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THE PHYSICAL FEATURES OF THE UNITED STATES.

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The civilization and development of a country are dependent, in a marked degree, on the pecu-

liarities of its physical features.
life, and these, in turn, react on man.

The soil and climate exert their influence on the vegetable and animal
If proper soil and climate exist; if the peculiarities of the

surface structure permit of ready intercommunication, and if extensive deposits of coal and velnplole
metals occur, the future development of the country is assured.
The physical features of the magnificent domain of the United States are such as seem to destine it to

become the theatre of the civilization of the future.

The peculiarities of its position and extent, the

nature of its soil, the climate, and rainfall, the size and constancy of its navigable rivers, and the extent
and variety of its valuable mineral deposits, eminently fit it to sustain a very high order of civilization.

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Surface Structure of the United
States, exclusive of Alaska.

380. Situation and Extent.—The United States
occupies the entire breadth of the North American
continent, between lat. 49° N., and 24° 30’ N. and
extends from long. 66° 50’ W. from Greenwich, to
124° 31’ W. The total area, exclusive of Alaska,

is 3,026,500 square miles.
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381. Coast Line—The coast line is compara-
tively simple and unbroken. On the east, the
Atlantic Ocean extends into the land in three
wide curves; on the south, is the deep indenta-
tion of the Mexican Gulf; on the west, the land is
thrust out into the Pacific in an almost unbroken
curve. The total coast line, exclusive of the ad-
joining islands and Alaska, is about 12,609 miles.

382. Gulfs and Bays.—The principal indenta-
tions on the eastern coast are Long Island Sound,
Delaware and Chesapeake Bays, and Albemarle