Quick answer: Some of the most interesting facts about North America: it is the third-largest continent, with 23 countries. It holds Lake Superior, the largest freshwater lake by surface area. It includes Greenland, the world’s largest island. And Canada has the longest coastline of any country. Here are 20 facts about North America’s geography, nature and history.
North America stretches from the Arctic to the tropics, taking in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and Greenland. That range explains why it has everything from glaciers to rainforests.
Interesting facts about North America’s size and geography
- North America is the third-largest continent, at about 24.7 million kmΒ², after Asia and Africa.
- It has 23 sovereign countries, from Canada in the north to Panama in the south, including 13 island nations in the Caribbean.
- Greenland is the world’s largest island. It is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but geographically belongs to North America.
- Canada has the longest coastline of any country, over 200,000 km including its many Arctic islands.
- Denali in Alaska is the continent’s highest peak, at 6,190 m.
- Death Valley holds the continent’s lowest point. Badwater Basin sits 86 m below sea level.
Lakes, rivers and caves
- Lake Superior is the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area, about 82,000 kmΒ².
- The Great Lakes hold about a fifth of the world’s fresh surface water.
- The MississippiβMissouri river system is one of the longest in the world, draining much of the central United States.
- Mammoth Cave in Kentucky is the world’s longest known cave system, with more than 680 km of passages mapped.
- The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides on Earth. The difference between high and low tide can reach about 16 m.
Nature and wildlife
- The world’s tallest trees grow in California. A coast redwood called Hyperion is about 116 m tall.
- Some of the oldest trees on Earth grow there too. Great Basin bristlecone pines can live for more than 4,800 years.
- Monarch butterflies fly up to about 4,800 km from Canada and the United States to overwinter in central Mexico. More migratory animals
- Yellowstone was the world’s first national park, established in 1872.
- Yellowstone sits on a supervolcano. Its geysers, including Old Faithful, are heated by magma beneath the park.
People, history and cities
- People reached North America at least 20,000 years ago. Fossil footprints at White Sands, New Mexico, have been dated to around 21,000 to 23,000 years ago.
- Mexico City is built on a lake. It stands on the former lakebed of Lake Texcoco, site of the Aztec capital Tenochtitlan, and parts of the city are sinking as groundwater is pumped out.
- English, Spanish and French are the most widely spoken languages, alongside hundreds of Indigenous languages such as Nahuatl, Maya languages, Navajo and Cree.
- Mexico City is the largest city in North America, with more than 20 million people in its metropolitan area.
North America by the numbers
| Record | Fact |
|---|---|
| Area | About 24.7 million kmΒ² (3rd largest) |
| Countries | 23 |
| Highest point | Denali, 6,190 m |
| Lowest point | Badwater Basin, β86 m |
| Largest lake | Lake Superior, about 82,000 kmΒ² |
| Largest island | Greenland |
| First national park | Yellowstone, 1872 |
Frequently asked questions
How many countries are in North America?
23 sovereign countries, including Canada, the United States, Mexico, the seven Central American countries and 13 Caribbean island nations.
Is Greenland part of North America?
Geographically, yes. Politically, it is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
What is the largest country in North America?
Canada, which is also the second-largest country in the world by total area.
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Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica: “North America”.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: “Facts and Figures about the Great Lakes”.
- National Park Service: Death Valley, Denali, Mammoth Cave and Yellowstone park pages.
- Bennett, M. R. et al. (2021). “Evidence of humans in North America during the Last Glacial Maximum.” Science.
- Natural Resources Canada: “Canada’s coastline”.
- Bennett et al. (2021), human footprints at White Sands, Science
- CIA World Factbook