North America

North America is a large continent (3rd largest in area), stretching from the Arctic Ocean in the north, to the Caribbean Sea in the south, and bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, and the Pacific on the west. Although quite a large landmass, geopolitically there are only three countries generally associated as being a part of North America: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. While the countries of Central America are physically a part of the continent, they are usually referred to as a different political, economic, and social region.

The continent of North America has a variety of different climatic regions, ranging from the Arctic in northern Canada, to the subtropical in Mexico and Florida. The region contains deserts found in the western U.S. and Mexico, and several mountain ranges including the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the U.S., and the Appalachians in the eastern U.S. Mexico’s Pacific coast contains the Sierra Madre ranges, which are an extension of the Rockies. The western regions of the continent are seismically active, and earthquakes and volcanoes can occur along the Pacific states.

Before the arrival of the European explorers, many different native tribes inhabited these lands, with the Aztecs and Mayans in Mexico building the greatest civilization in the region. Throughout what is present-day United States and Canada, Native American tribes such as the Sioux, Delaware, Apache, Seminole, and Anasazi, were some of the earlier inhabitants. The American southwest is a particularly interesting part of the country relating to Native American history, as the Pueblo Peoples, or Anasazi, left behind many elements of their civilization-which dates back to at least 1200 BC. Further south in Mexico, the Mayans, Aztecs, Olmecs, were all highly advanced civilizations who left behind temples, artifacts, and monuments. The Maya were not only the most advanced civilization in the New World, but developed many concepts-such as the calendar, use of the number zero, and the mapping of seasons and heavens-centuries before their Old World counterparts.

Today, North America-and the United States, in particular-is, in many ways the most advanced country, and the most advanced region in the world, and certainly the wealthiest and most powerful. Canada also is a totally developed and advanced country, but due to a much smaller population, does not have the influence in the world that the U.S. does. Mexico is a populous country, benefiting from vast natural resources, diverse landscape, and has a varied economy. Although it is still a developing country, plagued by poverty and in many parts still lacking in infrastructure, it cultivates strong ties with the U.S. and Canada, and the three countries trade freely between each other.

North America contains some of the most important and influential cities in the world, with New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Washington D.C., Mexico City, San Francisco, and Chicago all having great influence on the modern world. From arts, economics, sports, literature, architecture, cuisine, and politics, North America is one of the leaders of the world on almost any front.

Tourism in the region is highly important, and as all three countries work closely together, have well-developed travel infrastructure, along with many places of interest, and high levels of security, tourism in the region remains high. Tourism in Mexico is of a special importance, as it is one of the country’s major sources of income. Mexico has two long coastlines on either side spanning the Gulf of Mexico, and along the Pacific on the other. Unlike the U.S. and Canada, which, for the most part, have cold winters, Mexico is warm and sunny most of the year.