North America Continent, including the mainland and offshore islands n of and including Panama.

Land

North America extends n of the Arctic Circle and s almost to the Equator. To the w it is bordered by the Bering Sea and the Pacific Ocean and to the e by the Atlantic Ocean. There are many islands off both coasts, particularly to the n in the Arctic Ocean and to the se in the Caribbean Sea. There are two major mountain ranges: the Appalachians in the e and the Rocky Mountains in the w. Between these two ranges lie the fertile Great Plains and the Central Lowlands. In the e, a long coastal plain extends from New England to Mexico. The w coast is more mountainous.

Structure and geology

Much of Canada is an old Precambrian shield area forming a saucer-shaped depression centred in Hudson Bay. The Appalachians also have their origins in the Precambrian era. In the w, the complex fold mountains of the Rockies and the Pacific Margin are much younger and continue into South America as the Andes.

Lakes and rivers

Lake Superior is the largest lake in North America, 82,413sq km (31,820sq mi), and, together with Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario, makes up the Great Lakes. The St Lawrence River forms a navigable link between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. The longest river is the combined Mississippi-Missouri system. Other important rivers include the Yukon, Mackenzie, Colorado, Columbia, Delaware, and Rio Grande.

Climate and vegetation

Its geographical range means that every climatic zone is represented. In the far n, there are areas of tundra and arctic conditions. In the interior, sheltered by high mountains, there are deserts. Tropical rainforest is found in the lower areas of Central America. On much of the continent the climate is temperate. The Great Plains region is temperate, and the natural vegetation is grass, bordered by mixed and coniferous forests in the mountains to the e, w, and n.

People

North America's first settlers probably arrived c.45,000 years ago from Asia by way of Alaska. By the time the Vikings arrived from Europe, c.ad 1000, Native Americans occupied the entire continent. European settlement accelerated after Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. The Spaniards settled in Mexico and the West Indies. The English and French settled farther n; Swedes, Germans, and Dutch also formed settlements. Europe's political and economic problems later drove larger numbers to the New World. Descendants of Spanish settlers predominate in Mexico, Central America, and some Caribbean islands. French concentrations exist in Québec province, Canada, and parts of the West Indies. In Central America and the Caribbean, European descendants are in the minority.

Economy

Much of North America benefits from fertile soil and a climate conducive to agriculture. The North American plains are one of the world's major grain and livestock-producing areas. The s area produces fruit, cotton, tobacco, coffee and sugar cane. There is also major industrial development. Mining is important, particularly in Canada and Mexico.

Recent history

The early 20th century saw mass emigration to the USA and Canada. The USA was the dominant economic force on the continent throughout the 20th century. In the Spanish-American War (1898), the USA emerged as a world power. In 1903, Theodore Roosevelt enforced construction of the Panama Canal, which returned to Panama in 1999. The USA emerged from World War II as a world superpower. The ideological battle between capitalism and communism led to the Cold War, and US involvement in the Korean War and Vietnam War. In 1994, Canada, the USA, and Mexico signed the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). As the USA and Canada developed more service-based economies, some manufacturing transferred to Mexico. Economic inequality and instability remain major issues in Mexico. Since World War II, many Caribbean islands gained independence. A US trade embargo since Fidel Castro's revolution (1959) crippled Cuba's economy. US interests also dominated Central America, characterized by repressive regimes and economic inequality. Highest mountain Mount McKinley (Denali) 6194m (20,321ft) Longest river Mississippi-Missouri 6050km (3760mi) Population 464,000,000 Largest cities Mexico City (8,605,239); New York City (8,008,278); Los Angeles (3,694,820)