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North America

Subject: Social Studies and Population Education

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Overview

North America is the third largest continent in the world with an area of 24,227,000 sq.km. It extends from 18 degree north to 82 degree north latitude and longitudes from 20 degree west to 165 degree west. This note provides us the brief description about physical features and socio-economic life of North America.
North America

North America is the third largest continent in the world with an area of 24,227,000 sq.km. It extends from 180N to 820N latitude and longitudes from 200W to 1650W. Pacific Ocean lies to the west and Atlantic lies to the east. The Arctic Ocean lies to the north while the South America to its South.

The Panama Isthmus joins North America and South America.

Physical divisions

The physical division of North America is divided into three.

  • The Rocky Mountains lie all along the western coast.
  • Central Lowlands: They lie between the western mountains and eastern highlands.
  • The Eastern Highlands: The eastern part of the continent is made up of highlands like Plateau of Greenland in the north, the Canadian Shield in the middle and the Appalachian Mountains in the south.

Mississippi, Missouri, St. Lawrence, etc. are the major rivers.

Climate and Natural Vegetation

The climate of this continent is affected by the latitude, the western mountains, cold polar winds, etc. Most part of the continent lies in the temperate zone. There is extensive pine forest in the north of the continent and equatorial rainforest in the south.

People

Nearly 460 million people reside in this continent. Europeans were the original inhabitants, but Eskimos and Red Indians are also living here. Most of the people here are Christians. They have a high living standard. English is the major language. However, other languages like French and Spanish are also widely spoken here.

Things to remember
  •  North America is the third largest continent in the world with an area of 24,227,000 sq.km.
  • The climate of this continent is affected by the latitude, the western mountains, cold polar winds, etc.
  • Europeans were the original inhabitants but Eskimos and Red Indians are also living in North America .
  • It includes every relationship which established among the people.
  • There can be more than one community in a society. Community smaller than society.
  • It is a network of social relationships which cannot see or touched.
  • common interests and common objectives are not necessary for society.
Videos for North America
Countries of the world -North America with Capital Cities and flags
North America- Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife - Part 1
North America- Climate, Vegetation and Wildlife - Part 2
North America- Industry, Trade and People
North America- Location and Boundaries
North America- Physical Features
Questions and Answers

Fishery business has developed in New found Land of Canada because it is a meeting point of warm and cold currents where a lot of sea organisms on which fish live are found.

The countries of North America and their capitals are given below:
COUNTRY CAPITAL
Canada Ottawa
United States of America Washington DC
Mexico Mexico city
Guatemala Guatemala city
Belize Belmopan
Honduras Tegucigalpa
Nicaragua Managua
Costa Rica San Jose
Panama Panama city
Jamaica Kingston
Cuba Havana
Haiti Port-au-Prince
Dominican Republic Santo Domingo
Antigua and Bermuda's Saint Johns
Bahamas Nassau
El Salvador San Salvador
St Christopher- Nevis Basseterre
Dominica Roseau
St Vincent and the grenadines Grenada St George
St Lucia Castries
Barbados Bridgetown
Trinidad and Tobago Part of Spain

Eastern highlands are old fold mountains which have been denuded over millions of years. They form a complicated highland system. There are three highland areas within eastern highlands in North America. In the extreme north, there is the plateau of Greenland. The Labrador plateau and the laureate highland cover a great are of Canada to the north of St. Lawrence valley. Further south of St. Lawrence valley in the United States lie in the Appalachian highland. These highlands extreme form new found land to Alabama. East of the Appalachian Ranges lay the plateau and the piedmont Atlantic coastal plain.

Grand Canyon is 1800 meters deep.

Niagara Falls is in between Lake Eire and Lake Ontario.

The Inuits are the natives of Canada. Besides this, the people from Britain and France have immigrated to Canada too.

Death Valley is the hottest place in North America.

The three major physical region of North America are as follows:

  1. The Western cordilleras
  2. The Central lowlands
  3. The Eastern highlands
The Eastern highlands:
The eastern highlands are old fold mountains which have been denuded over millions of years. There are three highland areas in North America. In the extreme north, there is a high plateau of Greenland. The labrador plateau and the Laurentian highland cover a great area of Canada to the north of the St. Lawrence valley. Further south of St.Lawrence valley in the United States lies the Appalachian highlands.

Nine types of climate are found in North America. They are as follows:

  1. The Tundra climate
  2. The British type of climate
  3. The Siberian type of climate
  4. The St. Lawrence type of climate
  5. The Mediterranean climate
  6. The Hot desert and temperate desert climate
  7. The temperate continental climate
  8. The China type of climate
  9. The Tropical wet climate

The highest mountain of North America is the Mt. McKenley (Alaska) 6194 m high.

Bering Strait separates Asia from North America.

The important rivers of North America are Yukon, Mississippi and Colorado.

Iron and Nickel are two minerals available there.

The main specialty of the prairies of North America and Downs of Australia is that they both have a cool temperate climate that is suitable for wheat production and animal rearing.

The eastern part of North America is more developed because natural resources are wisely utilized and there is political stability too.

Map of North America
Map of North America
Quiz

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