Grand Canyon - North America

North America is located in the western hemisphere and surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. Many peninsulas and islands belong to North America including Greenland. The particular climate of the continent is influenced by the specific landform features. The longitudinal layout of vast geographical regions make it possible that during winter cold Arctic air through the Central Plains reaches the Gulf of Mexico, and during summer warm tropical air comes to Canada and the Arctic Islands. However, the longitudinal mountain ranges on the western and eastern sides of the continent curb the flow of humid air from the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The biggest rivers of North America are the Mississippi Missouri, Mackenzie and Saint Lawrence River. The northern part of this continent is famous for its postglacial lakes; the largest are the Superior, Huron, Michigan and Great Bear Lake. The Indigenous populations of North America are the American Indians and Eskimos, who are believed to have come to this continent through Alaska from Eastern Asia in the glacial epoch. Some of these prehistoric inhabitants like the Aztec race who lived in today’s Mexico region created very well developed civilizations, and the Mayan civilization built huge pyramids and developed a very advanced writing system in the Central American area of present day regions of Guatemala, northern El Salvador and western Honduras. It is believed that North America was discovered by European Christopher Columbus in 1492. In 17^th century the indigenous people of America were conquered by White European colonization and introduced diseases that the Native Americans were not immune to. The Europeans bought with them to the “New World” black African slaves. There followed a time of mass immigration to America from European countries, mostly from Great Britain, Germany, Italy, Poland and France in the beginning of the 19^th century, all following the American dream about a life full of possibilities. For that reason America today is a mixture of many diverse nationalities, very often called ‘the melting pot’.

Almost half of this continent is taken up by Canada, which at the same time is the second biggest country in the World. The middle of the continent including  Alaska and the Hawaii Islands belong to the United States of America. Located in the south of the continent is Mexico.

Middle America

It is acknowledged that Middle America belongs to North America and it is located between Isthmus of Tehuantepec, the Panamas and the Archipelagos of Greater Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Bahamas and various islands of the Caribbean Sea that do not belong to South America. Middle America has a subtropical humid climate, which is characterized by high temperatures throughout the year and significant rainfall in the summer.



Gallery - Monuments of North America