Seminar «The USA»
4.Traditional regions in the USA and their features (geography, economy, national character)
The Northeast (New England and Mid-Atlantic)
Geography. States: Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York.
Rocky coastlines, rolling hills, dense forests, historic river valleys (Hudson, Delaware). Winters are cold and snowy, summers are mild to humid.
Economy: financial hub of the country (Wall Street), shipping, fishing, textiles, tech.
National character: intellectual, reserved, pragmatic, historically minded. Strong educational tradition (Harvard, Yale, MIT). New Englanders are often stereotyped as frugal, stoic, community-oriented.
The South
Geography. States: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Washington, D.C., West Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas. Coastal plains, Appalachian mountains, Mississippi River valley. Humid subtropical climate. Pine forests, bayous, fertile farmland.
Economy. Energy sector: oil, gas, petrochemicals. Agriculture: cotton, tobacco, citrus. Tourism: beaches, historical sites. Aerospace: NASA centers
National character: Southern hospitality, strong religious (especially evangelical) traditions. Family-centered society.
The Midwest (The “Heartland”)
Geography. States: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota. Flat prairies and rolling hills, Great Lakes region, fertile soil. Four distinct seasons, often with harsh winters and hot, humid summers.
Economy. Agricultural powerhouse: corn, soybeans, dairy (America’s breadbasket). Manufacturing center: automotive (Detroit), machinery. Natural resources: coal, iron ore. Transportation hubs: railways, highways. Wind energy.
National character. Humble, hardworking, ‘Midwest nice’ (polite but reserved).
The West
Geography. States: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming(Mountain); Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington (Pacific). Mountain ranges (Rockies, Sierra Nevada), deserts (Mojave, Sonoran), Pacific coastline, volcanoes, red rock canyons, tropical islands (Hawaii). Coastal areas. Includes the lowest (Death Valley) and highest (Denali) points in North America.
Economy. Tech (Silicon Valley), entertainment (Hollywood), agriculture (California’s Central Valley produces about 1/3 of the U.S. vegetables). Tourism, mining, renewable energy.
National character. Innovation and entrepreneurship, multicultural society, environmental awareness, progressive mindset.