THE North America corresponds to the northern part of the American continent, being the third largest continent, with an area of 24,221,490 km2 (9,351,969 square miles). It is located in the northern hemisphere, between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
countries
| Canada It has vast expanses of untouched wilderness, but it also has some of the most modern and cosmopolitan cities in the world. |
| Greenland An autonomous country, but still part of the Denmark, with a vast island of raucous landscapes and midnight sun. |
| USA One of the greatest, ethnically diverse and multicultural nations on Earth. It has some of the most famous cities in the world and natural parks of indescribable beauty. |
| Mexico A major tourist attraction for naturalists, ecotourists and historians; where the former will find tropical beaches, while the latter will see everything from Mayan ruins to Spanish colonial history. |
| Caribbean White sandy beaches, crystal clear water and laid-back island culture make the Caribbean one of the best vacation spots in the world. |
Territories / Dependencies
- Bermuda - overseas territory of UK.
- Clipperton Island - overseas territory French.
- Saint Peter and Michael(in French: Saint-Pierre and Miquelon) - overseas department of France.
Cities
Canada
- Toronto - the largest city in the country, a cosmopolitan melting pot with ethnic enclaves and cultural attractions in abundance.
- banff - an important tourist center, surrounded by mountains, being much sought after by those who practice adventure sports.
- Montreal - center of commerce, aerospace technology, finance, pharmaceuticals, technology, design, education, culture, tourism, games, cinema and world affairs.
- Ottawa - political and technological capital of Canada.
- Quebec - has vast natural resources, including numerous rivers, lakes and many forests.
- Vancouver - steel and glass condominiums; Outstanding natural beauty where you can ski and sit on the beach all in the same day.
U.S
- Washington, D.C. - capital with many cultural and historical attractions.
- Boston - the largest educational hub in the United States.
- Chicago - an important hub for the telecommunications, transport and infrastructure industries.
- las vegas - famous and populated for its casinos.
- Los Angeles - American city known for Hollywood and movie stars; mountains and beaches; and lots of traffic.
- Miami - tourist center, visited by tourists all year round for its warm climate and beaches.
- New York - "the Big Apple", center of North American commerce and culture, immortalized in films and music.
- Orlando - the second largest city in the US in terms of tourist traffic.
- San Francisco - known for its cool summer fog, steep hills, eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture and its famous landmarks including the Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars andChinatown.
other capitals
- Mexico City - capital of Mexico, the third largest city in the world full of museums, century-old architecture and modern amenities.
- Havana - capital of Cuba at the Caribbean, famous for its cigars, its strong Hispanic and Caribbean culture and its legendary nightlife.
- Nuuk - capital and largest city in Greenland.
Other destinations
- Niagara Falls - three large waterfalls on the border between the U.S and Canada.
- Chichen Itza - the largest archaeological city of the pre-Columbian Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula, at the Mexico.
- Grand Canyon - a huge canyon in the Arizona, carved over several million years.
- Banff National Park - the first and one of the largest national parks in the Canada.
- Yellowstone National Park - the first national park created in the world, in the west of theU.S.
- Teotihuacan - the "city of the gods" in the Mexico, with some of the greatest ancient pyramids in the world.
- Walt Disney World - the iconic Disney theme park network, near Orlando, Florida.
Understand
North America is made up of three large countries and a large island territory that covers most of its area. Are the Canada, you USA (I ao Mexico and the greenland. There are also seven smaller nations at its southern end (collectively known as Central America), about two dozen island nations and territories of various sizes in the Caribbean and a French territory isolated from the Canadian Atlantic coast. Although the regions of Central America and the Caribbean are technically part of the North American continent, they are commonly listed separately from their larger neighbors and therefore the names of the regions are distinctive for cultural and geographic reasons.
- The region of greenland, of Alaska and from the north of Canada is on the same level as the Siberia, the coldest areas north of the equator. Few people live here, vegetation is generally sparse and some areas are completely covered by ice for most of the year.
- Most Canadians live in the south of the country. parents near the northern border of the United States. Here you can find interesting, cosmopolitan world cities and national parks easily accessible for friends of nature and wildlife.
- The middle of the continent is covered by USA, which is a natural and culturally diverse superpower. The size and non-uniformity of the country result in longer travel time and many unique destinations and experiences.
- The southwestern part of the continent consists of the Mexico and in Central America, where modern Latin American culture meets ancient Mayan and Aztec heritage.
- The southeastern part of the continent consists of the islands of the Caribbean, popular destinations for cruise and beach travel.
History
The indigenous cultures of North America, also called Native Americans, Indians or First Nations, arrived in the Alaska before 10,000 BC and occupied virtually every part of North America. Except for a short-lived Viking colony around 1000 AD, the Americas were isolated from the rest of the world until Columbus' voyages from 1492 and the subsequent wave of colonization. You U.S they became independent in 1776, and have grown into the world's dominant superpower in the 21st century.
People
North America has a wide variety of racial and ethnic types, due to the mixing of indigenous peoples, who inhabited the continent, with Europeans and African blacks. From the 20th century, the immigration of Asians increased.
US U.S and in the Canada, the predominance of the natives is of European origin. Most of the population mexican comes from the mixture of indigenous and Europeans and the peoples who inhabit the Greenland they are the result of the miscegenation of Eskimos with the early Danish settlers.
Climate
Cold weather is a seasonal concern in many parts of the continent. The winter weather definition is a persistent temperature below 0°C (32°F). the south of Canada and most of U.S (except the south and southwest) has a temperate climate, where winters are short but can be intensely cold. Most of the land area of the Canada it is boreal, with short summers and long winters. The southwest and the south of the U.S (as well as the north of the Mexico) have a subtropical climate, where sub-zero temperatures are uncommon, but not unprecedented. The tropics (Florida, south of California, Caribbean and Central America) are hot all year round - except for higher altitudes which have cooler temperatures but also lack a lot of temperature variation.
Fauna and Flora
THE natural vegetation of North America varies by region and is characterized by the taiga, or boreal forest, a vast expanse of woodland mainly consisting of conifers that covers much of the south and the center of the region. Canada and extends to the Alaska. To the north the soil is surrounded by tundra. in the east of the U.S stand out the mixed forests composed of different species of pine trees. In the western part, forests are located in mountain ranges and conifers are predominant. O Mexico it is home to a tropical forest that is particularly rich in species. The driest regions of North America consists of herbs and shrubs. The dry regions of the western United States and northern Mexico have some rare varieties of shrubs and numerous cactus species, vegetation characteristic of the desert.
THE fauna in North America it is very rich and is home to numerous species such as reindeer, moose, polar bears, seals and foxes, animals that inhabit the southern regions. In other regions such as the Central American prairie, deer, puma and bison are found. In deserts it is possible to find rodents, reptiles and coyotes; and in the forests you can find a great variety of birds, squirrels and snakes.
To arrive
By airplane
You can enter the main cities in the USA and in the Canada by direct flights from all other inhabited continents. Latin American airlines fly directly between the Central America It's from South and of the Europe. You can also fly directly to many of the islands in the Caribbean. The cheapest flights and most destinations will be to the United States. Of the 15 largest airports in North America, only one is not in the United States, Toronto-Malton. If you don't want to travel across the US to reach your destination, there are services offered from the main European and South American centers to the main North American airports, such as Mexico City, Panama City and Punta Cana. Flying is the fastest and cheapest way to get to North America.
Of boat
It is possible to travel across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by ship, but these cruises they tend to be quite expensive compared to the plane, and infrequent. There are crossings of the South America to the Central America and for the Caribbean. There is still an old-style passenger ship that connects New York to Southampton, in the UK. So, if you have the time and the money and you want to get into style, like in the old days, it certainly can be done.
terrestrial
Even though the Americas are physically connected, there are no roads or railways between the Panama and the Colombia. Theoretically, it is possible (but hopelessly dangerous) to hike through 100 km of jungle. If you want to take your vehicle with you, you will need to take a ship.
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By airplane
As population centers are widely spaced, most long-range travel is by air, with an extensive network of major and regional (smaller) airports, often complemented with car rental services to cover local travel when you arrive to your destination (see "By car ").
Of boat
North America contains a number of large freshwater bodies, whether the great lakes between the Canada and the USA or the various rivers that cross the continent, most of which are widely used to transport goods and people. Cruising on small boats is certainly an option in the US as it is the country with the longest inland waterways in the world. Canada also offers a wealth of options for small boat owners or tenants.
By car
Most trips through the Canada, U.S and Mexico it is by personal vehicle. Almost every highway in Canada and the United States is well maintained, with gas, food and lodging services ranging from adequate to very convenient.
Car rental agencies are available at almost every airport. A valid driver's license and an international credit card or cash deposit are usually required. Rentals are sometimes restricted to drivers under 25 years of age. Many agencies offer short-term insurance and additional coverage.
By bus
There is an abundant long-distance bus service in most places. USA and Canada, but the journey time is excessively long (often substantially longer than a direct journey in a personal vehicle) and stations tend to be poorly maintained and even more poorly protected. Intercity buses generally only travel between major cities, never to remote locations, and are limited or not available outside business hours. At the MexicoIn contrast, bus service is extensive and a common way of getting around.
It is possible to travel by bus between the three largest countries in North America. Look "By bus" in the article for a particular country, state / province, region and / or locality to learn more. The quality of service varies, and often matches the size of the city.
Speak
The three main languages in North America are the English, O Spanish it's the French.
You U.S it's the Canada are majority countries of English language. English is also spoken in many Caribbean nations and in the Central American country of Belize. A Creole variety of English is spoken by a minority along much of the Caribbean coast of Central America, as well as some islands of the Caribbean, most notably the Jamaica, but it will take some getting used to and may be unintelligible to secondary language speakers.
O Mexico, most of the Central America (mostly the Pacific side) and portions of the Caribbean are mostly speakers of Spanish language. Spanish is also spoken as a mother tongue by a minority of people and a second language by others in many parts of the country. U.S.
O French plays a substantial role in Canada - especially in the Quebec, but also in parts of Ontario, Manitoba and New Brunswick - and an important role elsewhere, especially the Caribbean (although in some countries a French creole is more common, such as Haitian creole in the Haiti).
O Dutch is spoken in the southern Caribbean islands that used to be part of the Netherlands Antilles. numerous indigenous languages are spoken by Native Americans and the Inuit peoples of North America, including Greenland. There are some isolated communities in which only a few people speak more than the indigenous language, and in Mexico, in the Nahuatl languages and mayan they're having a kind of revival. O Danish is spoken in most of the Greenland.
Look
There are many things to see in North America. There are spectacular natural landscapes ranging from mountains and tundra to deserts and rainforests. At Rockies (Rockies) are the largest mountain range on the continent, which runs from the north of the Canada southwest of U.S. These mountains contain some of the most visited national parks in the world, including the famous yellowstone. North American cities like New York, Chicago and Washington DC they are home to some of the best museums in the world. Stunning architectures can be found from Panama City The Montreal.
North American wildlife, with iconic species such as the grizzly bear, bison, mustang and bald eagle, is an attraction in itself.
Knife
especially in the USA, team sports are the most popular and the most popular in stadiums and on TV. In that order they are: American Football, Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey and Football.
Buy
North America is known for manufacturing many electronics, such as Apple, Hewlett Packard (HP) and Dell.
Many North American cities have famous shopping districts such as the 5th Avenue in New York, rodeo drive in Beverly Hills and the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. Downtown business districts have spawned some of the most famous retailers in the world, including Macy's, Bloomingdale's and Neiman Marcus.
Many tourists enjoy shopping at the largest mall in the United States, the Mall of America. It is located in Bloomington, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. In addition to having an impressive number of stores, you'll also find a multi-screen cinema, an amusement park and many restaurants - including fast food outlets. Also, the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada it is a popular destination, once considered the largest shopping mall in the world.
With the
Canadian and US food varies from region to region and is heavily influenced by immigrant culture. Broadly speaking, you should think of seafood on the coast, meat and potatoes in the center of the country, and pretty much anything you can think of in major cosmopolitan cities. poutine which are French fries covered in cheese curds and gravy, may be Canada's favorite fast food snack.
While the Mexican influence extends into northern Central American cuisine, based mostly on rice and beans that together form "gallo pinto" (also known as "casamiento"), staple foods you'll eat at least once during any visit, no matter how short.
drink and go out
Again, the influx of immigrants to North America brought with it culturally diverse methods of alcohol production. Regional drinks and types of liqueurs abound. Drinks in the southern regions will often be mixed with tropical fruits; and of course, the Mexico is famous for fermentation techniques with the agave plant (Tequila). Cocktails made with gin and vodkas have undergone a renaissance in the USA and in the Canada, evoking memories of old movie stars from times past. And, of course, who hasn't heard of Kentucky's Mint Julep, or the hurricane of New Orleans.
As with all cultures, there will be sports bars with big television screens and avid fans. If that's something you enjoy, be sure to check the season and game times to see when the next hockey, football, football (association football) or baseball game is on and join in the noise.
sleep
Independent hotels and international and regional hotel chains are spread across the Canada it is us USA. Hostels are available in cities, though often in less desirable locations. If hostels are your usual lodging choice, consider options like the YMCA or a budget hotel. Camping spots are widely available, usually along roadsides or near lakes and rivers, many requiring a small fee.
Safety
Police and other emergency services are widely available throughout the country. U.S and in the Canada, as well as most areas of the Mexico and generally have fast response times. US U.S and in the Canada, police and other first responders can be summoned in an emergency by dialing 9-1-1 on a compatible phone. Security varies widely from place to place, so see the appropriate article on the region of interest.
Health
Tap water is generally safe to drink in the Canada it is us U.S.
Stay in touch
Mobile phone frequencies in the Americas (ITU Region 2) differ from most of the rest of the world, with 850 MHz / 1900 MHz being the most common frequencies in North America for GSM (AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers) and 3G UMTS / WCDMA / HSPA (AT&T, Bell / Telus, Rogers). Some new operators, regional operators and high speed data services use 1700 MHz or 2100 MHz.
You should check that your phone works on North American frequencies - if it's a quad-band cell phone probably at least for GSM (some also support North American 3G bands). If not, you will not be able to call, receive calls, or send or receive messages while in North America.
As a new roar, North America was one of the few to make widespread use of CDMA (a 2G system still supported by Sprint and Verizon stateside, but now abandoned in the Canada). CDMA is not GSM-compatible; CDMA devices are not required to provide a removable SIM card. Therefore, it is common for Americans to have to replace the entire handset (not just a SIM) when switching to a new provider, even in the same country.
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