美国概况

美国概况：Chapter 1: Geographical Features and Natural Resources ：1.4. Natural Resources

The United States is a land rich in natural resources. Some of these resources, such as water, iron ore, coal, oil, silver, and gold, are especially plentiful in the country.

America has a large deposit of iron ore. The nation produces more than 80 million tons of iron a year. For many years, iron ore came primarily from the great Lake region of Minnesota and Michigan, but the mines were severely depleted during the two Worm Wars. The richer ores are exhausted, though large amounts of lower-grade materials remain and form the basis of a thriving industry. Iron ores are also mined in Missouri, New York, Utah and Wyoming.

Coal is another major natural resource found in large quantities in the U. S. which can last for hundreds of years. Coal deposits are widely distributed in the country. Most of coal reserves are to be found in the Appalachians, the Central Plain, and the Rockies.

America, very rich in oil, was once the largest oil producing country in the world. Oil wells in the United States produce more than 3,200 million barrels of petroleum a year. The production, processing and marketing of such petroleum products as gasoline and oil make up one of America's largest industries. Most domestic production of oil and natural gas comes from offshore areas of Louisiana and Texas, and from onshore areas of Texas, Oklahoma, and California. Although the oil production in the U. S. is very large, her big consumption has made America insufficient in oil sup- ply. The shortage of domestic supplies of energy was forcefully publicized by the Arab oil embargo of 1973-1974. Until this embargo most Americans did not realize that the United States does not have enough energy to meet its evergrowing needs.

Other basic metals and minerals mined on a large scale in America include zinc, copper, silver, and phosphate rock.

America enjoys abundant water resources, Today the rivers and streams of America furnish 63 % of the water supply for cities, towns and farmlands, 93% of the water used by industry, and al- most all of the water used to create electric power. Unlike some other countries, America as a whole has little trouble as caused by the shortage of fresh water.

America has also plenty of fertile soil. Farmlands in the United States make up about 12% of the arable lands in the world, and they are among the richest and most productive. Of the 2.3 billion acres of land in the 50 states an estimated 300 million acres are planted annually. The country's very large acreage of highly productive farmlands could be expected to continue to supply the nation generously, with substantial surplus for export.

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