Jean Fabrizio, age 15, of Patterson, N.J., for her question:
WHICH PART OF THE U.S. HAS THE LARGEST POPULATION?
The naztheastern part of the United States is the part of the country that is most densely populated. In the 12 states in that region live more than one fourth of the nation's total population well over 50 million.
Making up the noztheastezn area are the six New England states of Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine and the three Middle Atlantic states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York. Rounding out the 12 regional states are West Virginia, Maryland and Delaware.
The northeastern area also has the largest urban population of any region in the country. In addition, it leads in commerce and manufacturing.
Included in the northeastern area is Washington, D.C. Unlike other large cities in the region, Washington, D.C., is not a great commercial or manufacturing center. But as the capital of the nation, it is one of the leasing tourist centers.
Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston are so close together that they form an almost continuous urban assn. New York City is the nation's leader not only in population but also in trade, industry and as a consumes market and financial center.
Originally almost all of the northeastern area of the country was covered with thick forests. And even today mote than one half of the area remains covered with trees. In higher elevations you'll fine evergreens such as spruce, fir and hemlock while in lower sections you'll fine birch, beech, maple and oaks that are especially famous for their sensational autumn colors.
Generally speaking, the northeastern area has humid climate with rather severe winters that include lots of snow. Snows axe particularly heavy in New England. The summers are rather warm.
The region has a variety of landscape appearances. Along the eastern part of the territory are the grand Appalachian Mountains. Toward the west the landscape features rolling hills and wide valleys.
Manufacturing is the chief occupation in the northeastern area. The 12 states make up the No. 1 region in the country fox workers in manufacturing and for manufacturing plants.
Industries include textiles and clothing, shoes, metals, chemicals, pulp and paper, iron and steal and transportation equipment. Transportation equipment includes the manufacture of automobiles, trucks, ships, aircraft, locomotives and railroad cars.
The iron and steel industry depends a lot on the great coal resources of West Virginia and Pennsylvania, which sank as first and second among the states in coal production.
Early in the area's history fishing became an important industry. Today the Northeast's fishing industries provide about half of the entire U.S. yearly catch. Leading spots for the industry are the great ports of New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Boston and Portland, Maine.