All about North America for Kids | Learn about the countries of the North American Continent

All about North America for kids. When you think about North America, what countries come to mind? Do you think of the United States? Or do you think of Canada? What about Mexico? While Canada, Mexico, and the United States are the three largest countries in North America, there are actually 23 different countries that make up the continent. Wow! Let's explore some amazing facts about the continent of North America. North America was named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. It is the third largest continent in the world, behind Asia and Africa, and covers 16.5% of the Earth's total land area. North America is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the south and west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. North America is also bordered by another continent, South America, as well as the Caribbean Sea. The geography of this continent is diverse and includes all the major biomes or habitats. Tropical rainforest, grassland, desert, tundra, and coral reef. Geographical features like Lake Superior, which is the largest freshwater lake in the world, the Mississippi-Missouri River, which is the fourth-longest river system in the world, the Great Plains, the Chihuahuan Desert, and the Rocky Mountains make this continent unique. Not only is the geography of this continent varied, so is its wildlife. The wildlife of North America includes about 965 species of mammals, including rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, deer, coyote, bears, wolves, and cougars. And the continent's waters are home to whales, dolphins, and sharks. The history of North America is pretty fascinating. Scientists believe that over 15,000 years ago, the Paleo-Indians from Eurasia used a land bridge between modern-day Alaska and Siberia to travel to the North American continent and settle. The people moved south and developed organized societies and advanced farming techniques. Ancient civilizations, including the Mayans and the Aztecs, also thrived and built temples and created writing systems and calendars. Eventually, North settlers and colonizers from Europe also traveled to North America, often displacing indigenous peoples and settling on their lands. In all, there are 23 countries and almost two dozen dependent territories. Let's break this down. Territories are part of other countries in the world, but are still separate from the country. For example, the United States is a country, but one of its territories is the island of Puerto Rico. And Greenland, although it is geographically part of the North American continent, is controlled by Denmark, which is politically aligned with Europe. Can you guess which languages are the most commonly spoken throughout North America? If you said English, Spanish, or French, you are correct. Fun fact, Canada has two official languages, French and English. There are also many indigenous languages and dialects spoken throughout North America. Here are some noteworthy facts about the continent. Canada is the largest country in North America by area and the second largest country in the world. The United States has the biggest total population. And Mexico has the most populous city, Mexico City, with 9 million people living in the city itself, plus an additional 20 million people living in the metropolitan area outside the city. Central America is the southernmost region of the continent and connects with South America, which is another continent. There are seven countries in Central America, El Salvador, Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The total population of this region is over 50 million. There are many unique and famous attractions, both natural and man-made, all across North America. We are going to talk about four of First is the Panama Canal. It is an artificial 48-mile waterway that connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and was first used in 1914. Tikal is in a tropical rainforest in Guatemala and was an ancient Mayan city. Pyramids and temples built by the Mayans still exist there and attract many tourists. One of the main temples of the Aztecs was the Great Pyramid of Tenochtitlan, which is near present-day Mexico City. Built in the 14th century, it stands nearly 200 feet tall. Last is Niagara Falls, which is Canada's most famous natural attraction. Situated on the border with the United States, Niagara Falls is 187 feet tall and has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America. These and many other attractions and landmarks are visited by millions of people each year. There is such a cool combination of the old and the new, with something exciting for everybody. Now that we have learned facts about North America, let's review. Fill in the blank. Blank is the largest North American country by area. Canada. Who is North America named after? The Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci. Name an ancient North American civilization that built temples and pyramids. Did you say Aztecs or Mayans? True or false? Mexico City is the most populous city in North America. True. Great job, continent commanders! North America is a unique place filled with people, animals, and cool geographic features. And maybe one day, you can visit some of the landmarks found throughout the continent. Hope you had fun learning with us. Visit us at learnbright.org for thousands of free resources and turnkey solutions for teachers and homeschoolers.