Countries

United States

The world's third-most populous country and its largest economy by GDP, spanning fifty states from the Atlantic to the Pacific plus Alaska and Hawaii. Founded in 1776 as thirteen former British colonies, its Constitution, ratified 1788, is the oldest still in continuous use for any nation.

The Golden Gate Bridge spanning the strait between San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean, seen from Marshall's Beach

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco

Photo: Frank Schulenburg, CC BY-SA 4.0

Thirteen stripes for the original colonies, fifty stars for the current states, the last added when Hawaii joined the union in 1959. Red for valor, white for purity, blue for vigilance and justice.

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