Explore North America map with states and provinces to locate the first level administrative divisions of all countires lie in North America continent.
Constituent Country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
39,000
37,224
+1 721
34.00
13.10
About North America
North America is the third largest of the world's continents with more than 24.71 million square kilometres (9.54 million square miles). To the north, it is bordered by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by the Pacific Ocean, and to the south by South America and the Caribbean Sea. Three major nations, Canada, the United States and Mexico are dominant in the region in terms of size, population and economic standing. The climate of North America is also diverse, going from the Arctic tundra of Canada, to the tropical rain forests of Central America.
Geographical Features
Geographical diversity is vast and includes mountain ranges, plains, rivers and lakes defining North America. The Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain range in Canada, the United States and are found from Canada in the east to the southwestern United States. The eastern portion of the continent is marked by the Appalachian Mountains. The central United States and Canada feature the Great Plains, famous for their productivity in agriculture. The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes in the world, and include some of the continent's body of water. The Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the world at 2,340 miles or 3,766 kilometers and the Grand Canyon is one of the world's most famous natural wonders in the southwestern United States, carved by the Colorado River in millions of years.
Historical Background
History of North America goes back thousands of years before the arrival of European explorers, when the continent was inhabited by Indigenous peoples. The Maya, Aztec, and Inca prospered in various regions of the continent marking their presence through architectural masterpieces and well-organized societies. Spain, France and Britain colonized the Americas when European exploration, which had begun in the late 15th century, were led by Christopher Columbus, John Cabot, and Hernán Cortés. The 18th and 19th centuries marked the creation of new nations, United States, which gained its independence from Britain in 1776, and Canada which became a confederation in 1867. Mexico followed Spain in 1821.
North America has witnessed significant economic, technological and political changes in the 20th century. The United States has come out as a global power after World War II and began to lead in technology, science and in world politics. Canada has also grown to become one of the most prosperous and the resource rich nations of the world and Mexico as a major player in trade and manufacturing.
Economy and Trade
North America is one of the strongest economies in the world, especially due to the economic standing of the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The continent’s GDP is more than $27 trillion, which makes it a significant presence in the world economy. The United States is the largest economy, adding about $25 trillion to global GDP, Canada is the second with $2 trillion, and Mexico comes in at third with $1.5 trillion.
The North American Free Trade Agreement or the NAFTA which has been replaced by the United States Mexico Canada Agreement or the USMCA in the year 2020 has intensified the economic relationship between these three countries. The USMCA promotes free trade through the removal of tariffs and supports fair competition among the countries especially in the automotive, agriculture and technology sectors.
Natural resources are an important part of North American economy. Canada is one of the world's largest producers of oil and gas, and minerals such as gold and uranium. The United States has a very diverse economy, it has strong finance, technology, healthcare and manufacturing sectors. Mexico is a major global exporter of automobiles, electronics and agricultural products, thus an important part of North America's supply chain.
Population and Demographics
The population of North America is about 600 million people, with the United States being the largest country with about 335 million people, followed by Mexico with about 130 million people, and Canada with approximately 39 million people. The continent is diverse in race and culture since it has Indigenous communities, European Americans, African Americans, and a growing number of Asian and Latin American immigrants. Immigration is also a significant factor that has shaped the demographics of the region, especially in the United States and Canada, which have admitted millions of migrants from all over the world.
Another key trend is Urbanization, major metropolitan areas such as New York City, Los Angeles, Toronto and Mexico City are acting as economic and cultural hubs. These cities are the largest and most influential in the world and are contributing to global finance, trade and innovation.
Environmental Concerns and Climate
From Arctic conditions in the north of Canada and Alaska to tropical climates in Mexico and the Caribbean, North America has a varied climate. However, the continent also has many environmental problems. Climate change has brought higher temperatures, more frequent hurricanes, and wildfires in the southern parts of the United States and Canada. Deforestation, pollution, and habitat destruction are threats to wildlife and ecosystems, with efforts to address these through conservation initiatives and international agreements.
The United States and Canada have made benchmarks to decrease carbon emissions and move away from fossil fuel energies. Each of the countries has established rigorous goals for the mitigation of climate change through the reduction of greenhouse emissions and the enhancement of the development of clean energy technologies. Environmental concerns are also being addressed by Mexico through the implementation of policies aimed at the reduction of pollution and the promotion of sustainable agriculture.
Cultural Influence and Global Impact
Cultural impact of North America on the global scale is evident in the area of entertainment, sports, technology, and cuisine. Hollywood is the biggest producer of films and television programmes in the world and the United States controls the global entertainment industry. Jazz, rock, hip-hop and country music which are their types of music derived from North America, have made a huge impact on other artists across the world. Canada is famous for its literature, music and arts, while Mexico is famous for its culture, mariachi music, traditional dances and its world famous cuisine such as tacos and tamales.
Sports are also important in the life of North American culture. The NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL are followed by millions of fans all over the world. The Olympics have been held many times in North America and thus the continent's contribution to the world of sports could also be well and clearly shown.
