Learn more about the mythic conflict between the Argives and the Trojans. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). ), Agricultural products (soybeans, fruit, corn) 9.2%, industrial supplies (organic chemicals) 26.8%, capital goods (transistors, aircraft, motor vehicle parts, computers, telecommunications equipment) 49.0%, consumer goods (automobiles, medicines) 15.0% (2008 est. Get more information about the large cities in North America by clicking on a city name. Although it is home to less than 10 percent of the world’s population, its per capita consumption of energy is almost four times as great as the world average. North America is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the North Pacific Ocean. Found in the Western Hemisphere, the country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west, as well as the Gulf of Mexico to the south. It extends for more than 5,000 miles (8,000 km) to within 500 miles (800 km) of both the North Pole and the Equator and has an east-west extent of 5,000 miles. North-south, the longest distance in the 48 contiguous states region is 2,660 km. Although at first the term America was applied only to the southern half of the continent, the designation soon was applied to the entire landmass. The United States (US) covers a total area of 9,833,520 sq. Some definitions of Middle America also include the West Indies. ), Protestant 46.5%, Roman Catholic 20.8%, Jewish 1.9%, Mormon 1.6%, other Christian 0.9%, Muslim 0.9%, Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, Buddhist 0.7%, Hindu 0.7%, other 1.8%, unaffiliated 22.8%, don't know/refused 0.6% (2014 est. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! This cultural division is a very real one, yet Mexico and Central America (including the Caribbean) are bound to the rest of North America by strong ties of physical geography. North America [one level up] The OpenStreetMap data files provided on this server do not contain the user names, user IDs and changeset IDs of the OSM objects because these fields are assumed to contain personal information about the OpenStreetMap contributors and are therefore subject to data protection regulations in the European Union. km. North America’s only land connection is to South America at the narrow Isthmus of Panama. The map above shows the location of the United States within North America, with Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. Not sure about the geography of the middle east? Interactive map of North America. North America contains some of the oldest rocks on Earth. Mainland North America is shaped roughly like a triangle, with its base in the north and its apex in the south; associated with the continent is Greenland, the largest island in the world, and such offshore groups as the Arctic Archipelago, the West Indies, Haida Gwaii (formerly the Queen Charlotte Islands), and the Aleutian Islands. Its geologic structure is built around a stable platform of Precambrian rock called the Canadian (Laurentian) Shield. This physical map of the US shows the terrain of all 50 states of the USA. Infoplease is a reference and learning site, combining the contents of an encyclopedia, a dictionary, an atlas and several almanacs loaded with facts. The greatest east-west distance in the 48 contiguous states of the country is 4,500 km. This article treats the physical and human geography of North America. Our editors update and regularly refine this enormous body of information to bring you reliable information. First Battle of Bull Run: The American Civil War, Black Bear Facts: Animals of North America, The 10 Least Densely Populated Places in the World. Large lakes include the Great Lakes system consisting of Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. Read about how we use cookies. ), Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana (12,446,597). Is Chewing Gum Against the Law in Singapore? Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. The descendants of these peoples, the various Native American and Eskimo (Inuit) groups, largely have been supplanted by peoples from the Old World. A watershed is an area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet such as the outflow of a reservoir, mouth of a bay, or any point along a stream channel. Grassland, desert, and tundra communities, The European attitudes toward the environment, The role of Mexico, the West Indies, and Central America, The Mexican and the Central American segments, https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America, National Geographic - North America: Physical Geography, North America - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11), North America - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). OK Comments Membership info Register new Login The principal treatment of North American historical and cultural development is contained in the articles mentioned above and in the article Latin America, history of. Need a reference? North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, or simply the Americas. North America: Physical Features - Map Quiz Game: Two of the largest countries in the world by area are located on the North American continent. United States Bordering Countries: Geographical treatment of North America, including maps and statistics as well as a survey of its geologic history, land, people, and economy. Found in the Western Hemisphere, the country is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the east and the Pacific Ocean in the west, as well as the Gulf of Mexico to the south. See the map, stats, and news for areas affected by COVID-19 on Google News A small farm nestled in the rugged highlands of central Honduras. These have allowed North America to become one of the most economically developed regions in the world, and its inhabitants enjoy a high standard of living. People of European ancestry constitute the largest group, followed by those of African and of Asian ancestry; in addition there is a large group of Latin Americans, who are of mixed European and Native American ancestry. Uummannaq Fjord and Uummannaq Rock, Greenland. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Please select which sections you would like to print: Corrections? North America Political Map: North America Relief Map: The Mississippi and Missouri river runs through the United States for about 3,741 miles. km while the remaining area is part of the US territories. Some geographers characterize the area roughly from the southern border of the United States to the northern border of Colombia as Middle America, which differs from Central America because it includes Mexico. ), English only 78.2%, Spanish 13.4%, Chinese 1.1%, other 7.3% (2017 est. To the northeast Greenland is separated from Iceland by the Denmark Strait, and to the northwest Alaska is separated from the Asian mainland by the much narrower Bering Strait. Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska, rising 20,310 feet (6,190 metres) above sea level, is the continent’s highest point, and Death Valley in California, at 282 feet (86 metres) below sea level, is its lowest. North America’s first inhabitants are believed to have been ancient Asiatic peoples who migrated from Siberia to North America sometime during the last glacial advance, known as the Wisconsin Glacial Stage, the most recent major division of the Pleistocene Epoch (about 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago). Christopher Columbus was the first European to see the island of Jamaica. Those portions that widened out north of the Isthmus of Panama became known as North America, and those that broadened to the south became known as South America. Author of numerous articles on physical geography. In all that space the climates range from subtropical in Florida and nearby areas to polar in Alaska and much of Canada. The Next 10 Countries: The World's Most Likely New Nations, 4 July 1776 (declared independence from Great Britain); 3 September 1783 (recognized by Great Britain), Canada 8893 km (including 2477 km with Alaska), Mexico 3155 km, Mostly temperate, but tropical in hawaii and florida, arctic in alaska, semiarid in the great plains west of the mississippi river, and arid in the great basin of the southwest; low winter temperatures in the northwest are ameliorated occasionally in january and february by warm chinook winds from the eastern slopes of the rocky mountains, Death Valley (lowest point in North America), white 72.4%, black 12.6%, Asian 4.8%, Amerindian and Alaska native 0.9%, native Hawaiian and other Pacific islander 0.2%, other 6.2%, two or more races 2.9% (2010 est. Check our encyclopedia for a gloss on thousands of topics from biographies to the table of elements. North America, third largest of the world’s continents, lying for the most part between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer. In between these two mountain belts are the generally flat regions of the Great Plains in the west and the Central Lowlands in the east. Infoplease is part of the FEN Learning family of educational and reference sites for parents, teachers and students. Professor of Geography, Michigan State University, East Lansing. The map above shows the location of the United States within North America, with Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. Top Ten Closest U.S. Presidential Elections, State Abbreviations and State Postal Codes, This List of Favorite Islands will Make You Remember Why You Loved Poptropica So Much. Here are the facts and trivia that people are buzzing about. Brush up on your geography and finally learn what countries are in Eastern Europe with our maps. Of this area, the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia cover 8,080,470 sq. The name America is derived from that of the Italian merchant and navigator Amerigo Vespucci, one of the earliest European explorers to visit the New World. See also coverage of North American regions under the titles West Indies and the individual countries of Central America. This page was last updated on September 9, 2020, All maps, graphics, flags, photos and original descriptions © 2020 worldatlas.com. Major rivers in the country include the Mississippi, the Missouri, the Colorado, the Arkansas, and the Columbia. km. The archipelago of Hawaii has an area of 28,311 sq.
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