However, instead of the bloodshed that marked the end of so many past empires, with cities burning and civilians slaughtered, this twenty-first century imperial collapse could come relatively quietly through the invisible tendrils of economic collapse or cyberwarfare.īut have no doubt: when Washington's global dominion finally ends, there will be painful daily reminders of what such a loss of power means for Americans in every walk of life. So delicate is their ecology of power that, when things start to go truly bad, empires regularly unravel with unholy speed: just a year for Portugal, two years for the Soviet Union, eight years for France, 11 years for the Ottomans, 17 years for Great Britain, and, in all likelihood, 22 years for the United States, counting from the crucial year 2003.įuture historians are likely to identify the Bush administration's rash invasion of Iraq in that year as the start of America's downfall. If Washington is dreaming of 2040 or 2050 as the end of the American Century, a more realistic assessment of domestic and global trends suggests that in 2025, just 15 years from now, it could all be over except for the shouting.ĭespite the aura of omnipotence most empires project, a look at their history should remind us that they are fragile organisms. The demise of the United States as the global superpower could come far more quickly than anyone imagines. Situated at the southern edge of the State of New York is the New York City - the largest and the most populous city of the U.S.A soft landing for America 40 years from now? Don't bet on it. Located along the northern shore of the Potomac River in the federal district of Columbia is, Washington D.C. km, the United States is the world's 3rd largest country. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Midway Atoll, Baker Island, Howland Island, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, Palmyra Atoll (incorporated territory), Kingman Reef, Wake Island and Navassa Island.Ĭovering a total area of 9,833,520 sq. The District of Columbia is the federal district in which the country's capital - Washington D.C. The states are divided into counties, which are further subdivided into municipalities. In alphabetical order, these states are: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming The 50 states are the major administrative divisions of the country. The state's lowest point is at the Badwater Basin, Death Valley, California at -282ft (-86m). Denali (Mount Mckinley) in Alaska is the state's highest point wich rises to an elevation of 20,322ft (6,194m). Large lakes include the Great Lakes system consisting of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Major rivers in the country include the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Colorado, the Arkansas, and the Columbia. Lower elevations are indicated throughout the southeast of the country, as well as along the Eastern Seaboard. Higher elevation is shown in brown identifying mountain ranges such as the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains. This physical map of the US shows the terrain of all 50 states of the USA. North-south, the longest distance in the 48 contiguous states region is 2,660 km. The greatest east-west distance in the 48 contiguous states of the country is 4,500 km. km while the remaining area is part of the US territories. The archipelago of Hawaii has an area of 28,311 sq. Of this area, the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia cover 8,080,470 sq. The United States (US) covers a total area of 9,833,520 sq.