North America

North America is a continent entirely within the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It can also be described as a northern subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Caribbean Sea, and to the west and south by the Pacific Ocean. The southernmost point of the continent is in Panama, where it is separated from South America by the Panama Canal.

Geography

North America covers an area of 9,540,000 square miles (24,709,000 km²), making it the third-largest continent by area, following Asia and Africa. It includes a wide variety of landscapes from towering mountains, vast plains, to extensive coastlines. Key geographical features include:

• Rocky Mountains - Stretching from the northernmost part of British Columbia, Canada, to New Mexico, USA.
• Great Plains - A broad expanse of flat land, stretching from the Mississippi River to the Rocky Mountains.
• Appalachian Mountains - One of the oldest mountain ranges in the world, running from Newfoundland, Canada, to Alabama, USA.
• Great Lakes - A series of interconnected freshwater lakes, which contain 21% of the world's fresh surface water.

Countries and Territories

North America is composed of 23 sovereign states, including United States, Canada, and Mexico, which are the three largest by area and population. Additionally, there are several dependencies and territories including:

• Greenland (an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark)
• Bermuda (a British Overseas Territory)
• Various Caribbean islands which are either independent or territories of other countries.

History

The history of North America spans over tens of thousands of years, from the earliest known human presence to the modern era:

• Pre-Columbian Era: Indigenous peoples inhabited North America for millennia before European exploration. Notable civilizations include the Mayans, Aztecs, and various cultures in what is now the United States and Canada.
• European Colonization: Beginning with Christopher Columbus in 1492, European powers like Spain, France, England, and later Netherlands established colonies, leading to significant cultural and demographic changes.
• Independence Movements: The 18th and 19th centuries saw revolutions and independence movements, with the American Revolution (1775-1783) leading to the establishment of the United States, and later movements in Mexico and Canada.
• 20th Century Onwards: The continent saw rapid industrialization, immigration, and the growth of the United States as a global superpower, alongside Canada's development into a modern, multicultural nation.

Economy

North America has one of the world's most developed economies, driven by:

• Highly industrialized sectors in the United States and Canada.
• Extensive trade agreements like NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) and its successor, the USMCA (United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement).
• Major sectors include technology, finance, agriculture, automotive, aerospace, and energy.

Sources:

• CIA World Factbook
• Encyclopaedia Britannica
• National Geographic

• South America
• Central America
• Caribbean
• United States