Key Facts

Location

North America.

Time

The USA is divided into six time zones:

Eastern Standard Time: GMT - 5 (GMT - 4 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).

Central Standard Time: GMT - 6 (GMT - 5 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).

Mountain Standard Time: GMT - 7 (GMT - 6 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November. Arizona does not observe DST).

Pacific Standard Time: GMT - 8 (GMT - 7 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).

Alaska: GMT - 9 (GMT - 8 from second Sunday in March to first Sunday in November).

Hawaii: GMT - 10.

Area

9,826,630 sq km (3,794,083 sq miles).

Population

301 million (official estimate 2007).

Electricity

110 volts AC, 60Hz. Plugs are of the flat two-pin type. European electrical appliances not fitted with dual-voltage capabilities will require a plug adaptor, which is best purchased before arrival in the USA.

Money

Currency

US Dollar (USD; symbol $) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of $100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1. Coins are in denominations of $1, and 50, 25, 10, 5 and 1 cents.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2008-December 2009 period.

2008

1 Jan New Year's Day.

21 Jan Martin Luther King Day.

18 Feb Presidents' Day.

26 May Memorial Day.

4 Jul Independence Day.

1 Sep Labor Day.

13 Oct Columbus Day.

11 Nov Veterans' Day.

27 Nov Thanksgiving Day.

25 Dec Christmas Day.

2009

1 Jan New Year's Day.

19 Jan Martin Luther King Day.

16 Feb Presidents' Day.

25 May Memorial Day.

4 Jul Independence Day.

7 Sep Labor Day.

12 Oct Columbus Day.

11 Nov Veterans' Day.

26 Nov Thanksgiving Day.

25 Dec Christmas Day.

Climate

See the individual state sections.

Back to Overview

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