United States
_{May / June 2004 - South west}

_Capital

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Washington DC

_Area

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9,631,418 km²
(232x the Netherlands)

_Time

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UTC -4 to UTC -10

_Language

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English

_{Highest point}

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Mount Denali (Alaska) - 6,194 m

_Flag

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The flag of the United States consists of seven red horizontal stripes, interrupted by six white stripes. There is a blue plane (Union) in the corner containing fifty small, white five-pointed stars in nine horizontal rows. The fifty stars represent the fifty states. The thirteen stripes represent the thirteen original colonies that separated from Great Britain in 1776. The flag was changed 26 times since the union of thirteen states adopted it. The current version dates from 1960 and is the longest version in use. Previously, the 48-star flag had the record (47 years).

_Itinerary

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_Currency

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After independence of the United States in 1776, the Spanish peso was the most commonly used coin. When the monetary unit was established by the American Coinage Act of 1792, a currency was chosen which had the same value as the common peso. The coin was called dollar. The dollar has a decimal system and the peso has an octal system. The dollar has been considered the anchor currency in international trade since World War II. Depicted on the banknote is George Washington who defeated the British general Cornwallis in Yorktown, Virginia in 1781 which ended the American Revolution. Washington became the first President of the United States from 1789 to 1797.

_Highlights

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The Spaniards built the mission Dolores in 1791. In 1835, the village of Yerba Buena was built in what is now Grant Street (Chinatown) in San Francisco. The city got its current name after the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846. San Francisco is built on more than 40 hills. The best way to explore the city is on foot.

If you have the option, pitch your tent at the campsite opposite Monument Valley. Nothing is more beautiful than opening your tent in the morning, face to face with the mesas which can been seen in many westerns. Take a jeep tour with a Navajo guide in these lands which are owned by the Navajo.

Bryce Canyon is like a fairytale. When you get there, don't just visit the viewpoints but descend and make a number of hikes in this maze of Hoodoos. The area exists of sandstone pillars which were formed by erosion. There are many routes such as the Navajo Loop, Fairyland and Peek-A-Boo Trail. Highly recommended. Down is easy, getting up to one of the starting points is a steep climb.

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Yosemite Natl. Park is huge. The Sequoia trees are located at Wawona at the south side of the park. These trees can reach 100 meters in height with a diameter of 10 meters. The oldest tree is dated to 3200 years (Grizzly Giant). Drive to Glacier Point with a fantastic view of Yosemite valley. Walk back to Yosemite Village from Glacier point on the panorama trail. A great view of Half Dome and you pass three waterfalls, the Illiouette, Nevada and Vernal Falls. A beautiful hike which almost only descends. Bring rain gear because downstream Vernal Falls is not called the Misty Trail for nothing.

A combination of salt, sandstone and erosion formed the rocks at Arches Natl. Park. Once there was an inland sea here. Salt erodes faster than sandstone, creating the arches. Take a walk on the Devil's Garden Trail. Landscape Arch is a large, very fragile arch. Leave in the middle of the night for the park and take the path up to the Delicate Arch and wait for sunrise.

Mesa Verde is located in Arizona. Reconstructed remains of an Indian village are visible under an overhanging rock. The Anasazi built it approximately around 1200. One hundred years later it was abandoned, probably because of drought.