]

North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere, bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast. It covers an area of about 24,480,000 km² (9,450,000 sq mi), or about 4.8% of the planet's surface. As of July 2002, its population was estimated at more than 514,000,000. It is the third largest continent in area, after Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Etymology

---

A number of theories exist regarding the naming of North and South America. The most widely recognized is that they are named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World, previously undiscovered by Europeans. The second and less generally accepted is that the continents are named after an English merchant named Richard Amerike from Bristol, who is believed to have financed John Cabot's voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497. A third and minutely explored belief that has been advanced is that America was named for a Spanish sailor bearing the ancient Visigothic name of 'Amairick'.

More on [ North America ]

North America - Twitter Search

Tropical birds waited for land crossing between North and South America says study http://bit.ly/5WhdEw
burdr (burdr) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:28:00 -0000
Tropical birds waited for land crossing between North and South America says study http://bit.ly/5WhdEw
RT @BirdLife_News: Tropical birds waited for land crossing between North and South America, study finds: Despite the.. http://bit.ly/4nK ...
CH_BirdersWorld (Chuck Hagner) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:25:28 -0000
RT @BirdLife_News: Tropical birds waited for land crossing between North and South America, study finds: Despite the.. http://bit.ly/4nK ...
As you're warming up from shovelling tonight, check out this list of North America's worst-ever snow storms: http://bit.ly/8FAbQS
ottawastart (OttawaStart.com) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:22:49 -0000
As you're warming up from shovelling tonight, check out this list of North America's worst-ever snow storms: http://bit.ly/8FAbQS
@NintendoAmerica Please, bring "The last window" to north America.
kyle_hyde (Jesus Hernandez) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:21:03 -0000
@NintendoAmerica Please, bring "The last window" to north America.
"Blame It On Love by Hoppers ... North America Live"
WCMRNowPlaying (WCMR Now Playing) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:15:49 -0000
"Blame It On Love by Hoppers ... North America Live"
Area players to compete in Under Armour All-America game: This item from HSGameTime's Kyle Whitfield: North Texas ... http://bit.ly/6dlt9z
hsgametime (hsgametime) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 02:14:17 -0000
Area players to compete in Under Armour All-America game: This item from HSGameTime's Kyle Whitfield: North Texas ... http://bit.ly/6dlt9z

Subscribe to North_America RSS feed