United States

The United States occupies the central portion of North America, bordered by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with Atlantic and Pacific coastlines and a non-contiguous state in Hawaii. Washington D.C. serves as the federal capital. English functions as the de facto national language, and the currency is the US Dollar. Culturally, the country is defined by its federal structure, diversity of regional identities, and an immigrant heritage that continues to shape cuisine, language, and daily life.

Citizens of many countries in Europe, East Asia, and Oceania can visit visa-free for up to 90 days under the Visa Waiver Program, though they must first obtain authorisation through ESTA — the Electronic System for Travel Authorization — before departure. Travellers from countries outside the program generally require a nonimmigrant visa. Requirements vary considerably by nationality, and official guidance should always be confirmed before travel.

The Grand Canyon in Arizona exposes nearly two billion years of geological strata across a gorge 446 km long. Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming sits atop a supervolcano and contains more geysers than anywhere else on Earth. New York City's Central Park stretches 341 hectares through the heart of Manhattan, flanked by some of the world's most recognisable skyline. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco spans 2.7 km across the bay entrance. The Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C. comprises 19 museums free to the public. Hawaii's Na Pali Coast offers dramatic sea cliffs rising up to 1,200 metres above the Pacific.

The United States encompasses nearly every climate type. The Northeast experiences warm summers around 25–30 °C and cold winters that regularly fall below freezing. The South and Southwest see summer highs frequently exceeding 35 °C, while the Pacific Northwest is mild and overcast year-round. Alaska is subarctic to Arctic. Spring and autumn are generally the most comfortable seasons for travel across the interior. Packing layers is practical for most regions, where temperature swings between morning and afternoon can be significant.

• Home to the world's oldest national park system.
• Alaska is larger than the next three US states combined.
• The Library of Congress holds over 170 million items.
• First country to land humans on the Moon in 1969.
• Has no official federal language by constitutional law.

• travel.state.gov — US Department of State official travel and visa information
• esta.cbp.dhs.gov — Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) applications
• nps.gov — National Park Service, covering all national parks and monuments
• usa.gov — official US government portal for general public information
• weather.gov — National Weather Service forecasts and climate data