North America is a part of the continent named America, after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, with a surface area of 24,221,490 sq km (9,351,969 sq mi). It is located in the northern hemisphere, between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and to the north of South America. North America’s highest point is Alaska’s Mount McKinley, which rises to 6,194 m (20,320 ft) above sea level.
Regions in North America
- Canada The Great White North certainly has vast expanses of unspoiled wilderness, but it also features some of the world’s most modern, cosmopolitan cities.
- Caribbean White sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and laid-back island culture make the Caribbean one of the world’s top vacation spots.
- Central America The seven small nations of this isthmus connecting North and South America blend elements of both continents; you’ll find bustling cities, long coastlines, ancient jungle ruins, and Spanish-tinged mestizo and Afro-Indian cultures.
- Greenland A self-governing country, but officially still part of Denmark, Greenland is a vast island of stark landscapes and midnight sun.
- Mexico is a big tourist attraction for sun-seekers and historians alike; the former flock to Mexico’s tropical beaches, while the latter find the artifacts of the ancient Aztec and Mayan civilization fascinating.
- United States of America One of the largest, most ethnically diverse and multicultural nations on Earth includes some of the world’s most famous cities, natural parks of unspeakable beauty, and virtually everything in between.
Destinations in North America
- Banff National Park
- Chichen Itza
- Corcovado National Park
- Grand Canyon
- Niagara Falls
- Teotihuacan
- Tikal
- Walt Disney World
- Yellowstone National Park
