Annually, the U.S. spends more on its military than the next seven highest-ranking countries in military spending combined. The internet was first conceptualized in the United States. Dwarf-tossing in establishments that sell liquor is illegal in Florida. The U.S. owns the GPS (Global Positioning System).

There are 50 states and the District of Columbia. More than twice the size of the European Union, the United States has high mountains in the West and a vast central plain. The lowest point in the country is in Death Valley which is at -282 feet (-86 meters) and the highest peak is Denali (Mt. McKinley) at 20,320 feet (6,198 meters).

Official Name: United States of America Population: 324, 057, 300 Form of Government: Constitution-based federal republic Capital: Washington, D.C. Area: 9, 826, 630 square kilometres Major Mountain Ranges: Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains Major Rivers: Mississippi, Missouri, Colorado Languages: English, Spanish

The USA is a republic, and began life as 13 British colonies along the Atlantic coast. Independence was declared on July 4 1776, during what would eventually become a successful war against Britain. The constitution of the USA was adopted in 1787, and the first 10 amendments, called the Bill of Rights, came into being in 1791.