In what respect is the United States very fortunate?

The geographical location of a country and its physical characteristics are very important to its development and progress. The United States is very fortune in this respect.
    First of all, it has a good climate. In almost all sections of the country, it is possible to live comfortably during the whole year. It is true that in the south it sometimes gets very hot and in the north very cold, but the people who live in these regions become accustomed to the climate and never suffer very much when the weather is either very hot or very cold.
    In a large country, there is usually a great variety of different physical characteristics. In the United States, (19) there are wide plains and high mountains, thousands of lakes and rivers of all sizes, cool forests and hot deserts, and a coastline several thousands miles long.
    The many lakes and rivers as well as the long coastline have been of great importance to the development of the country. Since they make possible the easy transportation of people and all the things people need. (20)Transportation by water is still necessary and important. In modern times, however, trains, automobiles, trucks and airplanes are doing much of the work which was formerly done by ships and boats.