geography of north america

• 10 countries in North America and 13 nations and territorial island in the Caribbean Sea. 3 largest continental nations in North America:

  -USA

  -Canada

  -Mexico
• 4 countries in the south of Mexico:

  -Belize

  -Honduras

  -El Salvador

  -Nicaragua

  -Costa Rica

  -Panama

  These are referred to Central America.
• Panama canal was constructed and open in 1914 and allowed ships to pass from Caribbean Sea on the Atlantic Ocean side of the continent and cross the narrow isthmus into Pacific Ocean.
• Panama is the end point of North America and South America begins.
• The island nations in the Caribbean Sea include:

  -Cuba

  -Haiti

  -Dominican Republic

  -Jamaica

  Smaller island nations are in the Caribbean Sea, also the territories of other countries:

  -Puerto Rico

  -U.S Virgin Islands

  -British Virgin Islands.
• Northernmost part of North America include Canada and US state Alaska. Some parts of Canada lie within the Arctic Circle in 66 34' North Latitude. This is the area where all land remains in polar darkness during winter months, peaking in December 22 = the winter solstice.
• 66 34' area have days remain in sunlight during six months peaking in June 21 = the summer solstice.
• Winter and summer solstice occurs because the tilt of the Earth's axis goes towards and away from the Sun.
• The north of Canada lies the frozen Arctic Ocean and the North Pole that is at 90 degrees North.