America Facts | Facts about Americas

Main source for natural gas in the United States

Ninety-nine percent of the natural gas used in the United States comes from North America.

Deaths caused by cigarettes and alcohol in America

More than 400,000 Americans die from diseases related to cigarette smoking each year. More than 150,000 Americans die of alcohol abuse each year.

The world's least appealing alcohol

Chicha, an alcohol beverage which has been made for thousands of years in Central and South America, begins with people chewing grain and spitting into a vat. An enzyme in saliva changes starch in the grain to sugar, which then ferments.

Which is the Keystone State and why?

Pennsylvania is known as the Keystone State because Pennsylvania was the center colony of the original 13 colonies. It held the colonies together like the "keystone" in a window or door arch.

How much money are won in lotteries put together?

In 1996, lotteries in North America awarded $52 million in prizes every day – that’s $36,000 every minute, 24 hours a day. This didn’t just suddenly happen. Lotteries have been around nearly as long as civilization has been around. People love lotteries.

How big is South America?

South America has an area of 17,840,000 km² (6,890,000 sq mi), or almost 3.5% of the Earth's surface. South America ranks fourth in area (after Asia, Africa, and North America) and fifth in population (after Asia, Africa, Europe, and North America)

Ever heard of the nation of Central America?

There was a nation of Central America in the early 19th century, consisting of the present day nations of Guatemala (which included the former state of Los Altos), Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica (which included a region which is nowadays part of Panama), and a portion of the modern Mexican state of Chiapas.

What is the highest point on earth?

The highest mountain in the world is not Mt. Everest. The Earth is not perfectly round, it is like when you roll a piece of silly putty in a ball and squish the top a little bit. Therefore, the equator is popped out. Seeing as how the Himalayas are some ways away from the equator, although Mt. Everest is highest above sea level, the highest point on Earth is somewhere in the Andes in South America

What was the best political joke of 2006?

According to about.com and their top 25 funny jokes "I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers, and rubble, and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message that no matter what happens to America she will always rebound with the most powerfully staged photo-ops in the world." --Comedian Stephen Colbert, roasting Bush at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner.
Our favorite: “To the vice president's credit, he did own up to it (shooting hunting partner in the face). On FOX News he said the fault was his, he can't blame anybody else. Boy, it's amazing, the only time you get accountability out of this administration is when they are actually holding a smoking gun." --Bill Maher