North America

Introduction

Spectactular view from Glacier Point Road, Yosemite NP

© Utrecht

Stretching from the Arctic circle to the tropics and from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, North America is home to a diverse climate and an even more diverse population. North America has opened its arms to everyone and can now only be described as a patchwork of cultures, languages and religions.

This diversity both amongst its people and climate can meet the needs and desires of any traveller to its shores. From mountain climbing in the Rocky Mountains, to deep sea fishing off the Atlantic coast, to seeing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in the Arctic, to soaking up the sun in the heat of Mexico. North America has it all.

Geography

The geography of North America is extremely diverse, from the jungles of southern Mexico to deserts to stunning mountains and the ice shelf of the Arctic circle. The Rockies, the longest mountain range, runs from Alaska all the way to Mexico through Canada and the United States along the western part of the land mass. The central parts of Canada and the United States is a large prairie called the Great Plains, which were created by glaciers during the last ice age. Along the east coast of the United States are the Appalachian Mountains, which is a smaller range compared to the Rockies. The western part of United States and northern Mexico are a large desert with several mountain ranges. While the southern part of Mexico is a dense rain forest home to many species.

One of the more interesting geographical features of North America are the stunning Great Lakes. These lakes are the largest fresh water lakes in the world and make up large section of the eastern border with the United States and Canada. There are also several large rivers like the Mississippi, Rio Grande, Colorado and Saint Lawrence which dominate the continent. On the west coast of the United States and Canada are several large volcanoes and in the north central part of the United States is the amazing Yellowstone National Park, which is a super caldera hot spot of geothermal uniqueness. The southwest's most famous geological feature is the Grand Canyon, in Arizona. Off the coasts are some very interesting islands that range from barren Arctic waste lands to desert islands with palm trees.

Subregions

Old Faithful, Yellowstone NP, Wyoming

© Utrecht

Countries and Territories

For Overseas Territories, check the Overseas Territories USA article.

Sights and Activities

Although not home to many countries North America has many wonderful things to see and do. From amazing landmarks and museums to some of the most amazing natural beauty in the world. And let's not forget the cities with their beautiful skylines and some of them with magnificent locations, like San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver, Chicago, Toronto and New York. North America has something for everyone.

The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes, consisting of Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, are some of the most amazing features of North America and are located on the Canada/United States border. These giant bodies of freshwater seem like oceans and offer great opportunities for relaxation and adventure. If you want to hang out on the beach at Union Pier, hike the Superior Trail or explore the wilderness of Isle Royale National Park there is plenty to do along the shoreline or in the water.

Major Cities

Golden Gate window

© Utrecht

Canada

• Calgary, Alberta
• Montreal, Quebec
• Ottawa - capital of Canada
• Toronto, Ontario
• Vancouver, British Columbia

Mexico

• Guadalajara
• Mexico City
• Oaxaca

United States of America

• Boston, Massachusetts
• Chicago, Illinois
• Houston, Texas
• Los Angeles, California
• Miami, Florida
• New Orleans, Louisiana
• New York, New York State
• San Francisco, California
• Seattle, Washington State
• Washington, D.C.

Landmarks

See also: Famous Landmarks

Vintage neon sign, Seligman, Arizona

© Utrecht

• Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights, is quite beautiful and best viewed during the early or late winter time in the north of the continent, so Alaska, Yukon, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories;
• Barranca del Cobre, also known as Copper Canyon, is one of the most fascinating canyons in the world;
• The Bay of Fundy on the border of the United States with Nova Scotia has one of the highest tides in the world;
• CN Tower is the tallest telecommunications tower in the world, standing at 553 metres tall in Toronto, Canada;
• Death Valley - one of the driest and hottest places in North America, with the world's highest temperature ever recorded;
• Golden Gate Bridge - One of the world's most famous bridges, in San Francisco;
• Grand Canyon is one of the most famous canyons in the world;
• Niagara Falls - Daredevils, honeymooners and natural beauty mark this wonder between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario;
• Rocky Mountains and Rocky Mountain National Park;
• Route 66 is one of the most famous journeys and a great route to follow, starting in Chicago and ending in California;
• Statue of Liberty, a gift from the people of France in 1886 to commemorate the centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, is now a symbol of freedom and democracy. Standing on Liberty Island in New York, it is also one of the icons representing the USA;
• Palenque is one of the largest ancient Mayan cities;
• Yellowstone National Park is a massive thermal hot spot;
• Yosemite National Park is a glimpse of the beauty that northern California has to offer.

Getting There

North America has direct flights to all continents, with frequent connections from many major US cities to both Europe and (eastern) Asia). To add, there are dozens of flights to both Central America and South America, the Caribbean, and still quite a few to the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Africa has just a few direct flights, mainly to/from South Africa from Washington, D.C.. You can easily get to North America overland from Central America and there are ferries and cruiseships which connect mainly Florida with the Caribbean Islands.

Best Time to Visit

For most of North America, the warmer summer season is the best time for a visit, roughly from May to September. This certainly applies to places like Alaska, most of Canada and the northern half of the USA. Once you go further south, temperatures can be extremely high during the summer season, so visiting just before in spring or after in autumn might be a better idea. Also, for example Florida has a very high humidity and chances of serious amounts of rain and hurricanes during late summer. Hawaii is very popular during the winter months, but can be pleasantly visited year-round. Finally, there are areas which are good for wintersports, such as the Rocky Mountains in the west of Canada and in Colorado for example. See the country and state articles for more information about the weather.