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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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RT @foss4gna: FOSS4G North America early bird registration ends tomorrow, 2/09/2012 http://t.co/L6fgs14Z
bartvdeijnden (Bart van den Eijnden) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:25 -0000
RT @foss4gna: FOSS4G North America early bird registration ends tomorrow, 2/09/2012 http://t.co/L6fgs14Z
"Lady Gaga Will Tour North America In Early 2013" ... *blows head off with a very very large gun*
LordGagaloo (I Can Be Sexxx) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:16 -0000
"Lady Gaga Will Tour North America In Early 2013" ... *blows head off with a very very large gun*
GSP North America NCV10225 New Constant Velocity Shaft Assembly: GSP North America New Constant Velocity Shaft A... http://t.co/NYf8WWbL
Karlyard (Karly Muschamp) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:12 -0000
GSP North America NCV10225 New Constant Velocity Shaft Assembly: GSP North America New Constant Velocity Shaft A... http://t.co/NYf8WWbL
BBC News - America and Eurasia 'to meet at north pole' http://t.co/dcuOLD2Z
ChrisLong_ (Christopher Long) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:11 -0000
BBC News - America and Eurasia 'to meet at north pole' http://t.co/dcuOLD2Z
RT @gagamonster96: Lady Gaga will be touring in Europe and Latin America also this year, North America next year: http://t.co/WJVI8iCm
SouDaGaga (~luan pros íntimos ) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:42:08 -0000
RT @gagamonster96: Lady Gaga will be touring in Europe and Latin America also this year, North America next year: http://t.co/WJVI8iCm
RT @gagamonster96: Lady Gaga will be touring in Europe and Latin America also this year, North America next year: http://t.co/WJVI8iCm
_fosterhotgaga (V.) Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:41:56 -0000
RT @gagamonster96: Lady Gaga will be touring in Europe and Latin America also this year, North America next year: http://t.co/WJVI8iCm

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