Overview
North America is the third-largest continent by area, covering approximately 24.7 million square kilometers. It is bounded by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and South America and the Caribbean Sea to the southeast. The continent comprises 23 countries, with Canada, the United States, and Mexico being the largest.
Geography and Physical Features
North America's geography includes the Rocky Mountains and Appalachian Mountains, the Great Plains, the Mississippi River system, and the five Great Lakes, which together form the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth. Denali in Alaska, at 6,190 meters, is the continent's highest peak.
Significance
The continent has been home to diverse Indigenous peoples for tens of thousands of years before European colonization beginning in the late 15th century. Today, it includes the world's largest economy in the United States and is a major center for technology, agriculture, and cultural production.
Notable Facts
The Grand Canyon in Arizona is up to 1,857 meters deep and stretches 446 kilometers. Death Valley in California holds the record for the highest reliably measured air temperature on Earth, 56.7 degrees Celsius. The continent contains tropical rainforests, deserts, tundras, and temperate forests.