The United States of America is a large country in central and north-western North America, often referred to as the "USA," the "U.S.," the "United States," "America," or simply "the States". It has a land area of about 9.6 million sq km (about half the size of Russia and about the same size as China). It also boasts the world's third largest population after China and India, with over 300 million people. It includes both densely-populated cities with sprawling suburbs, and vast, uninhabited and naturally beautiful areas. With its history of mass immigration dating from the 17th century, it is a "melting pot" of cultures from around the world.

The contiguous U.S. (Lower 48) stretches across the midsection of North America, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and from the southern borders of Canada to the northern frontier with Mexico and the Gulf of Mexico. Alaska, separated from the continental states by Canadian territory, borders both Canada and Russia (maritime border) in the far northwest. Hawaii is located in the middle of the Pacific, and the unincorporated Caribbean territory (the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) is found in the region' southeast near the Dominican Republic and Haiti. The United States is composed of 50 states, as well as the city of Washington D.C., a federal district and the nation's capital. Its many geographic regions are varied. Below is a rough grouping of the country into regions, from the Atlantic to the Pacific:
Culture
Because of its size and because its citizens are descended from diverse immigrants, there is no single universal American culture. Visitors to the South will find a far different culture from those traveling to California or New York City.

Worldwide trends often begin in the United States, and modern inventions are often either invented or first mass-produced in the United States. The United States has one of the highest per-capita car ownership rates in the world. Other common elements of United States culture include individualism, Hollywood films and popular music, including country music, blues, jazz, rock and roll, rap and hip-hop, sports like basketball, baseball, American football, soccer, and NASCAR racing, technology, tolerance, corn on the cob, and fast food.