When we speak about America we mean not only the USA, but also two big continents, North America and South America. At school, you study Geography and know the story of a person who discovered America. It was Cristopher Columbus, a seaman from Europe, who first came to America. That happened in 1492. In those centuries people in Europe were very interested in India and other places, situated in the east. They thought that there was a lot of gold because ships sailed to the east and came back with treasures.

Columbus was also one of those who wanted to get to India. He made many sea voyages and was sure that our planet is round. So the King and the Queen of Spain gave him enough money to organise his voyage to India. He prepared three small ships and sailed to the west. After three weeks he and his crew saw a land. It was an island in Central America, but Columbus didn't understand it, so he named the people who lived there Indians.

The United States of America is the third-largest country in the world, after Russia and China. It's very popular and unique. The USA consists of fifty states and also includes a federal District of Columbia. That district has the greatest political influence, because Washington, the US capital, is located there. In the east, the USA is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and in the west by the Pacific.

The landscape in the USA is spectacular and very different. You can see heavy green forests and deserts, wonderful waterfalls and canyons, amazing mountains and big lakes. If you are a road trip lover, the USA is a nail-biting adventure. There are so many sights to visit, such as Niagara Falls, the Rocky Mountains, Yellowstone National Park, the world-famous Grand Canyon, etc.

When we speak about America we mean not only the USA, but also two big continents, North America and South America. At school, you study Geography and know the story of a person who discovered America. It was Cristopher Columbus, a seaman from Europe, who first came to America. That happened in 1492. In those centuries people in Europe were very interested in India and other places, situated in the east. They thought that there was a lot of gold because ships sailed to the east and came back with treasures.

Columbus was also one of those who wanted to get to India. He made many sea voyages and was sure that our planet is round. So the King and the Queen of Spain gave him enough money to organise his voyage to India. He prepared three small ships and sailed to the west. After three weeks he and his crew saw a land. It was an island in Central America, but Columbus didn't understand it, so he named the people who lived there Indians.

American Pastime

There are so many various traditions in the USA. As it's a country where many nationalities live you can find anything you can imagine. It makes America unique and very interesting. You may have heard different stereotypes about Americans. People think that they love playing baseball and eating fast food. Partly it's true. Some people are crazy about fast food places, but some of them like a healthy lifestyle. Also, we can say that Americans are very friendly, self-confident, they love joking, smiling and shaking hands. And they respect their privacy and own opinion and avoid arguing about such topics as religion, politics or money.

Not only is baseball very popular there. Americans love playing basketball, football, bowling and tennis. Also, they are very fond of travelling. In different parts of the USA, you can find various pastimes, from surfing to playing hockey. They love sports. Let's talk about holidays. They love celebrating special days. They celebrate New Year, Christmas, Easter day and other common holidays. Also, there are Thanksgiving Day, Columbus Day, Independence Day, Presidents' Day, Veterans' Day, Memorial Day, Halloween and St. Valentine's Day.

There is a local American holiday which was very popular thanks to the famous film Groundhog Day. According to folk saying, the spring will be warm and sunny if a groundhog emerges from its burrow on a cloudy day.