is one of the largest service sectors of UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA). As of
2008, the tourism industry contributed respectable amount to UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(USA) GDP. This clearly shows the important role tourism industry plays in UNITED STATES
OF AMERICA (USA) economy.

To improve the tourism mainly in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) mainly the foreign
tourists to attract towards UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) they started dance
programmes & cuisine foods which is very famous in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA).
The purpose of this is to attract more tourists.

By 2010, new developments will be ready in UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (USA) and make
it to stand in top place.

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