Facts about North America:
- North America is northern continent in western Hemisphere. It is entirely in northern hemisphere and almost within western Hemisphere.
- Latitude 7 degree N and 84 degree N.
- Longitude 20 degree W and 180 degree W.
- Total area covered by this continent is 24,709,000 square km. which is 16.5 % of the earth’s land area and about 4.8% of its total surface area.
- This continent is discovered by an Italian explorer Christopher Columbus on 12 October, 1492 A.D. therefore it is called as “The Continent of New World.’’
- North America was named after the name of Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian merchant, Explorer and navigator from Republic of Florence.
- The continent is surrounded by Arctic ocean in the north, Atlantic ocean in the east, South America and Caribbean Sea in the southeast and Pacific Ocean in south and west.
- In the northeast Greenland is separated from Iceland by Denmark Strait.
- In the northwest Alaska is separated from Asia’s mainland by narrow Bering Strait.
- Straits of Florida in North America connects the Gulf of Mexico with The Atlantic Ocean.
- North America is linking with South America by a narrow strip of land that is called Isthmus of Panama. Historically, this is also known as Isthmus of Darien. It lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.
- North America is the third largest continent in terms of area after Asia and Africa.
- This is the fourth largest county in terms of population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.
- On mainland northern most point – Murchison Promontory Nunavut in Canada.
- On Mainland southernmost point – Punta Mariato in Panama.
- On mainland easternmost point- Cape Saint Charles in Labrador.
- On mainland westernmost point – Cape Prince of Wales in Alaska.
- There is no land locked countries in North America.
- Several groups of islands are located in the southern part that is known as Western island group or West Indies.
- 49 degree N latitude forms the boundary between two major countries USA and Canada.
- Canada is the largest country covers almost half the land area of North America.
- The border between the United States and Canada is the longest international border in the world with length of approximately 8900 km long.
- The border between Mexico and UAE is the second longest border in the world.
- Mexico is situated on the ‘Ring of fire’ the world’s most prominent volcano and earthquake.
- Kitts and Nevis Island located in Caribbean Sea is the smallest city in the North America.
- World’s biggest island Greenland is located in the north Atlantic that is not a continent but part of North America.
- There are about 23 countries in North America: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Panama, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America.
- There are 20 territories: Greenland, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Turks and Caicos, Curacao, United States Virgin, Bonaire, Cayman Island, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Aruba, British Virgin Island, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saint Martin, Bermuda, Siint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthelemy, Clipperton Island.
- Cuba is the sugar bowl of the world and major producer of Sugarcane.
- The most popular city is New York City.
- Mexico is one of the largest cities in the world and also the most populous country in United States.
- Jamaica in North America is famous for Banana production.
- Red Indians, Eskimos and Inuit’s are the original inhabitants of north America.
- Mount Logan is the highest peak in Canada. This peak is named after Sir William Edmond Logan.
- Major Biomes Desert, Temperate forest, Taiga Grasslands.
- Lake Superior is the largest fresh water lake in the world by surface area. It is located on the border of Canada and United States.
- Lake Michigan- Huron is name for combined water of two lakes. It is also largest freshwater lake by area in the world after superior.
- Rocky Mountain is the major mountain range in western part of North America. It is 4800 km long in straight line. Highest peak in Rocky Mountain is Mount Elbert, in Colorado with elevation of 4401 meter above sea level.
- Temperate grassland in North America is called Prairies. Are stretch of flat grassland with few trees moderate Temperature, and moderate Rainfall. It is golden, white covered land in the middle of North America. It is known as Corn Belt because of large production of corn.
- Mississippi river is the second longest river of North America. The river is 3,730 km long. It originates from Lake Itasca through center of continent of USA to the Gulf of Mexico. The Missouri river is the tributary of Mississippi river.
- Colorado Plateau The plateau covers an area of 336,700 k Square. About 90% of this area is drained by the Colorado River and its tributaries.
- McKinley peak /Denali in Alaska Range are the highest mountain with an elevation of 6,190 meter above Sea level in the North America. Denali is also known as Mount McKinley (former official name). It is the third most isolated mountain peak in the world.
- Death Valley National park in California- Nevada border east of Sierra Nevada is the lowest point in the United States with 86 meter feet below sea level. This is also the driest and hottest national park. In 2013 this park was designed as a dark sky park.