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.

More about the North American Continent

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


The Largest Countries in North America

• Canada, the second largest country in the world in terms of area, is only sparsely populated. Just 40 million people call Canada their home. ^[StatCan]
  
  
• The contiguous United States, also known as "the lower 48", occupies the central part of the continent. Alaska, the largest U.S. state, is separated from the rest of the country and occupies the northwestern part of the continent. Alaska shares a maritime border with Russia, to which it once belonged until its purchase by the USA in 1867.
  With a population of more than 341 million people, the United States is the most populous country in North America. ^{[US Census]}
  
  
• Mexico, the Latin American nation has a population of more than 130 million people, making it the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world.
  
  
• Covered with layers of ice up to one kilometer thick, Greenland is the largest island in the world. The sparsely inhabited island lies largely within the Arctic Circle. Greenland belongs geographically to North America. Politically, Greenland belongs to Europe, because it is an autonomous territory within Denmark, the sovereign kingdom and member-state of the European Union (EU). However, Greenland is not a member of the EU, because it chose to withdraw from the European Community in 1985 after gaining home rule from Denmark.
  
  
• Iceland, the volcanic island is considered part of Europe, due to its strong cultural, historical, political, and linguistic ties to other European nations. The island is located on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where the North American and Eurasian tectonic plates meet.
  
  

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.



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.


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

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.