America was stumbled upon by Columbus in 1492 and for more than
500 years people have travelled here seeking a better life in the
'land of opportunity'. The land was fought over by colonial powers
for centuries and finally won its independence from Britain in
1783. Despite the near annihilation of the Native American
population, one of the bloodiest civil wars the world had seen, and
ingrained racism (Native Americans were not granted citizenship
until 1924 and racial segregation was the norm until as late as the
1950s), the American people have succeeded in forging one of the
worlds most united, democratic and tolerant nations, a fascinating
melting-pot of cultures, and the undisputed military and economic
heavyweight of the world.
The country is made up of 48 neighbouring states of the
continental USA, plus the huge state of Alaska, northwest of
Canada, and the volcanic islands of Hawaii, 2,000 miles (3,219km)
out into the Pacific. There are also the US territories, which
include Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Midway Islands and
the US Virgin Islands. Tourism is focused mainly in the great
cities such as New York and Washington, as well as sunshine states
such as California, Florida and Hawaii where millions of tourists
congregate each year to enjoy the fine beaches, natural wonders and
man-made attractions such as Disneyland, Universal Studios and
Hollywood.
Too many miss out on the mind-blowing landscapes of the
interior which can found in the wealth of magnificent National
Parks like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Adirondacks, as well as
spectacular sights like the Grand Canyon and the Rocky Mountains.
With all this on their doorstep, it's easy to understand why most
Americans have never bothered getting a passport.
