North America is a continent ^[2] in the Earth's northern hemisphere and (chiefly) western hemisphere. English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico The City of New York Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. This is a list of the largest Urban agglomerations in North America. A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' The Western Hemisphere, also Western hemisphere or western hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies West It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast. The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major For the region see Caribbean. The Caribbean Sea (kəˈrɪbiən or /ˌkærɨˈbiːən/ is a tropical Sea in the Western Hemisphere The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a It covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 sq mi), about 4. Area is a Quantity expressing the two- Dimensional size of a defined part of a Surface, typically a region bounded by a closed Curve. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. 8% of the planet's surface or about 16. 5% of its land area. As of July 2007, its population was estimated at nearly 524 million people. In Biology a population is the collection of inter-breeding organisms of a particular Species; in Sociology It is the third-largest continent in area, following Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe. A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions North America and South America are collectively known as the Americas. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America

Etymology

North and South America are popularly accepted as having been named after Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest The Explorer and Cartographer Amerigo Vespucci ( March 9, 1454 - February 22, 1512) was the first person to demonstrate Martin Waldseemüller (Latinized Martinus Ilacomilus or Hylacomylus, c Vespucci was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a different landmass previously undiscovered by Europeans. The Indies or East Indies (or East India) is a term often used to refer to the islands of SE Asia, especially the Malay Archipelago Vespucci was the first to discover South America and the Amerique mountains of Central America, which connected his discoveries to those of Christopher Columbus. Christopher Columbus (1451 &ndash May 20 1506 was an Italian Navigator, colonizer The etymology is further complicated by the need of cartographers to come up with a name that paralleled the feminine names of the other continents (e. g. Europa, Asia etc. ). The convention is to use the surname for naming discoveries except in the case of royalty and so a derivation from "Amerigo Vespucci" may be problematic. ^[3]

The second and less generally accepted theory is that the continents are named after a Welsh merchant named Richard Amerike from Bristol, who is believed to have financed John Cabot's voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497. Richard Amerike (or Ameryk) pronounced America (c 1445&ndash1503 was a wealthy English born merchant Royal customs officer and Sheriff of Welsh Giovanni Caboto ( c 1450 - c 1498 known in English as John Cabot, was an Italian Navigator and explorer commonly credited as the A minutely explored belief that has been advanced is that America was named for a Spanish sailor bearing the ancient Visigothic name of 'Amairick'. The Visigoths (Visigothi, Wisigothi, Vesi, Visi, Wesi, or Wisi were one of two main branches of the Goths, an East Another is that the name is rooted in an Native American language. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. ^[4]

History

Main article: History of North America

The ruins of Chichen Itza. The history of North America is the study of the past, particularly the written record, oral histories, and traditions, passed down from generation Chichen Itza (tʃiːˈtʃɛn iːˈtsɑː from Chi'ch'èen Ìitsha' "At the mouth of the well of the Itza " is a

Scientists have several theories as to the origins of the early human population of North America. There are several popular models of migration to the New World proposed by the anthropological community Paleo-Indians or Paleo-Americans were the ancient peoples of the Americas who were present at the end of the last Ice Age. The indigenous peoples of North America themselves have many creation myths, by which they assert that they have been present on the land since its creation. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. A creation myth is a supernatural mytho-[[religion religious]] story or explanation that describes the beginnings of humanity, Earth, life, and

Before contact with Europeans, the natives of North America were divided into many different polities, from small bands of a few families to large empires. The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences Polity ( Greek: Πολιτεία or Πολίτευμα transliterated as Politeía or Políteuma) was originally a term used in Ancient Greece A band society is the simplest form of human Society. A band generally consists of a small kin group no larger than an Extended family or Clan. An empire (from the Latin " Imperium " denoting military Command within the ancient Roman government) is a State that They lived in several "culture areas", which roughly correspond to geographic and biological zones and give a good indication of the main lifeway or occupation of the people who lived there (e. Ethnographers commonly classify Indigenous peoples in the United States and Canada into ten geographical regions with shared cultural traits North America is the third largest continent with an estimated population of around 460 million ca g. the Bison hunters of the Great Plains, or the farmers of Mesoamerica). This is an article about an animal For other uses see Bison (disambiguation. A hunter-gatherer society is one whose primary subsistence method involves the direct procurement of edible plants and animals from the wild Foraging and Hunting The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. A farmer is a person who raises living organisms for food or raw materials Mesoamerica or Meso-America (Mesoamérica is a Region extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, defined Native groups can also be classified by their language family (e. Indigenous languages of the Americas (or Amerindian Languages are spoken by indigenous peoples from the southern tip of South America to Alaska and g. Athapascan or Uto-Aztecan). Athabaskan or Athabascan (also Athapascan, Athapaskan, Athabasca Indians or Athapaskes) is the name of a large group of closely Uto-Aztecan (also Uto-Aztekan) is a Native American Language family. It is important to note that peoples with similar languages did not always share the same material culture, nor were they always allies. In addition to its usual meaning in Social science, in Archaeology, the term culture is also used in reference to several related concepts unique to In general allies are people groups or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose

Scientists believe that the Inuit people of the high Arctic came to North America much later than other native groups, as evidenced by the disappearance of Dorset culture artifacts from the archaeological record, and their replacement by the Thule people. Inuit (plural the singular Inuk, means "man" or "person" is a general term for a group of culturally similar Indigenous peoples inhabiting The Arctic is the Region around the Earth 's North Pole, opposite the Antarctic region around the South Pole. The Dorset culture (also called the Dorset Tradition were a Paleo-Eskimo culture that preceded the Inuit culture in Arctic North America. The archaeological record is a term used in Archaeology to denote all archaeological evidence, including the physical remains of past human activities which Archaeologists The Thule (ˈtuːli or proto-Inuit were the ancestors of all modern Canadian Inuit.

Place d'Armes in Montreal, historic heart of French Canada. Montreal, or Montréal in French ( pronounced in French, in English) is the largest city in the Canadian province of Quebec

During the thousands of years of native inhabitation on the continent, cultures changed and shifted. Archaeologists often name different cultural groups they discover after the site where they are first found. One of the oldest cultures yet found is the Clovis culture of modern New Mexico. The Clovis culture (sometimes referred to as the Llano culture) is a Prehistoric Paleoindian culture that first appears in the archaeological New Mexico ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States of America. A more recent example is the group of related cultures called the Mound builders (e. Mound Builder is a general term referring to the American Indians who constructed various styles of earthen Mounds for burial residential and ceremonial purposes g. the Fort Walton Culture), found in the Mississippi river valley. Fort Walton Culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished near Ft The Mississippi River is the second longest River in the United States, with a length of from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to They flourished from 3000 BC to the 1500s AD.

The more southern cultural groups of North America were responsible for the domestication of many common crops now used around the world, such as tomatoes and squash. Domestication (from Latin domesticus) refers to the process whereby a Population of Animals The tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum, syn Lycopersicon lycopersicum) is a herbaceous usually sprawling plant in the Solanaceae or nightshade family Squashes generally refer to four species of the genus Cucurbita native to the Mexico and Central America, also called marrows depending Perhaps most importantly they domesticated one of the world's major staples, maize (corn). Maize (ˈmeɪz ( Zea mays L. ssp mays) known as corn in some countries is a cereal grain domesticated in Mesoamerica

As a result of the development of agriculture in the south, many important cultural advances were made there. For example, the Maya civilization developed a writing system, built huge pyramids, had a complex calendar, and developed the concept of zero around 400 CE, a few hundred years after the Mesopotamians. The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerican Civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the Pre-Columbian Americas The Maya script, also known as Maya hieroglyphs, was the writing system of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization of Mesoamerica, presently Mesoamerican pyramids, pyramid-shaped structures are an important part of ancient Mesoamerican architecture. The Maya calendar is a system of distinct Calendars and Almanacs used by the Maya civilization of Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica, and by ^[5] The Mayan culture was still present when the Spanish arrived in Central America, but political dominance in the area had shifted to the Aztec Empire further north. This article is about the Spanish explorer soldiers of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuriesfor other uses see Conquistador (disambiguation A Conquistador Aztec is a term used to refer to certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who achieved political

Upon the arrival of the Europeans in the "New World", native peoples found their culture changed drastically. As such, their affiliation with political and cultural groups changed as well, several linguistic groups went extinct, and others changed quite quickly. In Linguistics, language death (also language extinction, linguistic extinction, and sometimes pejoratively as linguicide) is a process The names and cultures that Europeans recorded for the natives were not necessarily the same as the ones they had used a few generations before, or the ones in use today.

Geography and extent

Further information: Geography of North America

A satellite composite image of North America. North America is the third largest continent with an estimated population of around 460 million ca Clickable map

North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or simply America (which is sometimes considered a single continent^[6][7][8] and North America a subcontinent). The New World is one of the names used for the non-Eurasian/non-African parts of the Earth specifically the Americas and Australia. The Western Hemisphere, also Western hemisphere or western hemisphere, is a geographical term for the half of the Earth that lies West The Americas are the lands of the Western hemisphere or New World, consisting of the Continents of North America and South America A continent is one of several large Landmasses on Earth. They are generally identified by Convention rather than any strict criteria with seven regions This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia For geopolitical treatments see South Asia. ^[9] North America's only land connection is to South America at the Colombia-Panama border according to most authorities, or at the Panama Canal by some and even at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, Mexico by a few who separate Central America which rests mostly on the Caribbean Plate. South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Colombia (kəˈlʌmbɪə officially the Republic of Colombia () is a country in northwestern South America. Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. The Panama Canal is a man-made Canal in Panama which joins the The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is an Isthmus in Mexico. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, and The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic Tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South Before the Central American isthmus was raised, the region had been underwater. The islands of the West Indies delineate a submerged former land bridge, which had connected North America and South America via Florida and Venezuela. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting A land bridge, in Biogeography, is an Isthmus or other land connection between otherwise separate areas which allows Animals and Plants South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Venezuela (ˌvɛnəˈzweɪlə) officially the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (Spanish República Bolivariana de Venezuela) is a country on the

The continental coastline is long and irregular. The Gulf of Mexico is the largest body of water indenting the continent, followed by Hudson Bay. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world Others include the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the Gulf of California. Gulf of Saint Lawrence (French golfe du Saint-Laurent) the world's largest Estuary, is the outlet of North America's Great Lakes via the Saint " Sea of Cortez " redirects here For the book by John Steinbeck, see The Log from the Sea of Cortez.

There are numerous islands off the continent’s coasts: principally, the Arctic Archipelago, the Greater and Lesser Antilles, the Alexander Archipelago, and the Aleutian Islands. An island (ˈaɪlənd or isle (/ˈaɪl/ is any piece of land that is completely surrounded by water in two dimensions above high tide and isolated from other significant The Canadian Arctic Archipelago, also known as just the Arctic Archipelago, is an Archipelago north of the Canadian mainland in the Arctic The Greater Antilles is one of three island groups in the Caribbean. The Lesser Antilles, also known as the Caribbees, are part of the Antilles, which together with the Bahamas and Greater Antilles form the The Alexander Archipelago is a three-hundred-mile-long Archipelago, or group of islands off the southeastern coast of Alaska. The Aleutian Islands (possibly from Chukchi aliat, " Island " are a chain of more than 300 small volcanic islands forming a Volcanic Greenland, a Danish self-governing island and the world's largest, is on the same tectonic plate (the North American Plate) and is part of North America geographically. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe This is a list of Islands in the world ordered by area. It includes all islands with an area greater than 2500 km² (970 square miles Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere The North American Plate is a Tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland and part of Siberia. Bermuda is not part of the Americas, but is an oceanic island which was formed on the fissure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge over 100 million years ago. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR is a Mid-ocean ridge, a Divergent tectonic plate boundary located along the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. The nearest landmass to it is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and it is often thought of as part of North America, especially given its historical, political and cultural ties to Virginia and other parts of the continent. Cape Hatteras is a cape on the coast of North Carolina. It is the point that protrudes the furthest to the southeast along the northeast-to-southwest line of the North Carolina ( is a state located on the Atlantic Seaboard in the southeastern United States The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state

Physical geography

Sedimentary, volcanic, plutonic, metamorphic rock types of North America.

The vast majority of North America is on the North American Plate. The North American Plate is a Tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland and part of Siberia. Parts of California and western Mexico form the partial edge of the Pacific Plate, with the two plates meeting along the San Andreas fault. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. The Pacific Plate is an oceanic Tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean. The San Andreas Fault is a geologic Transform fault that runs a length of roughly 800 miles (1300 km through California in the United States. The southern-most portion of the continent and much of the West Indies lie on the Caribbean Plate, while the Juan de Fuca and Cocos Plates border the North American Plate on its western frontier. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting The Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic Tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South The Juan de Fuca Plate, named after the explorer, is a Tectonic plate arising from the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and subducting under the northerly The Cocos Plate is an oceanic Tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Central America, named for Cocos Island, which rides

The continent can be divided into four great regions (each of which contains many sub-regions): the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic; the geologically young, mountainous west, including the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, California and Alaska; the raised but relatively flat plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast; and the varied eastern region, which includes the Appalachian Mountains, the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, and the Florida peninsula. The Great Plains are the broad expanse of Prairie and Steppe which lie east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world Northern Canada is the vast Northernmost Region of Canada variously defined by Geography and Politics. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America. The Great Basin is a large arid region of the western United States. The geography of California is rich and diverse There are alpine mountains foggy coastlines hot deserts and a fertile central valley Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent The Canadian Shield &mdash also called the Laurentian Plateau, or Bouclier Canadien (French &mdash is a large geological shield covered by The Appalachian Mountains ( often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the Mexico, with its long plateaus and cordilleras, falls largely in the western region, although the eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf. In Geology and Earth science, a plateau, also called a high plateau or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting The American cordillera consists of an essentially continuous sequence of Mountain ranges that form the western "backbone" of North America, Central

The western mountains are split in the middle, into the main range of the Rockies and the coast ranges in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia with the Great Basin—a lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying deserts—in between. The Pacific Coast Ranges are the series of Mountain ranges that stretch along the west coast of North America from Alaska to northern and central Mexico Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Washington ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. British Columbia (ˌbrɪtɨʃ kəˈlʌmbiə ( BC) ( (la Colombie-Britannique C The highest peak is Denali in Alaska. "Denali" redirects here For other meanings see Denali (disambiguation.

The United States Geographical Survey states that the geographic center of North America is "6 miles west of Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota" at approximately 48°10′N 100°10′W / 48.167, -100.167, approximately 15 miles (25 km) from Rugby, North Dakota. Balta is a city in Pierce County, North Dakota in the United States. Rugby is a city in Pierce County, North Dakota in the United States. The USGS further states that “No marked or monumented point has been established by any government agency as the geographic center of either the 50 States, the conterminous United States, or the North American continent. ” Nonetheless, there is a 15-foot (4. 5 m) field stone obelisk in Rugby claiming to mark the center. An obelisk (from Greek ὀβελίσκος - obeliskos, diminutive of ὀβελός - obelos, "spit nail pointed pillar"

North America bedrock and terrain.

North American cratons and basement rocks. A craton ( Greek kratos / κρἀτος ( neut. "strength" is an old and stable part of the Continental crust that has survived

North American craton. A craton ( Greek kratos / κρἀτος ( neut. "strength" is an old and stable part of the Continental crust that has survived

Human geography

Mexico City is the most populous city in North America. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico

New York City, the largest city in the United States and a major world city. The City of New York The United States of America —commonly referred to as the

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada -- fifth in North America -- and is one of the world's most ethnically diverse cities. Toronto (təˈrɒntoʊ colloquially pronounced or) is the largest city in Canada and is the provincial capital of Ontario

The prevalent languages in North America are English, Spanish, and French. The languages of North America reflect not only that continent's indigenous peoples, but the European colonization as well English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people The term Anglo-America is used to refer to the anglophone countries of the Americas: namely Canada (where English and French are co-official) and the United States, but also sometimes Belize and parts of the Caribbean. right|250px|right|thumb|Anglo-America dark green indicates countries traditionally included in the region ([[Canada]] and the [[United States]] English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Latin America refers to the other areas of the Americas (generally south of the United States) where Romance languages derived from Latin predominate: the other republics of Central America, Mexico, much of the Caribbean, and most of South America. The Romance languages (sometimes referred to as Romanic languages, or Neolatin languages) are a branch of the Indo-European language family comprising all Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America.

The French language has historically played a significant role in North America and retains a distinctive presence in some regions. Canada is officially bilingual; French is the official language of the Canadian province of Quebec and is co-official with English in the province of New Brunswick. The provinces and territories of Canada combine to make up the world's second largest country in total area. Quebec (kwɨˈbɛk New Brunswick ( French: Nouveau-Brunswick /nuvobʁɔnzwik/ is one of Canada 's three Maritime provinces and is the only constitutionally Other French-speaking locales include the French West Indies and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, as well as the U.S. state of Louisiana, where French is also an official language. The term French West Indies ( Antilles françaises) refers to the four territories presently under French sovereignty in the Caribbean: the two overseas The Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a group of small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, the A US state is any one of the fifty subnational entities of the United States of America that share Sovereignty with the federal government The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America Haiti is included with this group based on past historical association but Haitians speak Creole and French. Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: Haitian Creole language ( kreyòl ayisyen) often called simply Creole or Kreyòl ( pronounced) is a language spoken in Haiti

Socially and culturally, North America presents a well-defined entity. Canada and the United States have a similar culture and similar traditions as a result of both countries being former British colonies. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands A common cultural and economic market has developed between the two nations because of the strong economic and historical ties. Spanish-speaking North America shares a common past as former Spanish colonies. The Spanish Empire (Imperio Español was one of the largest Empires in history and one of the first Global empires In the 15th and 16th centuries In Mexico and the Central American countries where civilizations like the Maya developed, indigenous people preserve traditions across modern boundaries. The Maya civilization is a Mesoamerican Civilization, noted for the only known fully developed written language of the Pre-Columbian Americas Central American and Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations have historically had more in common due to geographical proximity and the fact that, after winning independence from Spain, Mexico never took part in an effort to build a Central American Union.

Economically, Canada and the United States are the wealthiest and most developed nations in the continent, followed by Mexico, a newly industrialized country; the countries of Central America and the Caribbean are much less developed. The term developed country, or advanced country, is used to categorize countries with developed Economies in which the tertiary and quaternary sectors The category of newly industrialized country ( NIC) is a socioeconomic classification applied to several countries around the world by Political scientists Developing countries are countries that haven't reached Western-style standards of democratic government free market economy industrialization social programs and human rights guaranties The most important trade blocs are the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM), the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), and the recently signed Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)—the last of these being an example of the economic integration sought by the nations of this subregion as a way to improve their financial status. A trade bloc is a large Free trade area formed by one or more Tax tariff and trade agreements The Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) is an organization of Caribbean nations and dependencies

Demographically, North America is a racially and ethnically diverse continent. Its three main racial groups are Whites, Mestizos and Blacks (chiefly African-Americans and Afro-Caribbeans). White People is the second album by Handsome Boy Modeling School. Mestizo is a Spanish term that was coined during the Spanish Empire to refer to people of mixed European and Amerindian ancestry in Latin The term black people usually refers to a racial group of Humans with dark Skin color, but the term has also been used to categorise a number of diverse African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa There is a significant minority of Amerindians and Asians among other less numerous groups. For indigenous peoples in the United States other than Hawaii and Alaska see also Native Americans in the United States. Asian or Asiatic is a Demonym for people from Asia. However the use of the term varies by country and person often referring to people from a particular

Countries and territories

North America is often divided into subregions but no universally accepted divisions exist. Central America comprises the southern region of the continent, but its northern terminus varies between sources. Geophysically, the region starts at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico (namely the Mexican states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán^[10]). Geophysics, a major discipline of Earth sciences, is the study of the Earth by quantitative physical methods especially by seismic, electromagnetic The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is an Isthmus in Mexico. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, and Campeche is the name of both a state in Mexico and its capital city Chiapas is the southernmost state of Mexico, located towards the southeast of the country Tabasco is a state in Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Veracruz to the west Chiapas to the south and Campeche to the Quintana Roo (kinˈtana ˈro is a state of Mexico, on the eastern part of the Yucatán Peninsula. Yucatán is one of the 31 states of Mexico, located on the north of the Yucatán Peninsula. The United Nations geoscheme includes Mexico in Central America; conversely, the European Union excludes both Mexico and Belize from the area. United Nations geoscheme, created by the United Nations Statistics Division, divides the world into 'macro-geographical Regions ( Continents and sub-regions The European Union ( EU) is a political and economic union of twenty-seven member states, located primarily in Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. Geopolitically, Mexico is frequently not considered a part of Central America. Geopolitics is the study that analyzes Geography, History and Social science with reference to Spatial politics and patterns at various scales ^[11]

Northern America is used to refer to the northern countries and territories of North America: Canada, the United States, Greenland, Bermuda, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. They are often considered distinct from the southern portion of the Americas, which largely comprise Latin America. The term Middle America is sometimes used to collectively refer to Mexico, the nations of Central America, and the Caribbean. The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting

Country or territory with flag	Area (km²)[12]	Population (July 2007 est. In Political geography and International politics, a country is a Political division of a geographical entity Types of administrative and/or political territories include Many types of legally administered territories, each of which is a non-sovereign geographic area A flag is a piece of Cloth, often flown from a pole or mast, generally used Symbolically for signaling or identification This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by total area. List of countries by population in 2005|List of countries by population in 1907This is a list of countries ordered according to Population. )[12]	Population density (per km²)	Capital
Anguilla (UK)	&0000000000000102. List of countries and dependencies by Population density in inhabitants/km² Anguilla (English pronunciation ang-GWILL-ah, æŋˈɡwɪlə is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean, one of the most northerly of the Leeward The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 000000102	&0000000000013677. 00000013,677	134. 1	The Valley
Antigua and Barbuda	&0000000000000443. The Valley is the Capital of Anguilla and the main "town" on the island Antigua and Barbuda ( Spanish for "Ancient" and "Bearded" is an Island nation located on the eastern boundary of the Caribbean Sea 000000443	&0000000000069481. 00000069,481	157. 0	St. John's
Aruba (Netherlands)[13]	&0000000000000193. St John's is the Capital and largest city of the nation of Antigua and Barbuda, a country located in the West Indies in the Aruba is a -long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, north of the Paraguaná Peninsula, Falcón State, Venezuela The Netherlands ( Dutch:, ˈnedərlɑnt is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, which consists of the Netherlands the Netherlands 000000193	&0000000000100018. 000000100,018	518. 2	Oranjestad
Bahamas	&0000000000013940. Oranjestad ( English: "Orangetown" with a population of 32748 as of 2008 is the Capital and most important city of Aruba located on the southern The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and 00000013,940	&0000000000305655. 000000305,655	21. 9	Nassau
Barbados	&0000000000000431. Nassau is the Capital, largest city and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas. Barbados ( Portuguese word for bearded-ones, bɑrˈbeɪdoʊz -dɒs situated just east of the Caribbean Sea, is an independent Island nation 000000431	&0000000000280946. 000000280,946	651. 8	Bridgetown
Belize	&0000000000022966. The City of Bridgetown, metropolitan pop 96578 ( 2006) is the Capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. Belize (bəˈliːz formerly British Honduras, is a country in Central America. 00000022,966	&0000000000294385. 000000294,385	12. 8	Belmopan
Bermuda (UK)	&0000000000000053. Belmopan (ˌbɛlmoʊˈpæn estimated population 16400 is the Capital of Belize. Ba (officially The Bermuda Islands or The Somers Isles) is a British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean. 00000053	&0000000000066163. 00000066,163	1241. 3	Hamilton
British Virgin Islands (UK)	&0000000000000153. Hamilton is the Capital of Bermuda. Although there is a parish of the same name, the city of Hamilton is in the parish of Pembroke. The British Virgin Islands ( BVI) is a British overseas territory, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. 000000153	&0000000000023552. 00000023,552	153. 9	Road Town
Canada	&0000000009984670. Road Town, located on Tortola, is the Capital of the British Virgin Islands. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page 0000009,984,670	&0000000033390141. 00000033,390,141	3. 3	Ottawa
Cayman Islands (UK)	&0000000000000262. Ottawa (ˈɒtəwə or sometimes /ˈɒtəwɑː/ is the Capital of Canada and the country's fourth largest municipality. The Cayman Islands are a British overseas territory located in the western Caribbean Sea, comprising the islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac 000000262	&0000000000046600. 00000046,600	177. 9	George Town
Clipperton Island (France)	&0000000000000009. George Town, Grand Cayman, is the Capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. Clipperton Island ( French: Île de Clipperton or Île de la Passion) is a nine-square-kilometre coral Atoll in the Eastern Pacific This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. 0000009	&-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1. 0000000	0. 0	—
Costa Rica	&0000000000051100. Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica ( Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica,) is a Country in 00000051,100	&0000000004133884. 0000004,133,884	80. 9	San José
Cuba	&0000000000110860. San José ( Spanish: San José; ˌsɑːn hɒˈsɛː is the capital and largest city of Costa Rica, and is at the heart of the sprawling Gran Area Metropolitana The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la 000000110,860	&0000000011394043. 00000011,394,043	102. 8	Havana
Dominica	&0000000000000754. Havana ( IPA: aˈβana officially Ciudad de La Habana, is the Capital city, major port and leading The Commonwealth of Dominica, commonly known as Dominica, is an Island nation in the Caribbean Sea. 000000754	&0000000000072386. 00000072,386	96. 0	Roseau
Dominican Republic	&0000000000048730. Roseau ( Kwéyòl: Wozeau) is the Capital and largest city of Dominica. The Dominican Republic ( Spanish: República Dominicana;) is a nation located in the Caribbean region and shares the island of Hispaniola with 00000048,730	&0000000009365818. 0000009,365,818	192. 2	Santo Domingo
El Salvador	&0000000000021040. Santo Domingo de Guzmán (known as Santo Domingo population 2084852 (Metro (2003 estimated 2253437 (Metro in 2006 is the Capital and largest city in the El Salvador ( República de El Salvador,) is a country in Central America. 00000021,040	&0000000006948073. 0000006,948,073	330. 2	San Salvador
Greenland (Denmark)	&0000000002166086. San Salvador is the Capital and largest city of the nation of El Salvador. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat meaning "Land of the Greenlanders" Grønland is a self-governing Danish Province located between the The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe 0000002,166,086	&0000000000056344. 00000056,344	0. 026	Nuuk
Grenada	&0000000000000344. Nuuk (Godthåb is the Capital and largest city of Greenland. It is located at the mouth of the Nuup Kangerlua (Godthåbsfjorden inlet on the west coast Grenada (grɪˈneɪdə is an Island nation that includes the southern Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea. 000000344	&0000000000089971. 00000089,971	261. 5	St. George's
Guadeloupe (France)	&0000000000001780. St George's, population 7500 ( 1999) with an agglomeration of 33000 people is the Capital of Grenada, British West Indies. Guadeloupe is an island group or Archipelago located in the eastern Caribbean Sea at, with a land area of 1628 square kilometres (629  sq This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. 0000001,780[14]	&0000000000452776. 000000452,776[14]	254. 4	Basse-Terre
Guatemala	&0000000000108890. This article is about the city of Basse-Terre For the island on which the city is located see Basse-Terre Island. Guatemala (República de Guatemala) is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west the Pacific Ocean to the southwest 000000108,890	&0000000012728111. 00000012,728,111	116. 9	Guatemala City
Haiti	&0000000000027750. Guatemala City (in full La Nueva Guatemala de la Asunción; locally known as Guatemala or Guate) is the Capital and largest city of the Haiti ( English: ˈheɪ·tiː or haɪ·ˈjiː·tiː French Haïti a·i·ti Haitian Creole: 00000027,750	&0000000008706497. 0000008,706,497	313. 7	Port-au-Prince
Honduras	&0000000000112090. PortAuPrinceTapTapjpg|right|thumb|270px|A taptap (shared taxi in central Port-au-Prince Honduras in Spanish, República de Honduras) is a democratic republic in Central America. 000000112,090	&0000000007483763. 0000007,483,763	66. 8	Tegucigalpa
Jamaica	&0000000000010991. Tegucigalpa (teɰusiˈɰalpa ( Teguz for short is the Capital city of Honduras and is also the country's largest city Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. 00000010,991	&0000000002780132. 0000002,780,132	252. 9	Kingston
Martinique (France)	&0000000000001100. Kingston is the Capital and largest city of Jamaica and is located on the southeastern coast of the island country Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km² 0000001,100[14]	&0000000000436131. 000000436,131[14]	396. 5	Fort-de-France
Mexico	&0000000001972550. Fort-de-France is the Capital of France 's Caribbean Département d'outre-mer of Martinique. The United Mexican States ( or commonly Mexico (ˈmɛksɪkoʊ () is a federal constitutional Republic in North America. 0000001,972,550	&0000000108700891. 000000108,700,891	55. 1	Mexico City
Montserrat (UK)	&0000000000000102. Mexico City (in Spanish: Ciudad de México, México DF, México or simply Méjico) is the Capital city of Mexico Montserrat (ˌmɒntsəˈræt is British overseas territory located in the Leeward Islands, part of the chain of islands called the Lesser Antilles 000000102	&0000000000009538. 0000009,538	93. 5	Plymouth; Brades[15]
Navassa Island (USA)	&0000000000000005. Plymouth was the Capital as well as the only port of entry to Montserrat, an Overseas territory of the United Kingdom located in the Brades (or Brades Estate; approx pop 1000 is the De facto Capital of Montserrat, and is in the Carr's Bay/Little Bay vicinity Navassa Island ( French: La Navase, Haitian Kreyòl: Lanavaz or Lavash) is a small uninhabited island in the Caribbean Sea The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 0000005	&-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1-1. 0000000	0. 0	—
Netherlands Antilles (Netherlands)[13]	&0000000000000960. The Netherlands Antilles ( Dutch:) previously known as the Netherlands West Indies or Dutch Antilles/West Indies, is part of the Lesser Antilles 000000960	&0000000000223652. 000000223,652	233. 0	Willemstad
Nicaragua	&0000000000129494. Willemstad is the territorial Capital of the Netherlands Antilles. Nicaragua (ˌnɪkəˈrɑgwə officially the Republic of Nicaragua () is a representative democratic republic and the largest nation in Central America 000000129,494	&0000000005675356. 0000005,675,356	43. 8	Managua
Panama[16]	&0000000000078200. Managua is the Capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America. 00000078,200	&0000000003242173. 0000003,242,173	41. 5	Panama City
Puerto Rico (USA)	&0000000000008870. Panama City (Ciudad de Panamá is the Capital and largest city of the Republic of Panama. Puerto Rico (ˌpwertoˈriko officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ("Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico" {{lang-en|"Associated Free State of Puerto Rico"}} 0000008,870[17]	&0000000003944259. 0000003,944,259	444. 7	San Juan
Saint Barthélemy (France)	&0000000000000021. San Juan (saŋ hwaŋ (from the Spanish San Juan Bautista, " Saint John the Baptist " is the Capital and largest municipality in Saint Barthélemy (Saint-Barthélemy officially the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy (French Collectivité de Saint-Barthélemy) is an Overseas collectivity 00000021	&0000000000006852. 0000006,852[18]	326. 3	Gustavia
Saint Kitts and Nevis	&0000000000000261. Gustavia (pop roughly 3000 is the main town of the island of St The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis (also known as the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis) located in the Leeward Islands, is a federal two-island 000000261	&0000000000039349. 00000039,349	150. 8	Basseterre
Saint Lucia	&0000000000000616. Basseterre (bæsˈtɛər estimated population 15500 in 2000 is the Capital of the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. Saint Lucia (ˌseɪnt ˈluːʃɪə is an Island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. 000000616	&0000000000170649. 000000170,649	277. 0	Castries
Saint Martin (France)	&0000000000000054. Castries (ˈkæstriːz population 10634 aggl 37963 (2001-05-12 is the Capital city of Saint Lucia, a country in the West Indies. 00000054	&0000000000033102. 00000033,102[19]	608. 5	Marigot
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)	&0000000000000242. Marigot is the main town and capital on the French side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin. The Territorial Collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Collectivité territoriale de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon is a group of small islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, the 000000242	&0000000000007036. 0000007,036	29. 1	Saint-Pierre
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	&0000000000000389. Saint-Pierre is the Capital of the French overseas collectivity of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, off of the coast of Newfoundland in Canada Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles chain of the Caribbean Sea. 000000389	&0000000000118149. 000000118,149	303. 7	Kingstown
Trinidad and Tobago[13]	&0000000000005128. Kingstown, estimated population 15900 (July 1999) is the chief port of Saint Vincent, and the Capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ˈtrɪnɪdæd ən təˈbeɪgoʊ is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American 0000005,128	&0000000001056608. 0000001,056,608	206. 0	Port of Spain
Turks and Caicos Islands (UK)	&0000000000000430. Port of Spain is the Capital of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third largest municipality after Chaguanas The Turks and Caicos Islands ( TCI) (ˈtɜːks ænd ˈkeɪkəs are a British Overseas Territory consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the West Indies The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located 000000430	&0000000000021746. 00000021,746	50. 6	Cockburn Town
United States of America[20]	&0000000009826630. Cockburn Town (ˈkoʊkbɚn is the Capital city of the Turks and Caicos Islands, located on the largest Island in the Turks Islands (not the Caicos The United States of America —commonly referred to as the 0000009,826,630	&0000000301139947. 000000301,139,947	30. 6	Washington, D.C.
United States Virgin Islands (USA)	&0000000000000346. Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D The United States Virgin Islands is a group of Islands in the Caribbean that are an Insular area of the United States. 000000346[17]	&0000000000108448. 000000108,448	313. 4	Charlotte Amalie
Total	&0000000024709036. Charlotte Amalie is the Capital and largest city of the US Virgin Islands. 00000024,709,036	&0000000523736302. 000000523,736,302	21. 2

Usage

The term North America may mean different things to different people in the world according to the context. Usage other than that of the entire continent includes:

• In English, North America is sometimes used to refer to the United States and Canada exclusively. ^[21] Alternatively, usage may include Mexico^[22] (as with North American Free Trade Agreement) and other entities. ^[23]
• In Latin America, Spain, and some other parts of Europe, North America usually designates a subcontinent (subcontinente in Spanish) of the Americas containing Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and often Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Bermuda. ^[24]

Historical toponymy

North America, in whole or in part, has been historically referred to by other names:

• Spanish North America (New Spain) was often referred to as Northern America. The Viceroyalty of New Spain (Virreinato de Nueva España was a name given to the Viceroy -ruled territories of the Spanish Empire in North America,
• The Spanish called North America Florida, which eventually became more focused on its present location. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the
• The English called North America Virginia after Queen Elizabeth I (The Virgin Queen); John Dee pushed to call it Atlantis (inspired by Plato). The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state John Dee (13 July 1527 – 1608 or 1609 was a noted English mathematician, astronomer, astrologer, geographer, occultist Atlantis (in Greek,, "island of Atlas " is the name of a Legendary Island, first mentioned in Plato 's dialogues Biography Early life Birth and family Plato was born in Athens Greece
• The northern part of North America was often referred to as Norumbega. Norumbega (or Norumbègue, Nurumbega, etc was a legendary settlement in northeastern North America, inextricably connected with attempts to demonstrate
• The northern part of North America was called New England in 1616 in John Smith's book of that year. History See also History of New England New England's earliest inhabitants were Algonquian -speaking Native Americans including the Captain Sir John Smith (c January 1580– June 21 1631) Admiral of New England was an English Soldier, Sailor
• Western North America was named Nova Albion by Francis Drake as he repaired his boat (Golden Hind) a short distance north of present day San Francisco. This article is about the area claimed by Francis Drake For the region named by Sir Edmund Plowden, see New Albion (colony, and for the town in western New Sir Francis Drake, Vice Admiral, (c 1540 &ndash 27 January 1595 was an English Privateer, navigator, Slaver, and politician The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city
• Areas of past British control was called British North America. See also Kingdom of Great Britain Great Britain (Breatainn Mhòr Prydain Fawr Breten Veur Graet Breetain is the larger of the two main islands British North America consisted of the colonies and territories of the British Empire in continental North America after the end of the American Revolutionary
• Regions under control of the Hudson's Bay Company was called Rupert's Land, which eventually made up a large portion of the Dominion of Canada, the modern nation-state of Canada. Rupert's Land, also sometimes called "Prince Rupert's Land" was a territory in British North America, consisting of the Hudson Bay drainage basin, that Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page For the online game see Jennifer Government NationStates. The nation-state is a certain form of State that derives its legitimacy Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page

See also

Main list: List of basic North America topics

• Americas (terminology)
• History of North America
• Discoverer of the Americas
• Economy of North America
• European colonization of the Americas
• Transportation in North America
• Nearctic
• Turtle Island (North America)

Notes and references