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united states of america
544
Hollywood
Hollywood, in los Angeles, was founded
in 1887 as a community for Christians.
Today, it is the center of America’s movie
industry. Many movie studios are based
here, and actors, actresses, and other
celebrities live and work nearby. The area
is a favorite tourist attraction. Visitors come
to spot the stars and to take photos of the
Hollywood sign (right), in the Hollywood Hills.
Blues
during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, hundreds of
thousands of Africans were brought to America as slaves.
slavery was outlawed in 1865, and
since then black writers, artists, and
musicians have made their mark
on American culture. The popular
music known as blues originated among
slaves in the southern states.
Hawaii and alaska
Hawaii, a group of tropical islands
in the Pacific ocean, became the
50th us state in 1959. The islands
produce pineapples, sugar, and coffee.
Polynesians first settled Hawaii in the
700s, and many native Polynesians still
live here. Alaska lies outside the main
part of the united states, too, separated
from the other states by Canada.
CAliforniA
in 1848 gold was discovered in California,
and many people rushed to the region to prospect
for it. California is still the state with the most
inhabitants. About 38.8 million people live there.
Most of the state has a mild, sunny climate and
produces vast amounts of
fruit. Many towns in
California have
become resorts.
Modern industries
have started up in
California; northern
California’s silicon
Valley, for example,
is a center for the
computer business.
AMeriCAn PeoPle
native Americans, the original Americans, now make up
only a small part of the total population of more than
318 million. Most Americans are the descendants of
settlers from overseas and speak english. They live in
the same neigh bor hoods and mingle in everyday
life. Their cultures have also mingled, producing a
new form of english different from that spoken in
Britain. Many Americans also maintain the language,
culture, and traditions of the countries they or
their ancestors came from originally.
Famous blues singer
B.B. King (1925-2015)
has played his guitar,
named Lucille,
in concerts all over
the world.
GrAnd CAnyon
There are many natural wonders in the united states; one
of the most impressive is the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
The Colorado river took thousands of years to cut the canyon
by natural erosion through solid rock. it is 18 miles (29 km)
wide in places and more than 6,000 ft (1,800 m) deep.
The Grand Canyon is
a favorite tourist
attraction. Many
people ride to the
bottom on mules.
Cable cars still carry passengers
up some of the 43 hills on which
the city of San Francisco in
California is built.
BAseBAll
Baseball is the US’s top sport,
and was first played between
two organized teams in 1846.
The Sugar Train on the Hawaiian
island of Maui
Find out more
Government and politics
King, jr., martin luther
native americans
roosevelt, franklin
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