Where is North America?

Part of GeographyThe 7 continentsYear 3Year 4

Map of North America

A map of North America.
Image caption,
Map of North America.
  • North America is the third largest continent in the world.
  • North America is located in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • The largest country in North America by land area is Canada.
  • The United States of America (USA) has the largest population in North America.
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Physical geography

Taiga Forest in Canada covered in snow.
Image caption,
Taiga Forest in Canada
  • The taiga forest is a biome spread over several continents in the Northern Hemisphere.
  • There are large areas of taiga forest in Canada in North America. These areas have short, cool summers and very cold winters.
  • The taiga forest is full of pine and spruce trees which have adapted to the cold climate. They have thick bark and keep their leaves in winter.
Taiga Forest in Canada covered in snow.
Image caption,
Taiga Forest in Canada
Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica.
Image caption,
Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica
  • Arenal Volcano is an active volcano in Costa Rica, which is in the south part of North America. It had an intense eruption period which lasted from 1968 until 2010 - over 40 years.
  • The Missouri River is the longest river in North America and flows for nearly 4,000 km.
  • North America has a diverse climate because of its size. It is very cold in the north, near the Arctic Circle. It is very warm in the south, close to the Equator.
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Human geography

Skyscrapers in New York, United States of America.
Image caption,
Skyscrapers in New York, United States of America.
  • Key cities in North America include Mexico City (in Mexico), New York (in the USA), Toronto (in Canada) and Havana (Cuba).
  • New York is popular with tourists who visit landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Central Park.
  • The Panama Canal is a human-made waterway that allows ships to travel between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. Before the canal’s construction, ships would have had to travel all the way around the tip of South America.
Skyscrapers in New York, United States of America.
Image caption,
Skyscrapers in New York, United States of America.
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Activity: Quiz – North America

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