1.2 US：Geography features and major cities在线视频

Hi，guys，today we will travel to the US
大家好，今天我们将去往美国

and have a general view of the geography of this country.
并了解这个国家的地理概况

The full name of the US is the United States of America.
美国的全称是美利坚合众国

It is also called America or most often States by its citizens.
它也被称为美国或常被其公民称为州

The United States of America
美利坚合众国

is the world's fourth largest country in size
是世界上面积第四大的国家

and nearly the third largest in terms of population.
人口数量世界排行第三

Located in North America,
位于北美洲

the country is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean
这个国家西起太平洋

and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean.
东至大西洋

Along the northern border is Canada
北与加拿大接壤

and the southern border is Mexico.
南与墨西哥相邻

There are 50 states and the District of Columbia.
包含50个州和华盛顿哥伦比亚特区

More than twice the size of the European Union,
是欧盟面积的两倍之多

the United States has high mountains in the West
美国有西部高山

and a vast central plain.
和中央大平原

Throughout its history,
纵观历史

the United States has been a nation of immigrants.
美国是一个移民国家

The population is diverse
它人口复杂多样

with people from all over the world seeking refuge
由来自世界各地的避难者

and a better way of life.
和追求更好生活的人组成

The country is divided into six regions:
整个国家被分为六大区域

New England,
新英格兰

the mid-Atlantic,
亚特兰大中部

the South,
南部

the Midwest,
中西部

the Southwest,
西南部

and the West.
和西部

European settlers came to New England
欧洲定居者来到新英格兰

in search of religious freedom.
寻求宗教自由

These states are Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts,
这些州是康涅狄格、缅因、马萨诸塞

New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
新罕布什尔、罗德岛和佛蒙特

The mid-Atlantic region includes
美国东岸地区包括

Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania,
特拉华、马里兰、新泽西、纽约、宾夕法尼亚

and the city of Washington D.C.
以及华盛顿

These industrial areas attracted millions
这些工业区吸引了数百万计的

of European immigrants
欧洲移民者

and gave rise to some of the East Coast's largest cities:
也由此产生了一些东海岸大城市

New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
纽约、巴尔的摩和费城

The South includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia,
南部包括阿拉巴马、阿肯色、佛罗里达、佐治亚

Kentucky, Louisiana,Mississippi,
肯塔基、路易斯安那、密西西比

North Carolina, South Carolina,
北卡罗来纳和南卡罗来纳

Tennessee, Virginia,and West Virginia,.
田纳西、弗吉尼亚和西维吉尼亚

The Midwest is home to the country's agricultural base
中西部是国家农业基地的大本营

and is called the "nation's breadbasket."
被称为“国家粮仓”

The region comprises the states of Illinois,
该地区包括伊利诺伊

Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri
印第安纳、爱荷华、堪萨斯、密歇根、明尼苏达、密苏里

and Wisconsin.
和威斯康星

The Southwest is a beautiful stark landscape
西南部风景因草原与沙漠

of prairie and desert.
而显得美丽鲜明

The states of Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma,
亚利桑那、新墨西哥、奥克拉荷马

and Texas are considered the Southwest
和德克萨斯被认为属于西南部

and are home to some of the world's great natural marvels,
许多举世闻名的自然奇迹也位于该地区

including the Grand Canyon and Carlsbad Caverns.
例如大峡谷和卡尔斯巴德洞穴

The American West,
美国西部

home of rolling plains and the cowboy,
是起伏的平原和牛仔之乡

is a symbol of the pioneering spirit of the United States.
是美国开拓精神的象征

The West is diverse,
西部是复杂多样的

ranging from endless wilderness to barren desert,
从无尽的荒野到贫瘠的沙漠

coral reefs to Arctic tundra,
从珊瑚礁到北极苔原

Hollywood to Yellowstone.
从好莱坞到黄石公园

The states of the West include Alaska, Colorado,
西部地区包括阿拉斯加、科罗拉多

California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon,
加利福尼亚、夏威夷、爱达荷、蒙大拿、内华达、俄勒冈

Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
犹他、华盛顿和怀俄明

Part 2 Major cities
第二部分 主要城市

New York
纽约

When talking about cities in the US,
当谈及美国城市时

the first one comes to our mind is New York.
第一时间映入脑海的常常是纽约

The New York City is the largest city in the United States
纽约是美国最大的城市

with a population of 8.5 million people.
拥有850万人口

It is located in the southern part of New York State.
它坐落在纽约州南部地区

New York City, nicknamed
纽约，绰号为

"The Big Apple,"
“大苹果”

was established as a Dutch settlement in 1613.
1613年作为荷兰人定居点而建立

It was originally called New Amsterdam.
它最初被称为新阿姆斯特丹

In 1663, English Puritans took over the region
1663年，英国清教徒接管了这里

and the city’s name was changed to New York,
这座城市也以詹姆斯约克公爵的爵位

after James, Duke of York.
命名为纽约

Today, New York City is a world center
如今，纽约是世界的中心

of banking, finance, theater,
无论是银行、金融、戏剧

art, fashion, and entertainment.
还是艺术、时尚和娱乐方面

It is home to hundreds of attractions
纽约拥有数以百计的景点

including the Metropolitan Museum of Art,
例如大都会美术馆

Central Park, Chinatown, and Madison Square Garden.
中央公园、唐人街和麦迪逊广场花园

Its most famous landmark, the Statue of Liberty,
其中最著名的要数自由女神像

was given to America as a gift of friendship from France
它是法国为庆祝美国百年诞辰而送给美国的

in celebration of America’s 100th birthday.
象征两国友谊的礼物

It has since become an international symbol of America
它也自此成为美国的国际象征

and one of the world’s most famous landmarks.
和世界最著名的地标之一

Los Angeles
洛杉矶

Los Angeles, sometimes called
洛杉矶，有时也称作

"the city of angels, or simply, "L.A.,"
“天使之城”，或简称“L.A”

is the largest city in California
是加州最大的城市

and the second largest city in the United states
同时也是仅次于纽约的

behind New York City.
美国第二大城市

It is the center of the Los Angeles Metropolitan area
它是洛杉矶大都市区的中心

with a population of 18 million people.
拥有1800万人口

Los Angeles is home
洛杉矶还是

to many major motion picture studios,
许多重要的电影制片厂

television networks,
电视广播公司

and scores of famous personalities and actors.
以及众多著名人物和演员的聚居地

Three of the world’s top movie production studios
三家世界顶级的电影制作工作室

are headquartered in Los Angeles
总部就设在洛杉矶

including Paramount Pictures,
包括派拉蒙影业

Universal Studios, and 20th Century Fox.
环球影业和二十世纪福克斯电影公司

In addition,
此外

Los Angeles is the nation’s largest manufacturing center
洛杉矶是全国最大的制造业中心

and is home to America’s most important port.
以及美国最重要的港口所在城市

It has the world’s third largest GDP for a city,
它的GDP世界排行第三

behind only New York and Tokyo.
仅次于纽约和东京

Despite its reputation as a mecca for entertainment,
尽管有着娱乐圣地的美誉

Los Angeles is one of the nation’s most polluted
洛杉矶依然是全国污染和拥挤最严重的

and congested cities.
城市之一

Chicago
芝加哥

Located on the southwest shores of Lake Michigan,
位于密歇根湖的西南岸

Chicago is the largest city in Illinois,
芝加哥是伊利诺伊州最大的城市

the largest city in the American Midwest,
也是美国中西部最大的城市

and the third largest city in the United States.
以及美国第三大城市

It is known as the Windy City
它又被称为风之城

for the winter winds that whip off of Lake Michigan.
源于从密歇根湖吹来的冬季风

Today, Chicago is one of the world’s financial
今天，芝加哥是世界金融和工业

and industrial centers
中心之一

and was the site of the world’s first skyscraper.
也是世界第一座摩天大楼的所在地

Its skyline, directly on the shores of Lake Michigan,
芝加哥位于密歇根湖沿岸的天际线

is one of the most spectacular in the world!
是世界最壮观的天际线之一

Chicago is one of America’s most passionate sports towns
芝加哥是美国最富体育热情的城市之一

and has five professional sports teams
拥有五支专业运动队

including the Bears (NFL),
包括芝加哥熊队（NFL）

Bulls (NBA), Cubs (MLB), White Sox (MLB),
芝加哥公牛队（NBA）、芝加哥小熊队（MLB）、芝加哥白袜队（MLB）

and Blackhawks (NHL).
和芝加哥黑鹰队（NHL）

Chicago was the home of Michael Jordan's Chicago Bulls,
芝加哥是迈克尔·乔丹曾效力的的芝加哥公牛队的所在地

which won six NBA championships in the 1990s.
即那个在上世纪90年代夺得六次NBA冠军的队伍

San Francisco
旧金山

San Francisco, a city rich in culture and diversity,
旧金山，一个文化丰富与多样的城市

San Francisco sits on a hilltop
旧金山建立在山顶上

overlooking the Pacific Ocean.
俯瞰太平洋

Millions have entered San Francisco Bay
成千上万的人涌入旧金山湾

in search of the American dream,
寻找美国梦

bringing with them food, music,
带来了他们的饮食、音乐

and customs from around the world.
和来自世界各地的风俗习惯

Known for its hilly streets lined with colorful houses
因两旁多是五颜六色的房子的丘陵街道和缆车

and cable cars, San Francisco
而出名的旧金山

is also home to dozens of markets,
同时也拥有众多商场

museums, parks, and more.
博物馆、公园等

San Francisco,
旧金山

is one of the nation’s top tourist destinations.
全国最顶尖的旅游胜地之一

It is California’s third largest city,
它是加州第三大城市

and the 13th largest city in the United States.
和美国第十三大城市

Because the city only occupies 47 square miles,
由于整个城市只占地47平方英里

San Francisco is the nation’s second most
旧金山是仅次于纽约的

densely populated city after New York.
全国第二大人口稠密城市

It is nicknamed "the city by the bay," and "fog city."
它又别称“海湾之城”和“雾都”

Its artistic culture, Victorian architecture,
它的艺术文化、维多利亚式建筑

cable cars, and hilly topography,
缆车和丘陵地形

make it unique among major American cities.
使得它在美国主要城市中独树一帜

Today,San Francisco is the center of the region
如今，旧金山是众所周知的“硅谷”

known as "Silicon Valley,"
地区的中心

and is home to numerous major technology companies
和许多重要科技公司的聚集地

including Twitter, Dropbox, and Uber.
例如推特、Dropbox和优步

It was also the birthplace of Levi's jeans and the Gap.
它也是李维斯和Gap的诞生地

Surrounding areas are home to Google, Adobe, and Apple,
周边地区坐落着谷歌、Adobe和苹果

among many others.
等公司

Washington D.C.
华盛顿特区

Lastly, let’s see this city. It is not big,
最后，让我们看看这个城市，它不大

but it is politically important.
却具有政治重要性

That is Washington.D.C.
它就是华盛顿特区

It is located in the District of Columbia,
它坐落于哥伦比亚区

between Maryland and Virginia, was founded
位于马里兰和佛吉尼亚之间，在1790年

and made capital of the United States in 1790.
建立并成为美国首都

It was named after Revolutionary War hero
它以美国独立战争英雄

and first president George Washington.
和第一任总统乔治·华盛顿的名字命名

Washington is the seat of the American government
华盛顿是美国政府的所在地

as all three branches are headquartered in Washington.
因为三个最高权力机关就在华盛顿

Today, Washington is one of the top tourist destinations
今天，华盛顿是美国最热门的旅游胜地

in America.
之一

Visitors from around the world come to see
世界各地的游客都赶来游览

the White House,
白宫

the National Zoo,
美国国家动物园

the Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials,
林肯和杰斐逊纪念馆

the Washington Monument,
华盛顿纪念碑

Ford’s Theater,
福特剧院

the Library of Congress,
美国国会图书馆

and many more landmarks.
等许多地标

Did you know?
你知道吗

The biggest state in the US is Alaska,
美国最大的州是阿拉斯加

while the largest one on the mainland is Texas.
而内陆最大的州是德克萨斯

Illinois is "The Land of Lincoln."
伊利诺伊州别名“林肯之地”

It is named for Abraham Lincoln,
它以亚伯拉罕·林肯的名字命名

the sixteenth president
即美国第十六任总统

who led the nation through the Civil War
他在十九世纪六十年领导并结束了

in the eighteen sixties.
南北战争

the Golden State.
黄金之州

In 1848, plenty of gold was discovered in California,
1848年，在加州发现大量的金矿

that started what was called the gold rush,
由此开始了所谓的淘金热

thus the state is named the Golden State.
因而该州得名黄金之州