North America Facts and Information

Where is North America located?

North America is the third largest of the seven continents. Together with South America and Oceania, North America makes up the ‘New World’. It is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. North America takes pride in having three of the largest and most prosperous countries in the world: the United States, Canada and Mexico. It is home to a population of over 529 million people, representing about 7.5% of the total human population of the world.

History of North America

Though Columbus is generally credited for having discovered America, there were a lot of people already living in North America much before the arrival of the Europeans. The first people to inhabit the continent of North America were the Paleoindians. In the due course of time, they branched out into a number of diverse communities and cultures across the continent. The largest and most advanced civilizations in North America were the Aztec civilization in Mexico, and the Mayans in Central America. In the 1600’s, the Europeans began to arrive in North America and took over much of the continent. The colonization by the Europeans wiped out the native populations and commenced an era of European dominance. Today, people from every corner of the globe live in the continent of North America, making it an international ‘melting pot’ of inhabitants, traditions and cultures.

15 Interesting facts about North America

1. It is believed to have been named after an Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci.
2. Encompassing around 4.8% of the total surface of the Earth, North America holds the reputation of being the third largest continent.
3. North America stands fourth in terms of population.
4. A total of 24 countries, including the United States of America, jointly form the continent of North America.
5. Area wise, the largest country in North America is Canada.
6. It is the sole continent that has every type of climate.
7. The city with the maximum population in this continent is Mexico City, Mexico.
8. The longest river on this continent is the Mississippi River.
9. The largest freshwater lake, Lake Superior, is located in North America.
10. The biggest island on the planet, Greenland, is also located in North America.
11. Death Valley in California is the lowest point in the continent. Death Valley also holds the record for being the hottest and the driest region on the planet.
12. Athletes of North America have won the maximum number of Olympic medals in the world so far.
13. Some of the main animals found in North America are Brown Bears, Hummingbirds, Bald Eagles and Bullfrogs.
14. It is the largest exporter of wheat in the world.
15. Cuba, a country in North America, is the world’s largest exporter of sugar and is also known as the sugar bowl of the world.