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North American Flags detail

Map of North America


Wonder Lake and Denali, North America' highest mountain.
A reflection of Denali in Wonder Lake in Denali National Park and Preserve in Alaska. Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the tallest mountain in North America at 6,190 m (20,310 ft).
Image: Denali National Park and Preserve

About North America


The map of North America provides a detailed view of the continent that forms the northern half of the American landmass. Covering approximately 16.5% of Earth's total land area, North America extends from the Arctic landscapes of northern Greenland to the tropical rainforests of southern Panama. The continent is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.
To the south, the Isthmus of Panama serves as a natural link to South America. To the northwest, the Bering Strait separates North America from Asia. The narrow waterway between Alaska and Russia's Chukchi Peninsula connects the Pacific and Arctic Oceans.




Map of North America

Political Map of North America
General Map of North America

The map shows countries of North America with surrounding oceans and seas, international borders, national capitals, major cities, major geographic features and Latitude and Longitude.

You are free to use the above map for educational and similar purposes; if you publish it online or in print, you need to credit the Nations Online Project as the source.



More about the North American Continent




Bison in Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota
Bison in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park in North Dakota. The Bison, a powerful symbol for the Great Plains and pre-columbian North America. In the 19th century, overhunting and westward expansion nearly wiped out the bison, devastating Indigenous communities that depended on them.
Photo: a.dombrowski


What countries are in North America?
North America is home to 23 sovereign nations and several dependent territories.


The Largest Countries in North America
Countries of Central America

Central America is the southernmost part of North America. The subregion lies between Mexico and South America and includes seven nations Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.



Caribbean beach in Puerto Rico
A Caribbean beach in Puerto Rico. The island is a commonwealth of the United States, In 1952, Puerto Rico adopted a constitution that made the island a U.S. commonwealth, able to govern its own affairs independently and also elect its own leadership. [CFR]
Photo: Dean Sorensen


The Caribbean Nations


The Caribbean is home to 13 independent nations, scattered across the region's tropical waters: of the caribbean Sea.
Caribbean Nations: Antigua and Barbuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.


North America Facts

Population
North America has a total population of 600 million people in 2025. Main languages are (American) English and Spanish.

Area
With an area of 24.7 million square kilometers (953,700 sq.mi.), North America is the third-largest continent by area after Asia and Africa.

With the exception of the Baja California Peninsula (Mexico), whole North America sits on the North American Plate, Earth's second largest tectonic plate. The North American Plate comprises most of North America, including Greenland, Cuba, the Bahamas, the far north-east of Asia and parts of Iceland and the Azores.


North America is home to Canada, the United States, the Bermuda Islands, Mexico, the countries of Central America, the Caribbean islands, and Greenland, the world's largest island.




Main Geographic Features of North America
North America offers five main geographic features.


Wapiti bull in the Rocky Mountain National Park
A Wapiti bull in the Rocky Mountain National Park, a protected mountain terrain northwest of Denver, Colorado. The Rocky Mountains are the largest mountain system in North America, stretching from Canada to the southwestern United States.
Photo: David Craig
1. Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are one of the most prominent mountain ranges in the world, stretching over 4,800 km (3,000 miles) from Canada to the southwestern United States. The mountains act as a major continental divide, influencing climate and river systems. They are home to diverse ecosystems, from alpine tundra to dense forests.



2. Great Plains
To the east of the Rocky Mountains are the Great Plains, a vast expanse of flatlands and rolling hills stretching from Canada down through the central United States to Mexico. Known for its fertile soil, making it one of the world's most important agricultural regions. The plains were home to the indigenous peoples of the Great Plains and the Canadian Prairies and huge herds of bison roamed the landscape.


3. Mississippi River System
The Mississippi River System is one of the longest river systems in the world, draining about 40% of the continental U.S. The network of rivers acts as a crucial economic and ecological corridor, supporting agriculture, trade, and diverse wildlife. The drainage basin includes major tributaries such as the Missouri and Ohio Rivers.


4. Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains are much older than the Rockies, stretching along the eastcoast from Canada down to Alabama in the U.S. Historically, the Appalachians were a major barrier to westward expansion in the early days of European settlement. The mountains are rich in coal deposits, which fueled early American industry. Highest peak is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina at 6,684 feet (2,037 m).


5. Great Lakes
The Great Lakes are the largest group of freshwater lakes on Earth by surface area, bordering both the U.S. and Canada. The lakes are Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. The lakes play an important role for trade, transportation, and biodiversity, with the St. Lawrence River providing an outlet to the Atlantic Ocean.



Oceans and Seas Around North America

A Polar Bear at Cape Churchill
A polar bear (Ursus maritimus) at Cape Churchill of the Hudson Bay in the Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada). Polar bears are among the largest predators in North America; they can be found throughout the Arctic in Alaska, Canada, Greenland, Norway and Russia. [NCC]
Photo: Ansgar Walk

 
North America is surrounded by three oceans and several major seas.

The North Atlantic Ocean defines the eastern coastline, from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

The Pacific Ocean stretches along the western coast, from the U.S. state of Alaska to Central America.

The Arctic Ocean borders the continent's northernmost regions.

Additionally, several important seas shape North America's geography. The Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico in the south link North America to the tropics. Located in the northeast, are Baffin Bay and Hudson Bay, marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean. They are connected to the Labrador Sea, an arm of the North Atlantic, by the Hudson Strait and the Davis Strait respectively.
The Bering Sea connects the continent to Asia.




Major river systems of North America
There are several major river systems in North America, the largest of which are listed below.



The Missouri River is the longest river in North America.
The Missouri River in Montana. The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and a major tributary of the Mississippi.
Photo: Cmichel67

 
1. Mississippi-Missouri River System
Mississippi River (3,766 km / 2,341 mi) – Drains much of central U.S.

Missouri River (3,767 km / 2,341 mi) – The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and a major tributary of the Mississippi.

Ohio River (1,579 km / 981 mi) – The Ohio River is a major tributary of the Mississippi, flows from Pittsburgh to the confluence in Illinois.

Arkansas River (2,364 km / 1,469 mi) – The Arkansas River is a major tributary flowing through the central U.S.

Red River (of the South) (2,190 km / 1,360 mi) – The Red River drains into the Mississippi via the Atchafalaya River.



2. Mackenzie River System (Arctic Drainage)
Mackenzie River (4,241 km / 2,635 mi) – The Mackenzie River is the longest river in Canada, draining into the Arctic Ocean.

Peace River (1,923 km / 1,195 mi) – The Peace River is a major tributary of the Mackenzie.

Slave River (434 km / 270 mi) – The Slave River connects Lake Athabasca to the Mackenzie basin.



Colorado River in the Grand Canyon in Utah.
Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon was carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. The river's erosional force, combined with tectonic uplift and other geological processes, created the deep and vast canyon we see today.
Photo: benji2505



 
3. St. Lawrence River System (Atlantic Drainage)
St. Lawrence River (3,058 km / 1,900 mi including Great Lakes) – The St. Lawrence River drains the Great Lakes into the Atlantic Ocean.

Ottawa River (1,271 km / 790 mi) – The Ottawa River is a major tributary of the St. Lawrence.

Saguenay River (170 km / 106 mi) – Flows into the St. Lawrence in Quebec.



4. Columbia River System (Pacific Drainage)
Columbia River (2,000 km / 1,243 mi) – The Columbia River drains the Pacific Northwest and flows into the Pacific Ocean.

Snake River (1,735 km / 1,078 mi) – The Snake River is the largest tributary of the Columbia River.



5. Colorado River System (Pacific Drainage)
Colorado River (2,330 km / 1,450 mi) – The Colorado River is famous for carving the Grand Canyon; it drains into the Gulf of California.

Gila River (1,044 km / 649 mi) – The Gila River is a 649-mile-long (1,044 km) tributary of the Colorado River.



Hubbard Glacier in Alaska and Canada.
The Hubbard Glacier is a glacier streching two National Parks, the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park and Preserve in eastern Alaska and the Kluane National Park and Reserve in Yukon, Canada. Glaciers in North America can be found in Alaska, Canada, and several US states and even in Mexico.
Photo: A.Davey

 
6. Yukon River System (Pacific-Arctic Drainage)
Yukon River (3,190 km / 1,982 mi) – The Yukon River drains northwestern Canada and Alaska into the Bering Sea.

Four principal tributaries feed the Yukon River: the Teslin River, the Pelly River, the White River and the Stewart River. In Alaska, the major tributaries are the Porcupine, Tanana and Koyukuk rivers. [CE]



7. Rio Grande River System (Gulf of Mexico Drainage)
Rio Grande (3,057 km / 1,900 mi) – The Rio Grande forms much of the U.S.-Mexico border; it drains into the Gulf of Mexico.

Pecos River (1,490 km / 926 mi) – The Pecos River originates in north-central New Mexico and flows into Texas; it is a major tributary of the Rio Grande.



8. Fraser River System (Pacific Drainage)
Fraser River (1,375 km / 854 mi) – The Fraser River drains much of British Columbia into the Pacific Ocean.



9. Hudson Bay Drainage
Nelson River (2,575 km / 1,600 mi) – The Nelson River drains Lake Winnipeg into Hudson Bay.

Churchill River (1,609 km / 1,000 mi) – The Churchill River flows into Hudson Bay.

Albany River (982 km / 610 mi) – The Albany River is a major river in Ontario flowing into James Bay, a large body of water on the southern end of Hudson Bay.



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Maps of Countries in North America
Canada Map, Mexico Map, USA Map

Maps of Countries in Central America
Belize Map, Costa Rica Map, El Salvador Map, Guatemala Map, Honduras Map, Nicaragua Map, Panama Map

Maps of Caribbean Islands
Bahamas Map, Barbados Map, Cuba Map, Dominican Republic Map, Haiti Map, Hispaniola Map, Jamaica Map, Puerto Rico Map, Saint Lucia Map