Flora and Fauna of the United States

The United States is a country of great territorial extension, being the third
with the largest area in the world. Because of this, it is considered a very diverse
country.
In addition to being comprised of the continental states, it also includes the
Hawaiian archipelago, the state of Alaska and numerous islands in the Pacific and
the Caribbean.
The United States has hundreds of natural areas protected by the government
and 58 national parks.
It shelters numerous species of plants and animals. It has 17,000 species of
plants, more than 400 species of mammals, 500 species of reptiles and 750 species
of birds.
The 5 main representatives of the flora of the United States
A third of the United States is occupied by forests. The main species of trees
are the conifers, which are the sustenance of the wood industry and paper.
1- Secuoya
This tree belongs to the species of conifers. In California there is the Sequoia
National Park, which was created in 1890.
The giant sequoias stand out in the park, including the renowned General
Sherman, the largest tree in the world. It has 84 meters high and 11 meters in
diameter.
2- Colorado Fir
It is an arboreal species of the family of pináceas. It is native to the western
mountains and is found at altitudes of 900 to 3400 meters above sea level.
There are 2 subspecies: the white Colorado spruce found in the Rocky
Mountains, and the low Colorado spruce native to southern California.
3- Saguaro
It is a tree-like cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea that can
grow to be over 12 meters (40 feet) tall. It is native to the Sonoran
Desert in Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple
Mountains and Imperial County areas of California. The saguaro blossom is
the state wildflower of Arizona. Its scientific name is given in honor of Andrew
Carnegie. In 1994, Saguaro National Park, near Tucson, Arizona, was designated
to help protect this species and its habitat.
A saguaro can absorb and store considerable amounts of rainwater, visibly
expanding in the process, while slowly using the stored water as needed. This
characteristic enables the saguaro to survive during periods of drought. The
saguaro cactus is a common image in Mexican culture and American Southwest
films.
4- Cypress
This tree is native to the eastern Mediterranean. However, it has been widely
cultivated in many parts of the world.
 Ideal areas are those that have hot, dry summers and mild, rainy winters,
such as California.

5- Mosses
The flora of the north of the country is mainly composed of mosses, lichens
and low shrubs. Mosses are small plants that do not have vascular tissue.
They need a water saturated environment temporarily, in order to develop
their life cycle.

The 5 main representatives of the fauna of the United States

1- Gray bear
The gray bear lives in the northwestern United States, although the largest
population of gray bears is found in Alaska.
It is a solitary animal, except in the salmon season. In that time, it joins other
bears in streams and coastal areas to feed themselves. It is the third largest
omnivore in the country.
2- Mink
It is a small carnivorous mammal. Its color is dark brown, it has short
rounded ears and a small, broad head.
As an identifying feature, the mink has a white spot on the chin. It can get
confused with an otter, although the mink is smaller.
3- Raccoon
It is a medium-sized mammal: it reaches between 40 to 70 cm in length and
between 3.5 to 9 kg in weight.
Its fur is gray and dense, which isolates it from the cold. Two of the most
distinctive characteristics of the raccoon are its facial mask and its very capable
forelegs. They are known for their intelligence.
4- Moose
They live in cold environments. They have a large nose with abundant blood
flow.
This serves to warm the air before it reaches the lungs. The males have
antlers of variable forms.
5- Cayman
This animal is distributed through the rivers and swamps of the southern
United States and abound in the state of Florida.
They can reach a maximum of 6 meters in length. The weight of the females
oscillates between 70 kg, and the males can reach 450 kg.