North America 21139 225691337 2008-07-14T22:40:47Z Rrius 463669 /* Human geography */ remove redundancy {{Redirect|North American}} <div style="float: right; margin: 0 0 1em 2em; width: 20em; text-align: right; font-size: 0.86em; line-height: normal;"><!-- start of floated right section --> <div style="border: 1px solid #ccd2d9; background: #f0f6fa; text-align: left; padding: 0.5em 1em; text-align: center;"><!-- start of slate grey box --> <big>'''North America'''</big> <div align=center> [[Image:LocationNorthAmerica.png|190px]] </div> {| style="background: transparent; text-align: left; table-layout: auto; border-collapse: collapse; padding: 0; font-size: 100%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" ! style="1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Area | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | {{km2 to sq mi|24709000|precision=-4|abbr=yes}} |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Population | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 523,736,000 (est. July 2007) |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Density | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 21.2/km² (54.9/sq mi) |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Countries | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 23 |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Dependencies | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | 18 |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Demonym | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[North American]] |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Languages | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[English language|English]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], [[French language|French]], and many others |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" | Time Zones | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | UTC (Danmarkshavn, Greenland) to UTC -10:00 (west Aleutians) |- ! style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top; text-align: left;" |Largest<br />urban<br />agglomerations<br />(2005) | style="border-top: solid 1px #ccd2d9; padding: 0.4em 1em 0.4em 0; vertical-align: top" | [[Mexico City]]<br/>[[New York City]]<br/>[[Los Angeles]]<br/>[[Chicago]]<br />[[Miami]]<br />[[List of the largest urban agglomerations in North America|''more''&hellip;]]<ref>List based on 2005 figures in [http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WUP2005/2005WUP_DataTables12.pdf Table A.12], [http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/WUP2005/2005wup.htm ''World Urbanization Prospects: The 2005 Revision''], Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division, United Nations. Accessed on line [[January 1]], [[2008]].</ref> |} </div><!-- --> </div> '''North America''' is a [[continent]] <ref>{{cite web|url = http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm#ftnb|title = United Nations Statistics Division- Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49)|publisher = [[United Nations Statistics Division]]}}</ref> in the [[Earth]]'s [[northern hemisphere]] and (chiefly) [[western hemisphere]]. It is bordered on the north by the [[Arctic Ocean]], on the east by the North [[Atlantic Ocean]], on the southeast by the [[Caribbean Sea]], and on the south and west by the North [[Pacific Ocean]]; [[South America]] lies to the southeast. It covers an [[area]] of about 24,709,000 [[square kilometer]]s<!--spelled out per WP:MOSNUM --> (9,540,000 [[square mile|sq&nbsp;mi]]), about 4.8% of the planet's surface or about 16.5% of its land area. As of July 2007, its [[population]] was estimated at nearly 524&nbsp;million people. It is the [[Continent#Area and population|third-largest]] continent in area, following [[Asia]] and [[Africa]], and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and [[Europe]]. North America and [[South America]] are collectively known as the [[Americas]]. ==Etymology== North and South America are generally accepted as having been named after [[Italy|Italian]] explorer [[Amerigo Vespucci]] by the German cartographer [[Martin Waldseemüller]]. Vespucci, who explored South America between 1497 and 1502, was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the [[East Indies]], but a different landmass previously unknown by Europeans. In 1507, Waldseemüller produced a world map, in which he placed the word "America" on the continent of South America, in the middle of what is today Brazil. He explained the rationale for the name in the accompanying book ''Cosmographiae Introductio'', :''ab Americo inventore ... quasi Americi terram sive Americam'' (from Americus the discoverer ... as if it were the land of Americus, thus America). For Waldseemüller, no one should object to the naming of the land after its discoverer. He used the Latinized version of Vespucci's name (Americus Vespucius), but in its feminine form "America", following the examples of "Europa" and "Asia". Later, when other mapmakers added North America, they extended the original name to it as well: in 1538, [[Gerard Mercator]] used the name America to all of the Western Hemisphere on his world map.<ref name="Cohen">[http://www.uhmc.sunysb.edu/surgery/america.html The Naming of America: Fragments We've Shored Against Ourselves]. By Jonathan Cohen</ref> Other alternative theories regarding the landmass's naming have been proposed, but none of them has achieved any widespread acceptance. Some argue that the convention is to use the surname for naming discoveries except in the case of royalty and so a derivation from "Amerigo Vespucci" could be problematic.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lloyd |first=John |authorlink=John Lloyd (writer) |coauthors= John Mitchinson |title=The Book of General Ignorance |origyear=2006 |publisher=Harmony Books |isbn=978-0-307-39491-0 |pages=p. 95 |quote=New countries or continents were never named after a person’s first name, but always after the second… }}</ref> Ricardo Palma (1949) proposed a derivation from the "Amerrique" mountains of Central America -- Vespucci was the first to discover South America and the ''Amerique'' mountains of Central America, which connected his discoveries to those of [[Christopher Columbus]]. Alfred E. Hudd proposed a theory in 1910 that the continents are named after a Welsh merchant named [[Richard Amerike]] from Bristol, who is believed to have financed [[John Cabot]]'s voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497. A minutely explored belief that has been advanced is that America was named for a Spanish sailor bearing the ancient [[Visigothic]] name of 'Amairick'. Another is that the name is rooted in a [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] language.<ref name="Cohen"/> ==History== {{main|History of North America}} [[Image:Chichen-Itza El Castillo.jpg|thumb|left|180px|The ruins of [[Chichen Itza]].]] Scientists have [[Models of migration to the New World|several theories as to the origins]] of the [[Paleo-Indians|early human population of North America]]. The [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|indigenous peoples of North America]] themselves have many [[creation myth]]s, by which they assert that they have been present on the land since its creation. [[Pre-Columbian|Before contact with Europeans]], the natives of North America were divided into many different [[polities]], from small [[Band society|bands]] of a few families to large [[empires]]. They lived in several "[[Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas|culture areas]]", which roughly correspond to [[Geography of North America|geographic and biological zones]] and give a good indication of the main [[lifeway]] or occupation of the people who lived there (e.g. the [[Bison]] [[hunter-gatherer|hunters]] of the [[Plains Indian|Great Plains]], or the [[farmers]] of [[Mesoamerica]]). Native groups can also be classified by their [[Indigenous languages of the Americas|language family]] (e.g. [[Athabaskan languages|Athapascan]] or [[Uto-Aztecan languages|Uto-Aztecan]]). It is important to note that peoples with similar languages did not always share the same [[material culture]], nor were they always [[allies]]. Scientists believe that the [[Inuit]] people of the high [[Arctic]] came to North America much later than other native groups, as evidenced by the disappearance of [[Dorset culture]] artifacts from the [[archaeological record]], and their replacement by the [[Thule people]]. [[Image:PlaceDArmes by Msteckiw.jpg|thumb|Place d'Armes in [[Montreal]], historic heart of French Canada.]]During the thousands of years of native inhabitation on the continent, cultures changed and shifted. Archaeologists often name different cultural groups they discover after the site where they are first found. One of the oldest cultures yet found is the [[Clovis culture]] of modern [[New Mexico]]. A more recent example is the group of related cultures called the [[Mound builder (people)|Mound builders]] (e.g. the [[Fort Walton Culture]]), found in the [[Mississippi river]] valley. They flourished from 3000 BC to the 1500s AD. The more southern cultural groups of North America were responsible for the [[domestication]] of many common [[Crop (agriculture)|crop]]s now used around the world, such as [[tomato]]es and [[Squash (plant)|squash]]. Perhaps most importantly they domesticated one of the world's major staples, [[maize]] (corn). As a result of the development of agriculture in the south, many important cultural advances were made there. For example, the [[Maya civilization]] developed a [[Maya script|writing system]], built [[Mesoamerican pyramids|huge pyramids]], had a [[Maya calendar|complex calendar]], and developed the concept of zero around 400 CE, a few hundred years after the Mesopotamians.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.sciam.com/math/article/id/what-is-the-origin-of-zer | title = What is the origin of zero? How did we indicate nothingness before zero? | author = Robert Kaplan | publisher = [[Scientific American]] | date = [[January 16]], [[2007]] | accessdate = 2008-02-19}}</ref> The Mayan culture was still present when the [[Conquistadors|Spanish]] arrived in [[Central America]], but political dominance in the area had shifted to the [[Aztec Empire]] further north. Upon the arrival of the Europeans in the "New World", native peoples found their culture changed drastically. As such, their affiliation with political and cultural groups changed as well, several linguistic groups went [[Language death|extinct]], and others changed quite quickly. The names and cultures that Europeans recorded for the natives were not necessarily the same as the ones they had used a few generations before, or the ones in use today. ==Geography and extent== {{see|Geography of North America}} [[Image:North America satellite orthographic.jpg|thumb|A satellite composite image of North America. [http://www.earth-puzzle.com/NAmerica.html Clickable map]]] North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the [[New World]], the [[Western Hemisphere]], [[Americas|the Americas]], or simply America (which is sometimes considered a single [[continent]]<ref name=IOC>[http://multimedia.olympic.org/pdf/en_report_672.pdf ''The Olympic symbols.''] [[International Olympic Committee]]. 2002. Lausanne: Olympic Museum and Studies Centre. The five rings of the [[Olympic flag#Olympic Emblem|Olympic flag]] represent the five inhabited, participating continents ([http://www.moscow2001.olympic.org/en/pdf/members_by_continent.pdf Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania]).</ref><ref name=Oceano>Océano Uno, Diccionario Enciclopédico y Atlas Mundial, "Continente", page 392, 1730. ISBN 84-494-0188-7</ref><ref name=cincocontinentes>Los Cinco Continentes (The Five Continents), Planeta-De Agostini Editions, 1997. ISBN 84-395-6054-0</ref> and North America a [[subcontinent]]).<ref>[http://mx.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562468/Norteam%C3%A9rica.html Encarta, "Norteamérica".]</ref> North America's only land connection is to [[South America]] at the [[Colombia]]-[[Panama]] border according to most authorities, or at the [[Panama Canal]] by some and even at the [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]], [[Mexico]] by a few who separate [[Central America]] which rests mostly on the [[Caribbean Plate]]. Before the Central American isthmus was raised, the region had been underwater. The islands of the [[West Indies]] delineate a submerged former [[land bridge]], which had connected North America and [[South America]] via [[Florida]] and [[Venezuela]]. The continental coastline is long and irregular. The [[Gulf of Mexico]] is the largest body of water indenting the continent, followed by [[Hudson Bay]]. Others include the [[Gulf of Saint Lawrence]] and the [[Gulf of California]]. There are numerous [[island]]s off the continent’s coasts: principally, the [[Canadian Arctic Archipelago|Arctic Archipelago]], the [[Greater Antilles|Greater]] and [[Lesser Antilles]], the [[Aleutian Islands]], the [[Alexander Archipelago]], the many thousand islands of the [[British Columbia Coast]], [[Newfoundland (island)|Newfoundland]] and [[Greenland]], a self-governing [[Denmark|Danish]] island, and the [[list of islands by area|world's largest]], is on the same [[tectonic plate]] (the [[North American Plate]]) and is part of North America geographically. [[Bermuda]] is not part of the Americas, but is an oceanic island which was formed on the fissure of the [[Mid-Atlantic Ridge]] over 100&nbsp;million years ago. The nearest landmass to it is [[Cape Hatteras]], [[North Carolina]], and it is often thought of as part of North America, especially given its historical, political and cultural ties to [[Virginia]] and other parts of the continent. ===Physical geography=== [[Image:North america rock types.jpg|thumb|100px|right|[[:Image:North america rock sedimentary.jpg|Sedimentary]], [[:Image:North america rock volcanic.jpg|volcanic]], [[:Image:North america rock plutonic.jpg|plutonic]], [[:Image:North america rock metamorphic.jpg|metamorphic]] rock types of North America. ]] The vast majority of North America is on the [[North American Plate]]. Parts of [[California]] and western [[Mexico]] form the partial edge of the [[Pacific Plate]], with the two plates meeting along the [[San Andreas fault]]. The southern-most portion of the continent and much of the [[Caribbean|West Indies]] lie on the [[Caribbean Plate]], while the [[Juan de Fuca Plate|Juan de Fuca]] and [[Cocos Plate]]s border the North American Plate on its western frontier. The continent can be divided into four great regions (each of which contains many sub-regions): the [[Great Plains]] stretching from the [[Gulf of Mexico]] to the [[Northern Canada|Canadian Arctic]]; the geologically young, mountainous west, including the [[Rocky Mountains]], the [[Great Basin]], [[Geography of California|California]] and [[Alaska]]; the raised but relatively flat plateau of the [[Canadian Shield]] in the northeast; and the varied eastern region, which includes the [[Appalachian Mountains]], the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, and the [[Florida]] peninsula. Mexico, with its long [[plateau]]s and [[American cordillera|cordilleras]], falls largely in the western region, although the eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf. The western mountains are split in the middle, into the main range of the Rockies and the [[Pacific Coast Ranges|coast ranges]] in California, [[Oregon]], [[Washington]], and [[British Columbia]] with the Great Basin—a lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying deserts—in between. The highest peak is [[Denali]] in Alaska. The [http://erg.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html#Geographic%20Centers United States Geographical Survey] states that the geographic center of North America is "6&nbsp;miles west of [[Balta, North Dakota|Balta, Pierce County, North Dakota]]" at approximately {{Coord|48|10|N|100|10|W}}, approximately 15&nbsp;miles (25&nbsp;km) from [[Rugby, North Dakota]]. The USGS further states that “No marked or monumented point has been established by any government agency as the geographic center of either the 50 States, the conterminous United States, or the North American continent.” Nonetheless, there is a 15-foot (4.5&nbsp;m) field stone [[obelisk]] in Rugby claiming to mark the center. <gallery> Image:North america terrain 2003 map.jpg|North America bedrock and terrain. Image:North america basement rocks.png|North American [[craton]]s and basement rocks. Image:North america craton nps.gif|North American [[craton]]. </gallery> ===Human geography=== [[Image:Mexico DF City.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mexico City]] is the [[World's largest cities|most populous]] city in North America.]] [[Image:Manhattan night march USa.jpg|thumb|right|[[New York City]], the largest city in the [[United States]] and a major [[global city|world city]].]] [[Image:DownTown Toronto1.jpg|thumb|right|[[Toronto]] is the most populous city in Canada and its most ethnically diverse city.]] The prevalent [[languages in North America]] are [[English language|English]], [[Spanish language|Spanish]], and [[French language|French]]. The term [[Anglo-America]] is used to refer to the [[English language|anglophone]] countries of the Americas: namely [[Canada]] (where English and French are co-official) and the [[United States]], but also sometimes [[Belize]] and parts of the Caribbean. [[Latin America]] refers to the other areas of the Americas (generally south of the United States) where [[Romance language]]s derived from [[Latin language|Latin]] predominate: the other republics of [[Central America]], [[Mexico]], much of the Caribbean, and most of South America. The French language has historically played a significant role in North America and retains a distinctive presence in some regions. Canada is officially bilingual; French is the official language of the [[Provinces and territories of Canada|Canadian province]] of [[Quebec]] and is co-official with English in the province of [[New Brunswick]]. Other French-speaking locales include the [[French West Indies]] and [[Saint-Pierre and Miquelon]], as well as the [[U.S. state]] of [[Louisiana]], where French is also an official language. [[Haiti]] is included with this group based on historical association but Haitians speak [[Haitian Creole language|Creole]] and French. Socially and culturally, North America presents a well-defined entity. Canada and the United States have a similar culture and similar traditions as a result of both countries being former [[Great Britain|British]] colonies. A common cultural and economic market has developed between the two nations because of the strong economic and historical ties. Spanish-speaking North America shares a common past as former [[Spanish Empire|Spanish colonies]]. In Mexico and the Central American countries where civilizations like the [[Maya civilization|Maya]] developed, indigenous people preserve traditions across modern boundaries. Central American and Spanish-speaking Caribbean nations have historically had more in common due to geographical proximity and the fact that, after winning independence from Spain, Mexico never took part in an effort to build a Central American Union. Economically, Canada and the United States are the wealthiest and most [[developed country|developed nations]] in the continent, followed by Mexico, a [[newly industrialized countries|newly industrialized country]]; the countries of Central America and the Caribbean are much [[developing country|less developed]]. The most important [[trade bloc]]s are the [[Caribbean Community|Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM)]], the [[North American Free Trade Agreement|North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)]], and the recently signed [[Central American Free Trade Agreement|Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA)]]—the last of these being an example of the economic integration sought by the nations of this subregion as a way to improve their financial status. Demographically, North America is a racially and ethnically diverse continent. Its three main racial groups are [[White people|Whites]], [[Mestizo]]s and [[Black people|Blacks]] (chiefly [[African-American]]s and [[American Afro-Caribbean Community|Afro-Caribbean]]s).{{Fact|date=February 2007}} There is a significant minority of [[Amerindians]] and [[Asian people|Asians]] among other less numerous groups. ==Countries and territories== North America is often divided into subregions but no universally accepted divisions exist. Central America comprises the southern region of the continent, but its northern terminus varies between sources. [[Geophysics|Geophysically]], the region starts at the [[Isthmus of Tehuantepec]] in Mexico (namely the [[Political divisions of Mexico|Mexican states]] of [[Campeche]], [[Chiapas]], [[Tabasco]], [[Quintana Roo]], and [[Yucatán]]<ref>[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110092/Central-America Encyclopaedia Britannica, "Central America"]</ref>). The [[United Nations geoscheme]] includes Mexico in Central America; conversely, the [[European Union]] excludes both Mexico and [[Belize]] from the area. [[geopolitics|Geopolitically]], Mexico is frequently not considered a part of Central America.<ref>[http://www.bartleby.com/61/8/C0200800.html The American Heritage Dictionary, "Central America"]</ref> [[Northern America]] is used to refer to the northern countries and territories of North America: Canada, the United States, Greenland, Bermuda, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. They are often considered distinct from the southern portion of the Americas, which largely comprise [[Latin America]]. The term [[Middle America (Americas)|Middle America]] is sometimes used to collectively refer to Mexico, the nations of [[Central America]], and the [[Caribbean]]. <!--{{editnote | The countries in this table are not categorized. Please see the talk page for more details. Methods for applying a certain categorization are welcome.}}--> {|class="wikitable sortable" border="1" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #aaa; border-collapse:collapse" |- bgcolor="#ECECEC" ! [[Country]] or <br>[[Territory (country subdivision)|territory]] with [[flag]] ! [[List of countries by area|Area]]<br>(km²)<ref name="factbook2008">Land areas and population estimates are taken from ''The 2008 World Factbook'' which currently uses July 2007 data, unless otherwise noted.</ref> ! [[List of countries by population|Population]]<br>(July 2007 est.)<ref name="factbook2008" /> ! [[List of countries by population density|Population density]]<br>(per km²) ! [[Capital]] |- | {{flagicon|Anguilla}} [[Anguilla]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]]) | align="right" | {{nts|102}} | align="right" | {{nts|13677}} | align="right" | 134.1 | [[The Valley, Anguilla|The Valley]] |- | {{flagicon|Antigua and Barbuda}} [[Antigua and Barbuda]] | align="right" | {{nts|443}} | align="right" | {{nts|69481}} | align="right" | 157.0 | [[St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda|St. John's]] |- | {{flagicon|Aruba}} [[Aruba]] ([[Netherlands]])<ref name="two">Depending on definitions, [[Aruba]], [[Netherlands Antilles]], [[Panama]], and [[Trinidad and Tobago]] have territory in [[Transcontinental nation|one or both of]] North and [[South America]].</ref> | align="right" | {{nts|193}} | align="right" | {{nts|100018}} | align="right" | 518.2 | [[Oranjestad, Aruba|Oranjestad]] |- | {{flagicon|Bahamas}} [[Bahamas]] | align="right" | {{nts|13940}} | align="right" | {{nts|305655}} | align="right" | 21.9 | [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]] |- | {{flagicon|Barbados}} [[Barbados]] | align="right" | {{nts|431}} | align="right" | {{nts|280946}} | align="right" | 651.8 | [[Bridgetown]] |- | {{flagicon|Belize}} [[Belize]] | align="right" | {{nts|22966}} | align="right" | {{nts|294385}} | align="right" | 12.8 | [[Belmopan]] |- | {{flagicon|Bermuda}} [[Bermuda]] (UK) | align="right" | {{nts|53}} | align="right" | {{nts|66163}} | align="right" | 1241.3 | [[Hamilton, Bermuda|Hamilton]] |- | {{flagicon|British Virgin Islands}} [[British Virgin Islands]] (UK) | align="right" | {{nts|153}} | align="right" | {{nts|23552}} | align="right" | 153.9 | [[Road Town]] |- | {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]] | align="right" | {{nts|9984670}} | align="right" | {{nts|33390141}} | align="right" | 3.3 | [[Ottawa]] |- | {{flagicon|Cayman Islands}} [[Cayman Islands]] (UK) | align="right" | {{nts|262}} | align="right" | {{nts|46600}} | align="right" | 177.9 | [[George Town, Cayman Islands|George Town]] |- | {{flagicon|France}} [[Clipperton Island]] ([[France]]) | align="right" | {{nts|9}} | align="right" | {{nts|0}} | align="right" | 0.0 | — |- | {{flagicon|Costa Rica}} [[Costa Rica]] | align="right" | {{nts|51100}} | align="right" | {{nts|4133884}} | align="right" | 80.9 | [[San José, Costa Rica|San José]] |- | {{flagicon|Cuba}} [[Cuba]] | align="right" | {{nts|110860}} | align="right" | {{nts|11394043}} | align="right" | 102.8 | [[Havana]] |- | {{flagicon|Dominica}} [[Dominica]] | align="right" | {{nts|754}} | align="right" | {{nts|72386}} | align="right" | 96.0 | [[Roseau]] |- | {{flagicon|Dominican Republic}} [[Dominican Republic]] | align="right" | {{nts|48730}} | align="right" | {{nts|9365818}} | align="right" | 192.2 | [[Santo Domingo]] |- | {{flagicon|El Salvador}} [[El Salvador]] | align="right" | {{nts|21040}} | align="right" | {{nts|6948073}} | align="right" | 330.2 | [[San Salvador]] |- | {{flagicon|Greenland}} [[Greenland]] ([[Denmark]]) | align="right" | {{nts|2166086}} | align="right" | {{nts|56344}} | align="right" | 0.026 | [[Nuuk]] |- | {{flagicon|Grenada}} [[Grenada]] | align="right" | {{nts|344}} | align="right" | {{nts|89971}} | align="right" | 261.5 | [[St. George's, Grenada|St. George's]] |- | {{flagicon|Guadeloupe}} [[Guadeloupe]] ([[France]]) | align="right" | {{nts|1780}}<ref name="fb2006">Since Guadeloupe and Martinique have been upgraded from overseas departments to regions of France, they are no longer listed separately in ''The World Factbook''. Therefore, these figures are from the last edition in which they appear -- July 2006.</ref> | align="right" | {{nts|452776}}<ref name="fb2006" /> | align="right" | 254.4 | [[Basse-Terre]] |- | {{flagicon|Guatemala}} [[Guatemala]] | align="right" | {{nts|108890}} | align="right" | {{nts|12728111}} | align="right" | 116.9 | [[Guatemala City]] |- | {{flagicon|Haiti}} [[Haiti]] | align="right" | {{nts|27750}} | align="right" | {{nts|8706497}} | align="right" | 313.7 | [[Port-au-Prince]] |- | {{flagicon|Honduras}} [[Honduras]] | align="right" | {{nts|112090}} | align="right" | {{nts|7483763}} | align="right" | 66.8 | [[Tegucigalpa]] |- | {{flagicon|Jamaica}} [[Jamaica]] | align="right" | {{nts|10991}} | align="right" | {{nts|2780132}} | align="right" | 252.9 | [[Kingston, Jamaica|Kingston]] |- | {{flagicon|Martinique}} [[Martinique]] (France) | align="right" | {{nts|1100}}<ref name="fb2006" /> | align="right" | {{nts|436131}}<ref name="fb2006" /> | align="right" | 396.5 | [[Fort-de-France]] |- | {{flagicon|Mexico}} [[Mexico]] | align="right" | {{nts|1972550}} | align="right" | {{nts|108700891}} | align="right" | 55.1 | [[Mexico City]] |- | {{flagicon|Montserrat}} [[Montserrat]] (UK) | align="right" | {{nts|102}} | align="right" | {{nts|9538}} | align="right" | 93.5 | [[Plymouth, Montserrat|Plymouth]]; [[Brades, Montserrat|Brades]]<ref>Due to ongoing activity of the [[Soufriere Hills volcano]] beginning 1995, much of [[Plymouth, Montserrat|Plymouth]]'s ''[[de jure]]'' capital was destroyed and government offices were relocated to [[Brades, Montserrat|Brades]].</ref> |- | {{flagicon|United States}} [[Navassa Island]] ([[United States|USA]]) | align="right" | {{nts|5}} | align="right" | {{nts|0}} | align="right" | 0.0 | — |- | {{flagicon|Netherlands Antilles}} [[Netherlands Antilles]] (Netherlands)<ref name="two" /> | align="right" | {{nts|960}} | align="right" | {{nts|223652}} | align="right" | 233.0 | [[Willemstad, Netherlands Antilles|Willemstad]] |- | {{flagicon|Nicaragua}} [[Nicaragua]] | align="right" | {{nts|129494}} | align="right" | {{nts|5675356}} | align="right" | 43.8 | [[Managua]] |- | {{flagicon|Panama}} [[Panama]]<ref>[[Panama]] is generally considered a North American country, though some authorities divide it at the [[Panama Canal]]; land area and population figures are for the entire country.</ref> | align="right" | {{nts|78200}} | align="right" | {{nts|3242173}} | align="right" | 41.5 | [[Panama City]] |- | {{flagicon|Puerto Rico}} [[Puerto Rico]] (USA) | align="right" | {{nts|8870}}<ref name="water">Water area makes up a considerable portion of this entity's total area. Therefore, for a more accurate figure on which to calculate population density, this figure includes land area and excludes water area.</ref> | align="right" | {{nts|3944259}} | align="right" | 444.7 | [[San Juan, Puerto Rico|San Juan]] |- | {{flagicon|Saint Barthélemy}} [[Saint Barthélemy]] (France) | align="right" | {{nts|21}} | align="right" | {{nts|6852}}<ref>Figure as of March 1999 census.</ref> | align="right" | 326.3 | [[Gustavia (town)|Gustavia]] |- | {{flagicon|Saint Kitts and Nevis}} [[Saint Kitts and Nevis]] | align="right" | {{nts|261}} | align="right" | {{nts|39349}} | align="right" | 150.8 | [[Basseterre]] |- | {{flagicon|Saint Lucia}} [[Saint Lucia]] | align="right" | {{nts|616}} | align="right" | {{nts|170649}} | align="right" | 277.0 | [[Castries]] |- | {{flagicon|Saint Martin}} [[Saint Martin (France)|Saint Martin]] (France) | align="right" | {{nts|54}} | align="right" | {{nts|33102}}<ref>Figure as of October 2004 census.</ref> | align="right" | 608.5 | [[Marigot, St. Martin|Marigot]] |- | {{flagicon|Saint Pierre and Miquelon}} [[Saint Pierre and Miquelon]] (France) | align="right" | {{nts|242}} | align="right" | {{nts|7036}} | align="right" | 29.1 | [[Saint-Pierre, Saint Pierre and Miquelon|Saint-Pierre]] |- | {{flagicon|Saint Vincent and the Grenadines}} [[Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]] | align="right" | {{nts|389}} | align="right" | {{nts|118149}} | align="right" | 303.7 | [[Kingstown]] |- | {{flagicon|Trinidad and Tobago}} [[Trinidad and Tobago]]<ref name="two" /> | align="right" | {{nts|5128}} | align="right" | {{nts|1056608}} | align="right" | 206.0 | [[Port of Spain]] |- | {{flagicon|Turks and Caicos Islands}} [[Turks and Caicos Islands]] ([[United Kingdom|UK]]) | align="right" | {{nts|430}} | align="right" | {{nts|21746}} | align="right" | 50.6 | [[Cockburn Town]] |- | {{flagicon|United States}} [[United States]]<ref>Includes the [[U.S. state]] of [[Hawaii]], which is distant from the North American landmass in the [[Pacific Ocean]] and is, thus, commonly included with the other territories of [[Oceania]].</ref> | align="right" | {{nts|9826630}} | align="right" | {{nts|301139947}} | align="right" | 30.6 | [[Washington, D.C.]] |- | {{flagicon|U.S. Virgin Islands}} [[U.S. Virgin Islands]] (USA) | align="right" | {{nts|346}}<ref name="water" /> | align="right" | {{nts|108448}} | align="right" | 313.4 | [[Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands|Charlotte Amalie]] |- style=" font-weight:bold; " class="sortbottom" ! Total | align="right" | {{nts|24709036}} | align="right" | {{nts|523736302}} | align="right" | 21.2 | |} ==Usage== The term ''North America'' may mean different things to different people in the world according to the context. Usage other than that of the entire continent includes: * <!--{{editnote | NOTE: Before wanting to change this assertion, please cite sources and provide evidence on the talk page. This information was erroneously removed, despite claims that it was checked. References corroborating this assertion about usage follow. Thank you!--> In English, ''North America'' is sometimes used to refer to the United States and Canada exclusively.<ref>Burchfield, R. W., ed. 2004. "America." ''[[Fowler's Modern English Usage]]'' (ISBN 0-19-861021-1) New York: Oxford University Press, p. 48 -- quotation reads: "the term 'North America' is mostly used to mean the United States and Canada together. Countries to the south of the United States are described as being in Central America (Mexico, Nicaragua, etc.) or South America ([[Brazil]], [[Argentina]], etc.)"; see also: McArthur, Tom. 1992. "North American." ''The Oxford Companion to the English Language'' (ISBN 0-19-214183-X) New York: Oxford University Press, p. 707. See also [http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzamericas.htm]</ref> Alternatively, usage may include Mexico<ref>[http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2005/s2394.htm the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]: refers to "Three nations, on the same continent"</ref> (as with [[North American Free Trade Agreement]]) and other entities.<ref>[http://www.countryreports.org/maps/northamerica.aspx Countries of North America]: includes Bermuda, Canada, Mexico, St. Pierre and Miquelon, and the United States</ref> * In Latin America, Spain, and some other parts of Europe, ''North America'' usually designates a subcontinent (''subcontinente'' in Spanish) of the Americas containing Canada, the United States, and Mexico, and often Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Bermuda.<ref>In Ibero-America, ''North America'' is considered a subcontinent containing Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Bermuda and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon."[http://mx.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562468/Norteam%C3%A9rica.html Norteamérica (Mexican version)]"/[http://es.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562468/Norteam%C3%A9rica.html (Spaniard version)]. ''Encarta Online Encyclopedia.''</ref> ===Historical toponymy=== <!--MERGED IN FROM [[New World]] ON 22 OCT 2007, SOURCES MAY BE OVER THERE--> North America, in whole or in part, has been historically referred to by other names: * Spanish North America ([[New Spain]]) was often referred to as ''[[Northern America (disambiguation)|Northern America]]''. * The Spanish called North America ''[[Florida]]'',{{Fact|date=January 2008}} which eventually became more focused on its present location. * The English called North America ''[[Virginia]]'' after [[Elizabeth I of England|Queen Elizabeth I]] (The Virgin Queen); [[John Dee]] pushed to call it ''[[Atlantis]]'' (inspired by [[Plato]]). * The northern part of North America was often referred to as ''[[Norumbega]]''. * The northern part of North America was called ''[[New England]]'' in 1616 in [[John Smith of Jamestown|John Smith]]'s book of that year. * Western North America was named ''[[Nova Albion]]'' by [[Francis Drake]] as he repaired his boat (''[[Golden Hind]]'') a short distance north of present day [[San Francisco]]. *Areas of past [[Great Britain|British]] control was called [[British North America]]. *Regions under control of the [[Hudson's Bay Company]] was called [[Rupert's Land]], which eventually made up a large portion of the [[Dominion of Canada]], the modern [[nation-state]] of [[Canada]]. ==See also== : ''Main list: [[List of basic North America topics]]'' {{portal}} {{Commons|Atlas of North America|North America}} * [[Americas (terminology)]] * [[History of North America]] * [[Discoverer of the Americas]] * [[Economy of North America]] * [[European colonization of the Americas]] * [[Transportation in North America]] * [[Nearctic]] * [[Turtle Island (North America)]] ==Notes and references== {{reflist}} {{refbegin}} * "[http://www.bartleby.com/65/na/NAmer.html North America]"/"[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ce/CentrAm.html Central America]". ''[http://www.bartleby.com/65/ The Columbia Encyclopedia]'', 6th ed. 2001-6. New York: Columbia University Press. * "[http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?tocId=9373623 North America]"/"[http://www.britannica.com/ebc/article-9360160 Central America]". ''[[Encyclopædia Britannica]]''. 2006. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. * [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm UN Statistics Division: Composition of macro geographical (continental) regions, geographical sub-regions, and selected economic and other groupings] * [http://www.xist.org/earth/pop_region.aspx GeoHive: The population of continents, regions and countries] * "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761562468/North_America.html North America]"/ "[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Central_America.html Central America]". ''[[Encarta|MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006]].'' * [http://www.bartleby.com/61/64/N0156400.html American Heritage Dictionaries, North America] and [http://www.bartleby.com/61/8/C0200800.html Central America] * [http://www.answers.com/topic/north-america Houghton Mifflin Company, "North America"] * [http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=central+america WordNet Princeton University: Central America] * [http://www.reference.com/browse/crystal/23124 Crystal Reference Encyclopedia, "North America"] * [http://www.ipligence.com/worldmap/ Internet World Map ] Study showing the geographic distribution of the Internet across North America. {{refend}} {{Countries of North America}} {{Continents of the world}} {{Regions of the world}} [[Category:Regions of the Americas]] [[Category:Continents]] [[Category:North America| ]] <!-- interwiki --> [[af:Noord-Amerika]] [[als:Nordamerika]] [[ang:Norþ America]] [[ar:أمريكا الشمالية]] [[an:America d'o Norte]] [[arc:ܐܡܪܝܩܐ ܕܓܪܒܝܐ]] [[frp:Amèrica du Nord]] [[ast:Norteamérica]] [[gn:Yvateamérika]] [[az:Şimali Amerika]] [[bn:উত্তর আমেরিকা]] [[zh-min-nan:Pak Bí-chiu]] [[be:Паўночная Амерыка]] [[be-x-old:Паўночная Амэрыка]] [[bcl:Amerika Norte]] [[bs:Sjeverna Amerika]] [[br:Norzhamerika]] [[bg:Северна Америка]] [[ca:Amèrica del Nord]] [[cv:Çурçĕр Америка]] [[ceb:Amihanang Amerika]] [[cs:Severní Amerika]] [[cy:Gogledd America]] [[da:Nordamerika]] [[pdc:Natt Amerikaa]] [[de:Nordamerika]] [[dsb:Pódpołnocna Amerika]] [[et:Põhja-Ameerika manner]] [[el:Βόρεια Αμερική]] [[es:América del Norte]] [[eo:Nordameriko]] [[ext:América el Norti]] [[eu:Ipar Amerika]] [[fa:آمریکای شمالی]] [[fo:Norðuramerika]] [[fr:Amérique du Nord]] [[fy:Noard-Amearika]] [[fur:Americhe dal Nord]] [[ga:Meiriceá Thuaidh]] [[gan:北美洲]] [[gv:Yn Americkey Hwoaie]] [[gd:Aimearaga-a-Tuath]] [[gl:América do Norte]] [[gu:ઉત્તર અમેરિકા]] [[hak:Pet-mî-chû]] [[ko:북아메리카]] [[haw:‘Amelika ‘Ākau]] [[hi:उत्तरी अमरीका]] [[hsb:Sewjerna Amerika]] [[hr:Sjeverna Amerika]] [[id:Amerika Utara]] [[ia:America del Nord]] [[ie:America del Nord]] [[is:Norður-Ameríka]] [[it:America settentrionale]] [[he:אמריקה הצפונית]] [[jv:Amérika Lèr]] [[kl:Amerika Avannarleq]] [[kn:ಉತ್ತರ ಅಮೇರಿಕ]] [[ka:ჩრდილოეთი ამერიკა]] [[csb:Nordowô Amerika]] [[kk:Солтүстік Америка]] [[sw:Amerika ya Kaskazini]] [[ht:Amerik dinò]] [[ku:Emerîkaya Bakur]] [[lad:Amerika del Norte]] [[la:America Septentrionalis]] [[lv:Ziemeļamerika]] [[lb:Nord- a Mëttelamerika]] [[lt:Šiaurės Amerika]] [[lij:America do Nòrd]] [[li:Noord-Amerika]] [[jbo:bemtu'a]] [[lmo:America del Nòort]] [[hu:Észak-Amerika]] [[mk:Северна Америка]] [[ml:വടക്കേ അമേരിക്ക]] [[mr:उत्तर अमेरिका]] [[ms:Amerika Utara]] [[mn:Хойд Америк]] [[nl:Noord-Amerika]] [[ja:北アメリカ]] [[no:Nord-Amerika]] [[nn:Nord-Amerika]] [[nrm:Améthique du Nord]] [[nov:Nord Amerika]] [[oc:America del Nòrd]] [[om:North America]] [[nds:Noordamerika]] [[pl:Ameryka Północna]] [[pt:América do Norte]] [[crh:Şimaliy Amerika]] [[ksh:Nochd Ammärrika]] [[ro:America de Nord]] [[qu:Chinchay Awya Yala]] [[ru:Северная Америка]] [[se:Davvi-Amerihkká]] [[sco:North Americae]] [[sq:Amerika Veriore]] [[scn:Amèrica dû Nord]] [[simple:North America]] [[sk:Severná Amerika]] [[cu:Сѣверьна Амерїка]] [[sl:Severna Amerika]] [[szl:Amerika Půunocno]] [[so:Ameerikada waqooyi]] [[sr:Северна Америка]] [[sh:Severna Amerika]] [[fi:Pohjois-Amerikka]] [[sv:Nordamerika]] [[tl:Hilagang Amerika]] [[ta:வட அமெரிக்கா]] [[th:ทวีปอเมริกาเหนือ]] [[vi:Bắc Mỹ]] [[tg:Америкаи Шимолӣ]] [[tr:Kuzey Amerika]] [[uk:Північна Америка]] [[ur:شمالی امریکہ]] [[vec:Merica de sora]] [[fiu-vro:Põh'a-Ameeriga]] [[wo:Bëj-gànnaaru Aamerig]] [[yo:Ariwa Amerika]] [[zh-yue:北美洲]] [[bat-smg:Šiaurės Amerėka]] [[zh:北美洲]]