North America is a continent located in the western hemisphere of the planet. Due to the fact that it has a large extent, its flora and fauna are extremely diverse and interesting. The most economically developed country - the United States of America - is located in the central part of the continent.
Main characteristics
North America is the third largest continent. The occupied territory is about 16.5% of the land area, the area with islands is more than 24 thousand km and the population is 529 million people. In terms of population, North America is surpassed by Africa and Eurasia. The mainland is located in the western hemisphere, together with South America, they form one of the parts of the world - America, discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1492.
Length
The mainland has a rugged coastline and extends further north than others. Due to the great extent in all directions, the climate and nature of North America are varied. In addition to the equatorial, North America covers all climatic zones and practically all natural zones.
Culture
The culture of North America is predominantly European, as the continent has long been a European colony. Indigenous civilizations with their interesting culture disappeared and gave way to immigrants from Europe. The historical peoples of North America were the Mayan and Aztec tribes, as well as other Indian tribes that inhabited the continent.
Countries
North America today consists of a number of highly developed countries. The main languages are English and Spanish. Countries such as the United States of America, Canada, Mexico, Haiti, Panama, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Jamaica, Cuba and other states are located on the continent. In the north is the island of Greenland, covered with glaciers and politically part of Denmark, but geographically to North America.
Relief
The relief of the continent is represented by uplands (mainly in Canada), central plains on the North American Platform and coastal lowlands.
Nature
The living nature of the continent is diverse due to different climatic and natural zones. A wide variety of plant and animal species are concentrated here. The fauna of the middle part of the continent is similar to similar territories of the Eurasian continent. However, there are many species of animals and plants that are found only in North America. However, in recent years, due to fishing, the populations of some species, especially fur animals, have decreased. The central part is dominated by species of tropical plants and animals.
