North America is a continent of high mountains, great plains, lakes and deserts, stretching from the Arctic to the tropical shores of Central America and the Caribbean.
The man-made wonders of North America include the Maya city of Chichen Itza and the pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico, the jungle temples of Tikal in Guatemala, and the Panama Canal.
Famous landmarks in the United States and Canada include the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building in New York, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and the CN Tower in Toronto.
Natural wonders of North America range from the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Niagara Falls to the Belize Barrier Reef, the northern lights over Alaska and Parícutin Volcano in Mexico.
North America is the northern continent of the Americas, lying between the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
The Caribbean Sea borders North America to the south. The narrow Isthmus of Panama joins North America to South America and is North America's only land connection to another continent.
In the far northwest, the Bering Strait separates Alaska from the mainland of Asia. In the northeast, the Denmark Strait separates Greenland from Iceland.
Most of North America lies between the Arctic Circle and the Tropic of Cancer.
No, North America is not a country. North America is a continent made up of many countries, from Canada and the United States in the north to Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean island nations.
The United Nations uses a smaller region, Northern America, for Canada, the United States, Greenland, Bermuda, and Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Together, Northern America, Central America, and the Caribbean make up North America on the United Nations list.
No, America is not a continent. North America and South America are two separate continents, which together make up the landmass known as the Americas.
The seven continents are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Oceania. The Americas are also known as the New World and the Western Hemisphere.
In everyday English, America is also shorthand for the United States of America.
There are 23 countries in North America, according to the United Nations list of countries by region. All 23 North American countries are United Nations member states.
The 23 countries of North America are the following.
North America also includes 18 territories that are not independent countries, such as Greenland, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory. Bermuda is a territory of the United Kingdom.
North America covers 24,230,000 km² (9,355,000 sq mi), making it the third-largest continent on Earth, after Asia and Africa. North America is larger than South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Oceania.
From north to south, North America measures about 8,000 km (5,000 mi). From east to west, North America is about 8,000 km (5,000 mi) wide at its widest point.
At its northern and southern ends, North America reaches within about 800 km (500 mi) of the North Pole and the Equator.
The map below shows the wonders in North America. Click a pin to open a guide.
Zion National Park is located in the southwest corner of Utah east of I-15 (Interstate highway 15 in Utah). It is roughly 300 miles south of Salt Lake City, near Springdale and 160 miles northeast of Las Vegas. Zion National Park encompasses some 150,000 acres of natural canyon country east of St. George, Utah, including […]
Rocky Mountain National Park is located in the north central region of the U.S. state of Colorado in the Rockies, and includes the Continental Divide and the headwaters of the Colorado River. The park is surrounded by Roosevelt National Forest on the north and east, Routt National Forest on the northwest, and Arapaho National Forest […]
Niagara Falls is massive waterfalls on the Niagara River, which is right on the border between Canada and the United States. The Falls are located 27 km north-northwest of Buffalo, New York and 120 km south-southeast of Toronto, Ontario, between the twin cities of Niagara Falls, Ontario, and Niagara Falls, New York. Niagara Falls is […]
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is located near Keystone at 40 km southwest of Rapid City, in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Mount Rushmore is a memorial to the growth and development of the United States of America and represents the first 150 years of the history of the United States of America. The sculptured […]
The White House Complex is located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C. The building contains a total of 132 rooms; it includes living quarters for the president, the presidential family, and staff and public rooms for dinners, concerts, and receptions. In conclusion six floors: two basements, two public floors, and two floors for […]
The capitol is located at the eastern end of the National Mall on a plateau, 88 feet above the Potomac River in Washington D.C., United States. The United States Capitol serves as the seat of government for the United States Congress, and the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. The neoclassical dome of the […]
The Archaeological Site of Xochicalco is located in the municipalities of Temixco and Miacatlán in the Mexican State of Morelos, 38 kilometres southwest of Cuernavaca and 76 miles from Mexico City. As well as its historical affinities with both the Maya area and the Toluca Valley, nowadays there are still some residents of the Cuentepec […]
The natural site of Xel Há, or Xelhá written in Spanish, is a Maya term which means spring (xel) and water (ha’) referring to the place where the water rises. It is located on the Caribbean coast, in the Mexican State of Quintana Roo, within the Riviera Maya, about 122 kilometres to the south of […]
The Archaeological site of Uxmal, Óoxmáal in Yucatec Maya, is located 78 kilometres south of Mérida, Yucatán; and 15 kilometres southeast of the town of Muna; at 78 feet above sea level; and travelling by car it is about 1.5 hours from Mérida. Despite of the continuous studying of the archaeological site to consolidate and […]
Tulum, which is written as Tulu'um in Modern Maya and translated as wall or fortification, was the principal port and walled city for Cobá, the large ruined city of the Pre-Columbian Maya civilization. Located in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, it is on 39 feet cliffs extended all over the east coast of the […]
El Tajín which means City of thunder, hurricane or lighting in Totanac language is located in what nowadays is the municipality of Poza Rica in Veracruz, Mexico. Despite of not being completely excavated, this amazing archaeological site has almost 150 buildings, and just 20 of them have being restored. Consider also, one of many enigmatic […]
How did a volcano grow out of a Mexican farmer's cornfield? The story of Parícutin Volcano, how it formed, the church it buried, and how to...
Palenque is located in the Mexican State of Chiapas, really near to the Usumacinta River. Although Palenque is smaller than many other Maya sites, its fine architecture, roof comb, sculpture and bas-relief attracts more tourists. Considered as one of the most captivating places of Mexico, the ancient city is full of mysterious; in addition its […]
Monte Albán is one of the biggest pre-Columbian archaeological sites in the south of the State of Oaxaca, Mexico. Its location is over some low mountains that are rising above the Valley of Oaxaca, between Tlacolula, Etla, and Zimatlán/Ocotlán valleys. Currently, it is located about 9 kilometres west of now is Oaxaca City. The ceremonial […]
The Copper Canyon, in Spanish Barranca del Cobre, is located all over the Sierra Madre Occidental Range in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico; nowadays, they are in what is north-western Mexico. It is one of the youngest geological formations, and casually, they are also the largest in the North American continent, alike the Grand Canyon […]
The Cacahuamilpa Caves National Park or Grutas de Cacahuamilpa as is named in Spanish; comes from the etymologic Cacahuamilpa word of the Náhuatl language, which means peanuts sowing. It is situated inside of the physiographic province of Sierra Madre South, in the north zone of Guerrero State, Mexico. Also, it can be situated 52 kilometres […]
Yellowstone National Park is situated primarily in northwestern Wyoming and partly in southern Montana and eastern Idaho. The park includes the greatest concentration of geothermal features of the world. The park covers 8,983 square km and consists mostly of broad volcanic plateaus with an average elevation of 2,440 meters. Among the mountain ranges that protrude […]
Everglades National Park is located in the U.S. state of Florida about 20 miles east of Biscayne National Park. It is protecting the largest U.S. wilderness area east of the Mississippi River, the park is the perfect and most significant place for the breeding ground and reproduction of tropical birds that are resided in North […]
Walt Disney World Resort is situated about 32 kilometres southwest of Orlando, in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. But the entire property is outside of the Orlando area. A part of the resort is in Orlando's limits, other one at southwest of Orange County, and the rest in the south neighbouring county of Osceola, Walt Disney […]
Yosemite National Park is located in the central Sierra Nevada of California, at the eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa, and Madera counties in east central of California. The park covers an area of 3,081 km² and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain. The park is approximately the size of Rhode […]
The Sequoia National Park is located in the southern Sierra Nevada at east of Visalia, California. It spans over 404 acres. In the park are 35 groves of giant sequoias, spectacular granite mountains, and deep canyons. The park is well known for its Giant Sequoia trees, many groves of the giant sequoia are found along […]
Death Valley is the lowest, driest and hottest valley in the United States. Located at the southeast of the Sierra Nevada range in the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert, mostly located on Inyo County, California. The Valley is located principally between the Amargosa Range to the east and the Panamint Range to the west; […]
The Acadia National Park is the smallest national park in the United States. Located on the rugged coast of the Down East region of Maine, near the town of Bar Harbor, the park consists of 123 km² on Mount Desert Island, 11 km² on Au Haut Isle and 9.2 km² on the Schoodic Peninsula. The […]
Grand Canyon facts, history and first-hand travel advice. Find out which rim to visit, when to go, how to reach the canyon floor, and where to stay...
National Geographic's 7 Natural Wonders of America are the Grand Canyon, the coastal redwoods of California, Niagara Falls, the Appalachian Mountains, the Everglades, Yellowstone, and the volcanoes of Hawaii.
The Nat Geo list was presented in conjunction with ABC News on July 4, 2026, for the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The following North American wonders are on the world wonder lists.
North America is known for its rich natural resources, its lakes and rivers, and the highest average income per person of any continent.
North America's natural resources include great mineral wealth, vast forests, huge amounts of fresh water, and some of the world's most fertile soils.
Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie and Ontario, the Great Lakes of east-central North America, form the largest surface of fresh water in the world. The Mississippi River is the longest river in North America. The Missouri River, the longest tributary of the Mississippi, is the second-longest river in North America.
North America also contains some of Earth's oldest rocks in the Canadian Shield, a platform of ancient rock at the continent's core.
Mount McKinley, also known as Denali, in Alaska, is the highest mountain in North America, rising 6,190 m (20,310 ft) above sea level.
Mount McKinley was named after William McKinley, the 25th President of the United States, in 1917. In 2015, the mountain's name was changed to Denali for federal use. In January 2025, the US Department of the Interior restored the name Mount McKinley for federal use.
Mount McKinley stands in Denali National Park and Preserve, in south-central Alaska.
Yes, Mexico is in North America. Mexico is a country of southern North America, bordering the United States to the north and Guatemala and Belize to the south.
The United Nations places Mexico in Central America, part of North America, and excludes it from the smaller Northern America region.
Some geographers draw the line between North America and Central America at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in southern Mexico. On that definition, part of southern Mexico lies in Central America.
Yes, Central America is part of North America. Central America is the narrow southern part of the North American mainland, between Mexico and South America.
Central America is made up of 7 countries: Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. On the United Nations list, Central America has 8 countries, because Mexico is included.
Panama, on the Isthmus of Panama, is the southernmost country of North America. The Panama Canal cuts across Panama from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Yes, the Caribbean is part of North America. The United Nations counts the Caribbean islands, also called the West Indies, as part of North America.
The Caribbean islands form a crescent about 3,200 km (2,000 mi) long, from Florida to the north coast of Venezuela, separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea from the Atlantic Ocean. Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic) and Puerto Rico are the Greater Antilles, the islands along the northern edge of the Caribbean Sea.
Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and Curaçao sit on the South American continental shelf, close to Venezuela. The United Nations still counts these islands as part of the Caribbean region of North America.
Yes, Greenland is geographically part of North America.
Greenland, the world's largest island, lies in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of mainland Canada. Only 26 km (16 mi) of sea separates northern Greenland from Canada's Ellesmere Island.
Greenland is physically close to North America but culturally divided from the North American mainland. Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but Greenland's home-rule government handles most domestic affairs on the island.
The United States is in North America. The 48 contiguous states lie between Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean.
Alaska lies in the far northwest of North America and borders Canada. US territories in the Caribbean, such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, are also in North America.
Hawaii is the one US state outside the North American continent.
No, Hawaii is not geographically part of North America, although Hawaii is a US state. The Hawaiian Islands are a group of volcanic islands in the central Pacific Ocean, 3,857 km (2,397 mi) from San Francisco.
Geographically, Hawaii belongs to Polynesia, the triangle of Pacific islands with the Hawaiian Islands at its northern tip and New Zealand and Easter Island at its other corners. Polynesia is part of Oceania.
Hawaii became the 50th US state on August 21, 1959.
Canada is the largest country in North America, covering 9,985,000 km² (3,855,000 sq mi), according to the United Nations. Canada is also the second-largest country in the world, after Russia.
Canada covers roughly the northern two-fifths of North America and extends north into the Arctic.
The United States is the second-largest country in North America, at 9,834,000 km² (3,797,000 sq mi). Mexico is the third-largest, at 1,964,000 km² (758,000 sq mi).
Mexico City is the largest city in North America, ahead of New York City. In 2020, the Mexico City metropolitan area had 23,146,802 people, against 20,140,470 in the New York metropolitan area.
The Mexico City metropolitan area extends beyond city limits into the surrounding state of México. Within its city limits, Mexico City had 9,209,944 people in 2020, while New York City had 8,804,190.
America is named after Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian merchant and navigator and one of the earliest European explorers of the New World. The name America first appeared on a world map made in 1507 by the German mapmaker Martin Waldseemüller.
Waldseemüller used the name America only for the lands now called South America. Soon after, the name America spread to the whole landmass. The northern part of the landmass became known as North America.
The only surviving copy of the 1507 Waldseemüller map is kept at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.