But there are states that are in many ways larger than all others. For example: Russia, Canada, China, USA. We'll talk about the last country. Or more precisely, about its regions or states, of which there are exactly 50. It is logical that they differ from each other in their size. From this article you will learn which are the largest US states by area.

Area: 253,348 sq. km

If you look at the map, you will see that this state, which opens the top of the largest US regions by area, has the shape of a regular rectangle. The fact is that its borders are marked by certain latitudes and meridians. Wyoming is a mountainous region of the United States. The highest point in the state is Gannett Peak (4202 meters). The remaining mountains rise no more than 2000 meters. The headwaters of the Mississippi, Colorado and Columbia rivers originate in this state. The most important attraction in Wyoming is national park Yellowstone, which is visited every year by a million tourists from all over the world. The state is rich in gas, coal, oil and uranium.

Area: 255,026 sq. km.

The state, one of the largest regions of the United States by area, is located on the coast Pacific Ocean. Located in a mountainous area. The highest point in Oregon is Mount Hood (3427 meters). The most deep lake USA - Crater - is located in this state. The most suitable cities for tourists are Portland and Salem. After all, they have many parks, gardens and various museums. Nature lovers can admire the country's deepest canyon, Hell, the Jefferson Mountains and the Three Sisters Peaks.

Area: 269,837 sq. km.

Another mountain region on our list of the most large states USA by area. Archaeologists have determined that people already lived here more than 10,000 years ago. Even their rock dwellings have been preserved. The name of the state was given by the river of the same name, so named because of the red-brown silt at its bottom. If at the beginning of the 19th century the lands of Colorado were practically uninhabited, then with the discovery of gold here, everything changed in an instant. In the early 30s of the 20th century, the state's population was 1,000,000 people. There is a lot to see in this region: numerous parks, museums and war memorials will be of interest to tourists.

Area: 286,367 sq. km.

Nevada is the driest region of the United States. Most of the state's territory is occupied by the Cordillera mountain system, whose height exceeds 3.5 km, and the rest is semi-desert. The highest point in the region is Mount Boundary Peak (4005 meters). Southern Nevada, considered one of the largest US states by area, is home to the Mojave Desert.

Due to the low rainfall in the region, rivers and lakes often dry up.

The territory bears the unofficial nickname "Silver State" since silver deposits were discovered here in 1859. It was then that numerous gold diggers, robbers and adventurers flocked here.
Tourists should visit Las Vegas, one of the most famous cities in the world. It is famous for its casinos and other gambling establishments. There is a replica of the Eiffel Tower here.

For the comfort of the traveler, he will be offered a choice of many luxury hotels and hotels. Nature lovers will choose excursions to parks and mountains. And extreme sports - rock climbing and skiing.

Area: 295,254 sq. km.

Arizona's topography is varied. It consists of an alternation of mountains and deserts that smoothly turn into a plateau. The state has a unique forest of yellow pine trees. And the Sonoran Desert is considered one of the most “living” on the planet: there is a lot of flora and fauna here. In the northwest of the state there is a desert with sparse vegetation - the Mojave.

Arizona attracts many tourists due to the presence of the Grand Canyon, considered one of the main natural wonders of the world. Also in the region you can see with your own eyes the trace of a meteorite: a crater in the form of a huge funnel is located in the center of the Colorado Plateau.

Art lovers will be delighted by the Art Museum (Phoenix), which houses 18,000 exhibits from all over the world. You can learn new things about Indian art at the Head Museum, also located in the capital of the state, which ranks 6th on the list of the largest regions of the United States by area.

Area: 315,194 sq. km.

One of the most beautiful states in the USA. It was even called the “Land of Enchantment.” The region will provide the opportunity to admire dense forests, river canyons and mountains. In New Mexico, which occupies the middle of the top of the largest US states by area, you can visit the village of Taos Pueblo, which is part of the reservation. The Indians living there retained their customs and built houses that were no different from the buildings of their ancestors who lived 100-200 years ago. The state attracts astronomy enthusiasts with 10 remote observatories.

Area: 351,156 sq. km.

It is in this state that the source of the Missouri River and one of the highest Rocky Mountains is located - Grand Peak, 3904 meters high. In the depths of the region there are such minerals as coal, oil, gas, gold, silver, lead, and silver. That's why Montana's unofficial name is the "Treasure State."
Tourists will be interested in the picturesque forests and waterfalls, majestic mountains and glaciers located in the state. This is part of Yellowstone Park and is home to a bison sanctuary. In the cities of the state, which ranks 4th in the list of the largest regions of the United States by area, mansions and churches of the 19th century have been preserved.

Area: 423,970 sq. km.

California is the most populous state in the United States by area. Famous cities such as San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles are located in this region. The weather here is very unpredictable. The population is diverse. California leads other US regions in terms of GDP. The state has developed information Technology, agriculture and oil production. The region, which took bronze in the ranking of the largest US states by area, is known for the presence of Silicon Valley - the location of the largest American computer technology companies.

Area: 696,241 sq. km.

The state of Texas, which ranks second in the ranking of the largest US regions by area, is a leader in the area agriculture, oil production. The main financial center of the country. The region is famous for its abundance of rivers. They all enter the pool Gulf of Mexico. The Rio Grande and Brazos are the deepest rivers in Texas.
Tourists should visit the city of Dallas, because it is home to the famous arts district, where museums, parks, galleries and gardens are collected. The city of Houston has many universities, and travelers will find plenty of cultural and entertainment options in San Antonio.

Area: 1,717,854 sq. km.

Most northern state The USA becomes the leader in the ranking of the largest regions of the country by area. Separated from the rest of the mainland by Canada. Occupies the territory of the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. It is also the smallest US state by population. It is washed by the waters of two oceans: the Pacific and the Atlantic.
Tourists are drawn here by the amazing nature, abundance of lakes and rivers. There are several large mountain ranges here. And McKinley is the highest mountain in America! Its height is 6,194 meters. Alaska - region with volcanic activity, rich in gold, oil, coal and gas.

US states on the map

USA map online

What is a “state” and how many are there in the USA?

The United States of America is a federation of 50 states ( US states).

A state is the main political and territorial unit of the United States. There have been 50 of them since 1959. Each of them has its own flag and motto.
Word "state"(state) appeared during the colonial period (around 1648). This word was sometimes used to describe individual colonies. It began to be used everywhere after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The state has its own constitution, legislative, executive and judicial powers.

Each US state is divided into districts - administrative-territorial units of the second level. They are smaller than a state but larger than or equal to a city. The exception is the five counties (boroughs) within the City of New York. There are 3,140 counties in the country, according to the Census Bureau.

The third level of administrative-territorial division is city municipalities and townships, which govern local life settlements. According to the National League of Cities, in 2002 there were 19,429 urban municipalities and 16,504 townships in the United States.

50 US states borrowed their names from many languages. The names of half of them came from North American Indian languages. The remaining states received names from European languages: Latin, English and French.

In addition to the states, the country includes and is governed by administrative-territorial units with the status federal district or federal territory - the District of Columbia and a number of islands.

DC(The District of Columbia, D.C.) is not part of any state. The capital of the country, Washington, is located there.

The island territories of the United States include: Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa.

51st state

There is such a term as the “51st state.” This term refers to territories that apply to receive US state status in addition to the already existing fifty states. Possible candidates for the title of “fifty-first state” include the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia, and Puerto Rico. The issue of granting statehood to New York City has also been raised repeatedly.

There is one curious fact in history. In 2012, Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich, in support of American colonization of the Earth's satellite, said: "When we have 13,000 Americans living on the moon, they can petition to become a state." However, in accordance with Article II of the Outer Space Treaty outer space, The Moon and other celestial bodies are not subject to national appropriation, either by claiming sovereignty over them, or by using or occupying them, or by any other means.

How they are part of the United States

In order for any territory to become part of the United States, a lengthy procedure is required. The territory must adopt its own constitution. The Constitution must satisfy the US Congress, which decides to accept the territory into the United States.

States cannot secede from the United States unilaterally.

The United States of America is a huge country offering a lot of opportunities for tourists of any age, social status and financial situation. There is no type of recreation or entertainment that cannot be found in the United States.

Since the United States covers vast territories located in six time zones, the climate in the states can be very different: from sunny Hawaii to snowy Alaska. This country presents all types of tourism existing in the world, plus several special ones that are characteristic of America.

The capital of the state is Washington, but in in this case this does not in any way affect the tourist attractiveness of the city: New York remains the de facto center of the United States. The main attraction of the Big Apple is the Statue of Liberty; besides it, travelers rush to see with their own eyes the legendary skyscrapers of the Empire State Building, Woolworths and others, take a walk in Central Park, admire the collection of paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and walk along the Museum Mile.

Chicago is considered the most criminal city in the United States; it is the capital of jazz and the financial center of the country; it is also home to the tallest building in the United States - the Willis Tower. Louisiana is the most French state in America; descendants of settlers from Hugo’s homeland still live in New Orleans. Utah is the stronghold of the Mormon sect, Texas amazes with its vast expanses and wild prairies, and the coolest guys in the entire western part of the States still live in Dallas.

Large cities are good for shopping and intercultural communication, but beach holiday need to go to California and Florida. Hawaii remains the constant leader in resort destinations; good coastlines can also be found in South Carolina, Maine, Massachusetts, and Virginia.

Festival Las Vegas invites you to tickle your nerves and plunge into the abyss of excitement; travelers to the state of Arizona are attracted by the primitive power and grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Most of the Indians living in the United States are concentrated in California and Oklahoma; excursions are conducted on the territory of modern reservations and ancient cities of the Incas, Aztecs and Mayans.

Sports lovers will enjoy surfing on the seductive beaches of Miami or skiing at the winter resorts of Aspen, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Vail and others in Colorado.

Almost in any more or less big city You can find several international language schools: educational tourism is very developed in English-speaking America.

Additionally, travelers come to the States to visit cultural capital Los Angeles, admire the landscape beauties of Ohio and Pennsylvania, improve your health in the most progressive clinics in the world, get married in Hawaiian Islands or get married instantly in Las Vegas.

The state is the main administrative unit of this state. States are further divided into districts, and rural areas- to townships. There are 50 states in total. The last of them (Hawaii) was annexed to the United States in 1959. Some confusion arising in the question of how many states there are in the United States arises because there are currently discussions about the possibility of joining the 51st state, but for now this did not happen.

The District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and some other territories are vying for the title of 51st state. The term “51st state” is used to refer to areas with strong American influence (Australia, Mexico, Iraq and others).

Not all administrative divisions are formally states. The commonwealths (eg Kentucky, Pennsylvania) and the District of Columbia differ. The capital of the United States, Washington, is located in Colombia. The principles of government for both states and commonwealths are similar. Colombia, due to the fact that it is not a state, cannot elect its representatives to the Senate. Her struggle for the right to become the 51st state of America is connected with this.

The American flag has 50 stars based on the number of states. If another administrative unit joins the country, the number of stars will increase.

US regions

The US map makes it clear to us that onfns are grouped by region, depending on their location. There are the Northeastern United States, which includes New England and the Mid-Atlantic states, the Midwest, the Southern United States, and the Western United States.

The Northeast includes Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts and other states. This region is considered the most developed and richest in the country.

The Midwest region includes 12 states - Michigan, Illinois, Ohio and others. It has the lowest unemployment rate in the country and well-developed industry and agriculture.

The South of the United States is also called the Black Belt. There is a traditionally large percentage of black Americans here - they were once brought to the South as slaves. The region includes 12 states and one federal district - Columbia. This region has the greatest ethnic and linguistic diversity.

The Western United States is the largest region, occupying more than half of the country's territory. It includes 13 states (Nevada, Hawaii, California and others). Lives here greatest number US national minorities.

Local government

The United States of America is federal republic. First of all, this is expressed in high level local government.

Each of the 50 states has:

• Constitution;
• governor;
• Supreme Court;
• Legislative Assembly;
• capital.

Any resident of America has, as it were, dual citizenship - the country of the United States and the state in which he lives. In addition, each state has its own flag, animal, product and even insect! All states also have mottos and nicknames, both officially approved and unofficial.

For example, the official name of the state of Indiana is the “Big State,” Missouri is the “Show Me State,” Nebraska is the “Corn Husker State,” and New York, as you know, is the “Big Apple.” There are also interesting unofficial nicknames (so-called nicknames) - “Gopher State” for North Dakota, “Pan Handle State” for West Virginia, “Land of the Midnight Sun” for Alaska and others.

State mottos are widely used in the official symbols of the country: they are minted on coins and engraved on seals. They sound like different languages: Florida - We trust in God (English), Oklahoma - Labor conquers everything (Latin), Minnesota - North Star (French) and so on.

In the state of Washington, in the city of Seattle, there is a huge wall covered with chewing gum. Oddly enough, this is the wall of a local theater. The phenomenon arose spontaneously, and at first the authorities tried to fight it, but since this failed, they decided to leave it as it was - another attraction appeared.

The state of Kansas invites you to slide down the tallest water slide on the planet: its height exceeds the height of Niagara Falls.

In general, each US state is unique and different from the other. Despite their differences, they still make up one great country - the United States of America.