North America - Βόρεια Αμερική

THE North America is the third largest continent, with an area of ​​24,221,490 km² (9,351,969 sq mi). It is located in the northern hemisphere, between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean and north of South America. The highest point in North America is Mount McKinley in Alaska, which rises 6,194 m (20,320 ft) above sea level.

Countries and continental sectors

North America is made up of three large nation-states and a large island region that covers most of its area. These states are the Canada, the United States of America, the Mexico and the Greenland. There are also seven smaller ethnic southern extremities (collectively known as Central America), about two dozen island nations and regions of various sizes in Caribbean. There is also a secluded French area on the Canadian Atlantic coast. Although the regions of Central America and the Caribbean are technically part of the North American continent, they are usually listed separately from their larger neighbors to the north for cultural and geographical reasons.

Territories

• Bermuda His territory United Kingdom
• Saint Pierre and Miquelon Part of France

Cities

• Havana - the capital of Cuba famous for its cigars and its strong Spanish culture and legendary nightlife
• Kingston - the cosmopolitan center of Afro-Caribbean culture, the capital of Reggae music
• Los Angeles - Hollywood and movie stars, mountains, beaches and a lot of traffic
• Mexico City - the third largest city in the world full of museums, architecture of past centuries ... and people
• New York - Center of North American Trade and Culture
• Panama City - friendly city, link between the two continents
• Toronto - Canada's largest city, a cosmopolitan pot with national enclaves and cultural attractions
• Vancouver - a city of glass and steel of exceptional natural beauty, where you can go skiing or sit on the beach the same day
• Metropolitan Washington - the capital of the United States with many cultural and historical attractions

Other destinations

• Banff National Park
• Chichen Itza
• Corcovado National Park
• Grand Canyon
• Niagara waterfalls
• Teotihuacan
• Tikal
• The Walt Disney World
• Yellowstone National Park

At a glance

Before Christopher Columbus established transatlantic contact in 1492, America was inhabited by a wide range of indigenous peoples. While at a lower level of technology than Europe, they had large populations and developed trade networks. However, the contacts brought many Eurasian diseases to the locals, which probably caused the largest mass death in human history (estimates exceed 200 million). While this was largely unintentional, they broke the local forces and left the continent open to the Europeans. Colonialism and conquest followed quickly, as Europe sent adventurous souls to the ocean in the "New World". The locals were still a major military force until the 19th century, but as the Europeans moved west, they soon became allies and subjects instead of independent forces. The last independent tribes were conquered in the 1870s, although occasional uprisings occurred later.

The European conquest was mainly English, French and Spanish, although the Dutch, Danes and Russians also controlled some areas. Initially, they were small outposts for the production of valuable crops such as gold, cotton, tobacco, fur and sugar, but over time, as the population grew, cultivation and logging increased, especially in the English and French regions. The French lost the vast majority of their territory in the Seventh War (1756-63), but the economic cost of this war, among other causes, led much of British territory to revolt in 1776 and eventually form the United States of America. Rapid decolonization followed in the 19th century, either by uprising (as in cases such as Haiti and Mexico), or by peaceful agreement (as in cases such as Canada).

North America has seen relatively few wars in the European period. In addition to the various uprisings and civil wars around the continent, the Americans fought the British in 1812, the Mexicans in 1848, and the Spanish in 1898. Therefore, there are few such military ruins that affect Europe and the Mediterranean basin. and North Americans have little history of conflict with the rest of the world. Conversely, North America has a much more relevant history of slavery than most other regions, with millions of predominantly African slaves being forced to work in mines and plantations from the 16th to 19th centuries. The legacy of this event has waned over time, but it is still a relevant political issue, especially in the United States.

North America today is inhabited mainly by immigrants and their descendants - indigenous peoples make up less than 10% of the population. The United States and Canada in particular are immigrant nations, with waves of people from all over the world moving there in recent centuries. As a result, they are the most multicultural sites in the world, especially in major cities such as New York and Toronto.

Travel

European visitors should note that crossing the international border is not as easy in North America as it is in the Schengen area. Borders are generally not difficult to cross, although queues of an hour or two to clear customs at peak hours are not unheard of. Expect a guard to ask you some questions (nationality, where you are going, how long you will be there, etc.) - answer clearly and calmly and you will more often pass without incident. However, guards can ask more questions or do a more thorough search at will and will do so for suspicious travelers, especially when crossing Mexico into the United States.

Also, some foreign tourists from geographically smaller countries are surprised by the vast scale of North America. An intercontinental trip by car or train can easily take a full week, and it is impossible to do in less than 2-3 days. If you plan to visit many different domains, keep this in mind, and if in doubt, check Google Maps to confirm that your route is feasible.

By air

Because the population center is often spacious, most long-distance travel is by air, with an extensive network of large junctions and smaller regional airports, usually supplemented by car rental services to cover local travel (see "By Car"). Expect to pay at least $ 150-200 per flight, even when booking much earlier.

By bus

There is a large long-distance bus service throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, but travel times are too long (up to three to five times as much as a simple ride in a personal vehicle for shorter distances) Greyhound Network. However, Megabus has raided North America and now offers some overnight options between major cities, with modern double-decker buses equipped with Wi-Fi.

In Mexico, most Primera, Plus or Executive buses are modern, clean and will run nonstop to your final destination. The executives, have airline operations such as seats with almost full flat inclination, Wi-Fi, private TV and with a small meal and drink provided and recently the men's and women's toilets.

With the car

Most trips to Canada, the United States and Mexico are by personal vehicle. Almost all highways in Canada, the United States, and toll roads in Mexico are well maintained, with amenities such as gas, food, and accommodation ranging from adequate to very convenient to be extravagant. If you encounter an emergency that endangers your life, safety or property, you will be able to call 911 from a compatible mobile phone on almost any major highway and reach an operator at any time. Car insurance and health insurance issued in either Canada or the US are usually valid in the other, although the wise traveler will confirm with their insurer. Canada and US insurance coverage in Mexico are sometimes limited or not honored. Again, the wise traveler will confirm with their insurer.

Car rental agencies are available at almost every airport. A large credit card and proof of liability insurance are usually required. Some organizations offer short-term insurance and additional coverage.

By train

Although it once held much of the continent together and remains useful for local travel in many subway areas, train travel from the Northeast Corridor to easy-to-use California and parts of southeastern Canada is rare in other parts of the continent. If you prefer to travel by train, it is still possible (depending on where you are going), but it offers neither speed nor convenience. As mentioned above, the exception is the Northeast Corridor area, which connects Washington, D. Boston with frequent stops in intermediate cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, New Haven and Providence. Explained in detail in the article "Railroad Travel" in North America. In Mexico the only passenger trains left are for sightseeing, the Chepe (this is the best way to see the Copper Canyon) and the Tequila Express (from Guadalajara in the heart of Tequila)

Languages

The United States and the majority of Canada are majority English-speaking countries and are by far the best language to traverse these vast countries. English is also spoken in many Caribbean countries and in the small country of Belize. Mexico, most of Central America, some southern cities of the United States, and parts of the Caribbean are predominantly Spanish-speaking, making it the second largest language in North America. French plays a key role in Canada (especially in Quebec, where it is generally dominant and often universal, but relevant in parts of Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick), as well as in some parts of the Caribbean. Dutch is spoken in the southern Caribbean. Many indigenous languages ​​are spoken by Native Americans and North American Intuitive peoples, including Greenland, Alaska, and Nunavut, although their capital languages ​​are extremely rare and remote. He also speaks Danish in Greenland. Other major immigrant languages ​​spoken in many of North America's national neighborhoods are Cantonese, Mandarin, and Tagalog. German is still spoken in the rural communities of Amish.

Knowledge of English, Spanish and French will be enough for almost anywhere in North America.

See

some of the best spectacular areas include

• Caribbean
• Northern lights
• Rocky mountains
• Yellowstone
• Canyon Copper

Routes

• Alaska (BC - Yukon - Alaska)
• Dalton Highway
• Road 66

What to do

Basically, any activity imaginable is possible in North America. Major cities have a wide variety of attractions, such as museums, amusement parks, concerts and sporting events. Smaller cities and communities generally have at least a few things to do, though often with less availability than larger malls, but even smaller cities will often have occasional live music bars, a minority sports team and / or a small museum somewhere.

The rural areas cover every climate from the frozen tundra to the hot desert and the pleasant meadows in the Rocky Mountains. Paths, lakes, rivers and wildlife are all quite accessible, but the exact type of landscape will vary greatly across the continent.

Buy

Each country (or group of countries, in the case of the Caribbean) in North America has its own currency, although the dollar is almost universally accepted in Central America and the Caribbean. However, travelers to Cuba and Canada need to invest in local currency.

Visa and MasterCard are almost universally accepted across the continent, except for things like street vendors. ATMs are quite common and can be used to withdraw cash in local currencies by credit card, although this can have significant fees (usually ~ $ 3 per transaction, plus interest on cash deposit). Debit cards work often, although they are less reliable and still charge a fee per transaction. American Express and Discover are secondary credit cards available to many retailers (though not all).

Many, though not all, jurisdictions charge sales taxes on purchases, which can be as high as 13%. This is not included in the price for most goods, so keep that in mind.In the US, sales taxes may vary by city depending on the city, so it may not be practical to keep track of the exact rates, but locals will be able to respond easily if asked.

Food

The history of recent and significant North American immigration has led to an extremely wide variety of culinary options, especially in larger and more multicultural cities such as New York or Toronto. Almost every form of ethnic food is available in the big cities, although often in forms that will be somewhat foreign to people who actually come from the country called the kitchen - Chinese food and pizza are specific offenders here, they are forms of cuisine original from Americans. Authentic cuisine is available in any area that has a large immigrant population of relative descent, but the American variety is much more commonly found.

There are also many local cuisines. Tex-mex cuisine is popular in Southwest America and is available across the continent (although Taco Bell, the most common chain, is generally considered an extremely poor example of form). Canada and some parts of the North American supply, which are potatoes covered in curd and sauce. The southern US offers a wide range of specialties, although most are only locally available.

It is common to expect staff at some restaurants. Fast food restaurants generally do not require overturning, but are generally expected in sitting restaurants and bars. 15% is the usual amount, but can be adjusted up and down depending on the quality of service. Keep in mind that heavy industry personnel are usually paid much less than the minimum wage, because the expectation is that customers will make a difference with tips.

Drink

Alcohol is somewhat less tolerated in North America than in many other parts of the world, especially in Europe. Public consumption is almost universally illegal, with the exception of a few "partisan cities" (mainly New Orleans and Las Vegas). The age of consumption is 21 in the United States, 18-19 in Canada and 18 in Mexico, and generally applies. This leads to the strange phenomena of adults who are often seen consuming from wrapped bottles of brown paper bags. In some areas you can only buy alcohol from government stores, which often have limited hours and limited supply. Bars in most areas have closed closing times, which can be as early as 2 p.m.

Sleep

Hotels are widely available throughout Canada and the USA, in every city and even in some villages. Expect to pay $ 60-100 per night for a reasonable chain hotel, but it will usually be clean, private, well maintained and often includes amenities such as free Wi-Fi, free breakfast and swimming pools (although none of these are universal, therefore check before booking).

For the most economical traveler, hostels are a sensible choice in larger cities. Expect a lot less amenities, and often shared rooms, but prices are probably half the hotel.

Other options include accommodation with breakfast, more often in smaller and rural areas, and short-term house or cottage rentals. Details vary wildly and are not always available in every area, so make sure before you travel if you plan to do so.

Stay safe

Canada and the United States are generally safe, as long as you stay away from bad neighborhoods (most of which will be less attractive to travelers and will be obvious at a glance). Likewise, many (though not all) Caribbean islands are fairly well managed and safe. In contrast, much of Central America has a major problem with street crime, and you should check out local country articles for more details if you are traveling there. Tourist resorts are almost always safe, even in dangerous countries, but pressing outside the resort tends to put you in more typical parts of the country, so security can be reduced quickly if you leave the tourist areas. Common sense precautions are always wise even in nice areas, of course - do not show a little money, keep track of your belongings and the like.

If you have an emergency, calling 911 on any phone, generally even a cell phone without a service provider, will connect you to an emergency dispatcher who can send police, fire or ambulance crews.

Stay healthy

Most of the continent has high standards of public health and relatively few disease issues. Medical care is usually available and of a high standard. However, with the exception of Cuba, it can be extremely expensive for those without travel insurance - the United States in particular has massively expensive medical services and even a short hospital stay can cost tens of thousands of dollars. In a sting, most countries need their own medical facilities to deal with emergencies first and worry about pricing later. Some parts of Central America and the Caribbean are less satisfactory in this regard, however - again, check the local country articles.

Some areas have natural disaster problems that travelers should be aware of. Hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic coast occur around June-November, and severe hurricanes are often fatal to those caught off the coast or on small Caribbean islands. The south-central United States is known as the "space tornado", and takes up about half of the tornadoes in the world. California and the Caribbean basin also have severe earthquakes sometimes. The northern regions, especially the northeastern regions, show severe snowstorms around December-March, which generally do not cause death, but can easily move for several days. None of these disasters are particularly common or predictable and therefore should not affect travel plans too badly, but be aware of the possibility and appropriate responses.