North America is one of the most culturally diverse continents. It is home to hundreds of nations and cultures.
Geographical Facts About North America
- There are 23 countries located in North America. The largest of them are the US, Canada, and Mexico. These countries are also the most populous on the continent.
- Some North American countries are island states: Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, Bahamas, and Barbados.
- The largest country in North America is Canada, with an area of approximately 9.98 million square kilometers (3.85 million square miles). Canada is the second largest country in the world by land area, after Russia.
- The smallest North American country is Saint Kitts and Nevis, with a total area of just 261 square kilometers (101 square miles). Saint Kitts and Nevis is a two-island nation in the Caribbean, located southeast of Puerto Rico. Thus, the difference in size between the largest and smallest countries in North America is significant, with Canada being almost 38,000 times larger than Saint Kitts and Nevis.
- North America and Russia are separated by the Bering Strait, which is only 82 kilometers (51 miles) wide. The Bering Strait is a narrow passage of water that separates the Russian Far East from the state of Alaska.
- This is the third largest continent, after Asia and Africa. It covers an area of approximately 24.7 million square kilometers (9.5 million square miles) This counts for 16.5% of the landmass of our planet. Asia is the largest continent, with an area of approximately 44.6 million square kilometers (17.2 million square miles). Africa is the second largest continent, with an area of approximately 30.2 million square kilometers (11.7 million square miles).
Nature Facts About North America
- The longest river in North America is the Missouri River. It stretches for approximately 3,767 kilometers (2,341 miles) from its headwaters in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana to its confluence with the Mississippi River.
- It’s known that the highest waterfall in North America is Yosemite Falls. It’s located in Yosemite National Park in California. Yosemite Falls has a total height of 739 meters (2,425 feet), making it one of the tallest waterfalls in the world.
- The largest lake in North America is Lake Superior, which is located on the border of the United States and Canada. Lake Superior has a surface area of approximately 82,100 square kilometers (31,700 square miles). It means that Lake Superior is 315 times larger than Saint Kitts and Nevis!
- What about the highest mountain peak in North America? That’s Mount Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, which is located in the Alaska Range. The mountain has an elevation of 6,190 meters (20,310 feet) above sea level, making it the highest peak on the continent.
- The coldest inhabited place in North America is likely Snag, Yukon, Canada. On February 3, 1947, the temperature in Snag dropped to a bone-chilling -63°C (-81°F), which is the lowest temperature ever recorded in the continental part of the continent.
More Facts
- The richest country in North America is the United States. As of 2021, the United States has the largest economy in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of over $22 trillion.
- Also, the poorest country in North America is Haiti. Haiti is one of the least developed countries in the world, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately $8.5 billion. It faces numerous economic and social challenges, including widespread poverty, limited infrastructure, and political instability.
- There are over 1,500 animal species here that are considered to be at risk of extinction. These include species such as the Mexican wolf, the California condor, and the eastern cougar, among others.
- Based on recent crime statistics and rankings, some of the cities that are frequently cited as the most dangerous on the continent include Caracas in Venezuela, Tijuana in Mexico, San Pedro Sula in Honduras, San Salvador in Salvador, and St. Louis in the US.
- A part of the continent technically belongs to Europe. That’s Greenland, the largest island in the world.
Population And Culture
- The largest city in North America is Mexico City, the capital of Mexico. According to the United Nations, its metropolitan area had a population of approximately 21.7 million people.
- North America is not the most popular destination for immigrants from around the world. In 2020 North America had an estimated 59 million international migrants living within its borders, which represents about 14% of the world’s total migrant population. By this measure, this continent is the third most popular destination for international migrants, after Europe and Asia.
- It is estimated that there are over 350 different languages spoken here, including both indigenous and non-indigenous languages. Many of these languages are spoken by only a small number of people and are at risk of extinction.
- According to the United Nations, the estimated population of North America as of 2022 is about 600 million people. This represents about 7.5% of the world’s total population. The majority of the population is concentrated in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.