North America Map

Explore the map of North America, the third largest by area and the fourth most populated continent in the world. It comprises the North American peninsula, Central America, and the Caribbean. It is located in the northern hemisphere between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and is home to some major global economies like the United States and Canada. To explore more about the continents, check out our Continents Map.

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Disclaimer : All efforts have been made to make this image accurate. However MapSherpa, Inc, its directors and employees do not own any responsibility for the correctness or authenticity of the same.

About North America Map: Spread over 9.5 million sq miles, North America is the 3rd largest continent in the world. This huge continent consists of 23 independent states and 25 dependent territories. The map notes all the capital cities such as Washington D.C., Ottawa, Guatemala, Mexico City, Managua, San Salvador, Havana, Panama City, San Jose, Belmopan, Kingston, Tegucigalpa, Santo Domingo, Port-su-Prince, Nassau, and Port of Spain. The North America map also shows prominent rivers of the continent such as River Mackenzie, River Mississippi, River Missouri, and River Colorado. The important peaks such as Mt. Whitney, Mt. Washington, Mt. Hood, Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Elbert, Mt. Katahdin, Mt. Baker are also noted. The key landforms such as the Rocky Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, the Great Basin, the Edwards Plateau, the Sierra Madre, the Caribbean island nations, the Colorado Plateau, and the Pacific and Atlantic coastal regions are also displayed.

Other Continent Maps - World Continents Map, Map of Europe, Map of South America, Map of Asia, Map of North America, Map of Oceania, Map of Antarctica

Download More North American Maps

North America Blank Map — North America Outline Map

Mineral Map of North America — North America Mineral Map

Countries in North America

North America is home to 23 countries, each offering its own distinctive culture, landscapes, and history. For the individual map of each country, click on the country name in the below table.

Countries in North America
Antigua and Barbuda
The Bahamas
Barbados
Belize
Canada
Costa Rica
Cuba
Dominica
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Jamaica
Mexico
Nicaragua
Panama
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Trinidad and Tobago
United States of America

Where is North America

North America is a continent located in the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the Caribbean Sea and South America to the south.

Facts about North America

Despite being the third largest continent in the world, North America only ranks fourth when it comes to population, outranked by European population.
“America” comes from the name of Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci.
The Gulf of Mexico is the largest body of water indenting the continent.
North America's only land connection to South America is at the Isthmus of Panama.
Canada is the largest country in North America.
The first Native Americans are considered to have migrated from Asia.
Mt McKinley (20,322 ft above sea level) in Alaska – the highest point
Death Valley (282 ft below sea level) in California – the lowest point
The world’s longest coastline is in North America
North America is the only continent in the world that has all climatic types
The world’s largest fresh water lake is in North America : The Lake Superior

North America Timeline

900AD	Toltec civilization develops in present day Mexico
1000	Vikings visit coast of Newfoundland
1325	Aztecs establish Mexico City
1492	Christopher Columbus discovers the New World (the Americas)
1499-1502	Amerigo Vespucci recognizes the new world as a separate continent
1521	Spain defeats Aztecs and captures Mexico city
1605	First French settlement in Port Royal (present day Nova Scotia)
1607	First English settlement in Virginia Colony (Present day Virginia)
1775	Start of American Revolution
1776	USA gains independence from British Monarchy
1821	Mexico declares independence from Spain
1867	Four Canadian Colonies federate and create Dominion of Canada
1991	Cold War ends and era of economic expansion begins
1994	NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) is signed between USA, Canada, and Mexico creating world largest Free Trade Area
2004	CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement) is signed between Central American Countries

Content

History of North America Geography Economy Culture

History of North America

Anthropologists believe that early inhabitants arrived in North America between 25,000 to 11,000 years ago, with the first ones being Paleo-Indians. They possibly migrated through the Bering Land Bridge, using primitive boats. These people proliferated and created diverse communities across the continent. Much before the European exploration, the continent witnessed cultural advances with Aztecs emerging as one of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilizations. Mayan civilization in Central America developed a written language, built pyramids and made progress in mathematics. .The Mayan culture was present in Mexico and Guatemala till the time the Spanish explorers arrived in 1500.

It was the Age of Discovery, when Europeans began “exploring and staking claims” in several parts of North America. The native population dwindled owing to the violent conflicts and introduction of European diseases. After Britain, Spain, and France had fought against each other and established their presence in North America, several independence movements started across the continent in the late 18th century, leading to the creation of the modern countries.

The 13 British colonies on the North Atlantic Coast were declared independent in 1776, and they declared themselves as the United States of America. The northern territories controlled by Britain and France were unified to form Canada. New Spain (from modern-day southern US to Central America) became the first Mexican empire after its independence in 1810.

Geography of North America

Geography
North America is the third largest continent with an area of 9,540,000 square miles. It is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, the Pacific Ocean on the west, the Arctic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea & Atlantic ocean on the south.

North America is broadly divided into four great regions: the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin and Alaska in the west, and the plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast. The eastern region of the continent comprises the Appalachian Mountains, the Florida peninsula, and the coastal plain.

The Great Plains and the Mississippi River System are among the most interesting geographical features of North America. Except for a few hills, the Great Plains is generally a large swathe of treeless areas and shallow river valleys. Mississippi, stretching for 2,340 miles is the most important river in North America. It combines with its tributaries – Missouri and Ohio rivers – to become the third largest river system in the world, with a length of 3,875 miles.

North America is a home to numerous islands located off the continent's coasts. Greenland, the world's largest island, is a part of the continent geographically. As per the United States Geographical Survey (USGS), the geographic center of North America is about 15 miles from Rugby, North Dakota.

Geology

Canada is one of the oldest regions in the continent with large reserves of iron, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, and uranium.
The Canadian Shield in the north is known for its boreal forests which are the lifeline of the logging industry.
Central America is considered most active zone in the continent, as it witnesses frequent volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.
Sierra Madre de Chiapas and the Cordillera Isabelia, are the longest mountain ranges in Central America.

Biodiversity
The richness of biodiversity in Canada and the USA is directly linked to their diverse landscape and large areas. While continental US and Canada are known for their vascular plants and temperate forests, Hawaii is home to more than 1,800 species of flowering plants. Laurel forests, which are temperate evergreen cloud forests, could be seen in large swathes in the southernmost point of North America. More than 430 species of mammals are endemic to the continental U.S. White-tailed deer, American mink, American beaver, striped skunk, and red fox add diversity to the fauna of North America. Gray wolf, brown bear, caribou, wolverine, and the musk ox are synonymous with Canada.

The red-tailed hawk is seen often in the entire continent. Apart from cougars, Jaguars, and spider monkeys, the red brocket (deer) is also found in tropical forests – making the continent's fauna exclusive.

Climate
Greenland is the coldest region in the entire continent. The average temperatures hardly exceed 50° F even during the peak of summer. Canada is known for harsh winters owing to its continental climate. Coastal regions, including British Columbia, have a temperate climate with mild winters and warm summers with average temperature ranging from 77 to 86° F.

Different climatic zones exist in the USA. While south Florida and Hawaii have a tropical climate, the Great Plains witness semi-arid climate. The Mediterranean climate in coastal California is in sharp contrast to the sub-Arctic climate of Alaska. North Mexico has a dry climate, unlike the tropical lowlands of the southern part of the country – which witnesses an average rainfall of more than 2,000 mm. The capital city of Mexico remains pleasant throughout the year with the difference between mean summer and winter temperatures being approximately 11 to 14 °F.

Demography
The United States is the most populous country in North America with a total population of 322,179,605 (2016). Mexico comes a distant second with a population of 127,540,423 (2016). Canada is the third largest country with a population of 36,289,822 (2016). North America is also home to the biggest island, Greenland, which also has the world's lowest population density. Some of the Caribbean island-nations such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago have large cities with populations greater than one million.

English, Spanish, and French are the dominant languages of the continent. In Canada, English and French are considered co-official languages. In fact, places such as Ontario, Manitoba, and the US state of Louisiana have a significant French-speaking population. Mexican is widely spoken in the southern part of the USA. Greenland has a significant Danish-speaking population and Dutch is spoken in some of the Caribbean nations.

A large chunk of North America’s population is found in the U.S.A., Mexico, and Canada, and Christianity is the dominant religion in these countries. Followers of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism have also made inroads into this continent.

Politics
Democracy dominates the political system in the Caribbean with the presence of a one-party system, multi-party systems, and two-party systems. While Cuba is a revolutionary socialist democracy with a one-party system, Jamaica and Barbados are among the anglophone nations that have two-party systems. The multi-party system is evident in countries such as Haiti and Suriname. The US is a two-party system dominated by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. While the democrats support a modern American liberal platform, the Republicans favor a conservative platform.

Like the US, Mexico has a congressional system of government wherein the President is the head of state and head of government. Politics of Canada stands out as it is considered a constitutional monarchy which means the Monarch is the head of the state. The country has a multi-party system and follows the principles of parliamentary democracy.

Infrastructure

Railways
North America has an extensive railway network. The United States, Canada, and Mexico have an interconnected rail system. Freight-oriented railways in Mexico have a railroad network that connects the US. Panama Canal Railway, connecting the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean. The railway line runs parallel to the Panama Canal. Guatemala runs occasional chartered tourist trains across the country. Cuba's railway system is the only one in the Caribbean islands. It provides both passenger and freight services within the country.

Roadways
Pan-American Highway is a network of roads totaling a length of about 30,000 miles. It links almost all the mainland nations. This is considered the world's longest "motorable road." The U.S.A. has the world's largest road network with 4 million miles of roadways including interstate highways and U.S. Highways.

The Trans-Canada Highway is the lifeline of Canada. In fact, Canada and the U.S.A. have built the Alaska Highway that connects Anchorage (Alaska) to Canada and the rest of the United States. Mexico also has a large road network of 201,310 miles. The Inter-American Highway, which is a section of Pan-American Highway in Central America, runs for 3,400 miles between Nuevo Laredo (Mexico), and Panama City (Panama).

Waterways
Like Alaska, several North American islands are not linked to the continental road network and are served by ferries or private boats. West Indies, Vancouver Island, and Newfoundland (island) are some of the examples. Alaska's state-owned ferry system (Alaska Marine Highway) serves the local transportation purpose. The same system operates a ferry service from Bellingham (Washington) to British Columbia in Canada. The rail ferry service between Alaska and British Columbia is one of the few such services in the entire world. Panama operates one of the busiest waterways in the world – the Panama Canal. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Airways
The popularity of air travel as a feasible mode of transport was felt following the World War II. The busiest airports in North America are located in the United States. Except for the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, nine out of the 10 busiest airports are in the U.S.A. Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta) and O'Hare International Airport (Chicago) are among the major gateways to North America. While Panama has around 53 airports with paved runways, Cuba's state-owned airline 'Cubana' serves several destinations in North, Central, and South America along with Europe and the Caribbean

Economy of North America

Economy
Of all the nations in North America, the U.S.A. has the largest economy. The country's estimated gross domestic product (PPP), as per 2018 estimates is $ 20,513,000 million. Mexico stands second with its GDP (PPP) at $ 2,575,206 million. Canada's GDP (PPP) is $1,852,514 million.

The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is one of the largest trade blocs in the world with its member nations – USA, Canada, and Mexico – establishing strong economic cooperation to eliminate trade barriers. The Caribbean trade bloc, CARICOM (Caribbean Community), is one of the earliest entities formed on July 4, 1973 with an objective of promoting economic integration among the 15 Caribbean nations.

Culture of North America

Food
Cuisine in North America is as varied as its topography. While Caribou stew, smoked salmon, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, and Montreal-style smoked meat are a craze in Canada, the US swears by its hamburgers, pies, and hot dogs. Rice and fish is the staple food of the Caribbean. Flying fish, lobster, crab soup, turtle stew, and meat pies are common in almost every island in the region. Coconut is a dominant ingredient in the curries. In fact, the cuisine of Southeastern Mexico also has a Caribbean influence. Seafood is more popular in regions close to the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Cuban dishes are mostly sautéed or slow-cooked. Sofrito, which is widely used for seasoning, adds a distinctive flavor to the native cuisine. Stews, meat dishes, and tomato-based sauces are quite a hit among the locals.

Music
From Mexican Mariachi to American Rock & Roll, North America is known for introducing several genres of music to the world. Cuban music is inspired by various musical styles like salsa, mambo, and the cha-cha-cha. Popular Cuban music has strong African and European influences. The evolution of Caribbean music is largely attributed to the descendants of African slaves. Calypso and reggae are some of the genres that got worldwide popularity. Celine Dion and Shania Twain are the names that continue to bring the focus back to Canadian music.

Art & Sculpture
The Afro-American and European sculptors, who migrated to the US, revived the classical tradition and gave prominence to the idea of American Expressionism. After artists such as Jackson Pollock showed interest in Native American art, several American artists followed suit and began to recreate their traditional art. They also gave birth to a new art, blending European and Native American ideas. Cuba has a long tradition when it comes to visual arts. The country has witnessed a steady transition from pre-revolution modernist masterpieces to contemporary paintings and sculptures.

The mural paintings of Mexico is revered by art lovers all over the world. The immediate impact of the Mexican Revolution (1910 to 1920) on Mexican art was 'dramatic', to say the least. Apart from murals, paintings with nationalistic and political messages were created on public buildings, and they had established a tradition in other parts of the Americas.

Design & Architecture
The US is distinctly known for its ability to create the tallest and the swankiest buildings of the world. In Mexico, it is common to find colonial architecture with traces of Baroque style. The Meso-American architecture is noted for its pyramidal structures. The colorful colonial buildings on the streets of Cuba are among the most photographed architecture. Besides, the country includes an assortment of styles and influences for creating a uniquely Cuban-style of architecture.

Literature
American literature has wowed the world with its dedicated practitioners dishing out thought-provoking ideas through novels, verses, essays, and plays. The world vividly remembers names such as T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost, and Ezra Pound. Modern playwrights such as Tennessee Williams & Arthur Miller and novelists such as Toni Morrison, Virginia Woolf,William Faulkner & Ernest Hemingway are amongst the doyens of American literature. Mexican literature is also known for its prolific patrons and globally recognized authors. Cuban literature has received a belated recognition. Its themes of freedom and independence got prominence not before the advent of the 19th century.

Cinema
Hollywood, or the American movie industry, is perhaps the most popular across the world. It is closely intertwined with the Canadian cinema which finds a respectable position in the world cinema.

The Golden Age of Mexican cinema (1936 and 1969) has left the movie buffs with much to relish. Salma Hayek is another name that is inherently linked to Mexican and world cinema. Movies such as 'I Am Cuba' (1964) and 'The Last Supper' (1976) brought limelight on Cuban cinema. In fact, the 'Imperfect Cinema' of Cuba has been widely acknowledged as very thought-provoking and ingenious works of art.