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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

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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'.

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@99_N_2_1 We can change that by refusing to use the term. Everywhere but here, "American" means, "From North or South America."
ColeenMonroe (Coleen Monroe) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:34:36 -0000
@99_N_2_1 We can change that by refusing to use the term. Everywhere but here, "American" means, "From North or South America."
Steel Series North America Spectrum 4XB - Headset http://t.co/DcDkneTP
News_XBOX (News_XBOX) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:34:01 -0000
Steel Series North America Spectrum 4XB - Headset http://t.co/DcDkneTP
Anguilla, The Valley, Governor's Office: http://t.co/vvzxmmru via @Add DESTRUCTION OF THE ROYAL NAVY BY AMERICA IN THE 1940S AUSTRALIA WHY
stephencanberra (stephen kendal) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:32:55 -0000
Anguilla, The Valley, Governor's Office: http://t.co/vvzxmmru via @Add DESTRUCTION OF THE ROYAL NAVY BY AMERICA IN THE 1940S AUSTRALIA WHY
RT @GzUp_JawnsDown: y'all dont even live in america , yall live in the North American Union smh
ALYoungFuture (AL Moore) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:32:23 -0000
RT @GzUp_JawnsDown: y'all dont even live in america , yall live in the North American Union smh
Question: What are the largest sculptures in North America?
teawithtee (Tee) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:32:17 -0000
Question: What are the largest sculptures in North America?
Yesterday jacinto renze dramatize the north america. 125. Delivered ?
vyvafuwigod (Udwamsa Haugeh) Wed, 25 Jan 2012 03:32:13 -0000
Yesterday jacinto renze dramatize the north america. 125. Delivered ?

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