North America

North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere, bordered 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. It covers an area of 9,355,000 square miles (24,230,000 square kilometers). In 2001 its population was estimated at 454,225,000. It is the third largest continent in area, after Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Physical features

Plate tectonics recognizes the vast majority of North America as being the surface of the North American Plate. Part of California is known for being the edge of the Pacific Plate, with the two plates meeting along the San Andreas fault.

Related Topics:
Plate tectonics - North American Plate - California - Pacific Plate - San Andreas fault

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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. Mexico, with its long plateaus and cordilleras, falls largely in the western region, although the eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf.

Related Topics:
Great Plains - Gulf of Mexico - Canadian Arctic - Rocky Mountains - Great Basin - California - Alaska - Canadian Shield - Appalachian Mountains - Florida - Plateaus - Cordilleras

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The western mountains are split in the middle, into the main range of the Rockies and the coast ranges in California, Oregon and Washington state, with the Great Basin – a lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying deserts – in between. The highest peak is Denali in Alaska.

Related Topics:
Oregon - Washington state - Denali

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Since 1931, Rugby, North Dakota, has officially been recognized as being at the geographic center of North America. The location is marked by a 4.5 metre (15 foot) field stone obelisk.

Related Topics:
1931 - Rugby, North Dakota - Obelisk

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Image:North america terrain 2003 map.jpg|North America bedrock and terrain.

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Image:North america basement rocks.png|North American cratons and basement rocks.

Related Topics:
North America - Craton

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Image:North America Tectonic Elements.jpg|Tectonic elements of North America

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Image:North america craton nps.gif|North America craton.

Related Topics:
North America - Craton

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