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Area 24,709,000 km2 Population 528,720,588 Pop. Density 22.9/km2 Countries 23 Named after the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci
Pre-Colonial America
United States was originally populated by people migrating from Central Asia via the Beringia land bridge(Bering strait) between Eastern Serbia and present day Alaska starting some 20,000 years ago. These people became the indigenous people who inhabited the Americas prior to the arrival of European explorers in the 1400s and who are now called Native Americans.
Pre-Colonial America
Pre-Colonial America
Pre-Colonial America
Many cultures thrived in the Americas before Europeans came, including the Puebloans (Aztec) in the southwest and the Adena Culture in the east. Several such societies and communities, over time, intensified this practice of established settlements, and grew to support sizeable and concentrated populations.
Pre-Colonial America
Colonial America
After a period of exploration by various European countries, Dutch, Spanish, English, French, Swedish, and Portuguese settlements were established. Christopher Columbus was the first European to set foot on what would one day become U.S. territory when he came to Puerto Rico in 1493. In the 15th century, Europeans brought horses, cattle and hogs to the Americas. Christopher Columbus (1451 May 2, 1506) was a navigator, colonizer and one of the first Europeans to explore the Americas after the Vikings. His 1st voyage of 1492, he did not actually reach the South American mainland until his 3rd voyage in 1498.
1835
Soviet Union responded by the establishment of the Warsaw Pact & Soviet Allies in socialist faction in Europe: Poland, Hungary,.
RESPONSE Rest of the countries also float their currency and also increased their reserve. RESULT Depreciation of US dollar as well as other countries. OPEC Cartel issued decision of pricing oil against gold.
RESPONSE Rest of the countries also float their currency and also increased their reserve. RESULT Depreciation of US dollar as well as other countries. OPEC Cartel issued decision of pricing oil against gold.
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GEOGRAPHY
Northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or simply America. North America's only land connection to South America is at the Isthmus of Panama. The continent can be divided into four great regions
The Great Plains (from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic) Mountainous west (the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin) California and Alaska (flat plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast) The varied eastern region (the Appalachian Mountains, the coastal plain along the Atlantic seaboard, and the Florida peninsula)
GEOGRAPHY
DEMOGRAPHICS
The prevalent languages in North America are English, Spanish, and French. North America is a racially and ethnically diverse continent. Its three main racial groups are Caucasians, Mestizos and Blacks. (significant minority of Indigenous Americans and Asians).
DEMOGRAPHICS
Native Languages of North America
DEMOGRAPHICS
Socially and culturally, Canada and the United States have a similar culture and similar traditions as a result of both countries being former British colonies. Common cultural and economic market between the two nations because of the strong economic and historical ties. Spanish-speaking North America shares a common past as former Spanish colonies. Mexico and the Central American countries where civilizations like the Maya developed, indigenous people preserve traditions across modern boundaries. Northern Mexico, particularly in the cities of Monterrey, Tijuana, Ciudad Jurez, and Mexicali, is strongly influenced by the culture and way of life of the United States. Economically, Canada and the United States are the wealthiest and most developed nations in the continent, followed by Mexico, a newly industrialized country.
POPULATION
United States 311.6 million Mexico 112,322,757 Canada 32,623,490 Caribbean island-nations Under 1 mil. The largest cities in North America, by far are Mexico City and New York. (over 8 mil.) Next in size are Los Angeles, Chicago, Toronto, Havana, Santo Domingo, and Montreal. Cities in the sunbelt regions of the United States, such as those in Southern California and Houston, Phoenix, Miami, Atlanta, and Las Vegas, are experiencing rapid growth. Cities near the United States border, particularly in Mexico, are also experiencing large amounts of growth. Most notable is Tijuana, a city bordering San Diego that receives immigrants from all over Latin America and parts of Europe and Asia. Eight of the top ten metropolitan areas are located in the United States. The proximity of cities to each other on the Canada - United States border and Mexico - United States border has led to the rise of international metropolitan areas. These urban agglomerations are observed at their largest and most productive in DetroitWindsor and San DiegoTijuana and experience large commercial, economic, and cultural activity.
POPULATION
The top ten largest North American metropolitan areas by population as of 2010, based on national census numbers from the United States of America, and census estimates from Canada and Mexico.
LOS ANGELES
CHICAGO
HOUSTON
MIAMI
POPULATION
Population density 2000
POPULATION
Settlements Points
POPULATION
More than four out of five people specified at least one ancestry. The largest European ancestries have decreased in population, while African American, Hispanic, and Asian ancestries have increased. Seven percent of the U.S. population reported their ancestry as American.
GEOLOGY
Canadian geology Geologically, Canada is one of the oldest regions in the world. Canada's mineral resources are diverse and extensive. Across the Canadian Shield and in the north there are large iron, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, and uranium reserves. Large diamond concentrations have been recently developed in the Arctic, making Canada one of the world's largest producers. Throughout the Shield there are many mining towns extracting these minerals. The largest, and best known, is Sudbury, Ontario.
U.S. geological provinces The 48 U.S. states can be divided into roughly five physiographic provinces: 1. The American cordillera. 2. The Canadian Shield. 3. The stable platform. 4. The coastal plain. 5. The Appalachian orogenic belt. The geology of Alaska is typical of that of the cordillera, while the major islands of Hawaii consist of Neogene volcanics erupted over a hot spot.
GEOLOGY
GEOLOGY
Central American geology Central America is geologically active with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occurring from time to time. In 1976 Guatemala was hit by a major earthquake, killing 23,000 people; Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, was devastated by earthquakes in 1931 and 1972, the last one killed about 5,000 people; three earthquakes devastated El Salvador, one in 1986 and two in 2001; one earthquake devastated northern and central Costa Rica in 2009 killing at least 34 people; in Honduras a powerful earthquake killed 7 people in 2009. Central America has many mountain ranges; the longest are the Sierra Madre de Chiapas, the Cordillera Isabelia and the Cordillera de Talamanca. Between the mountain ranges lie fertile valleys that are suitable for the people; in fact most of the population of Honduras, Costa Rica and Guatemala live in valleys. Valleys are also suitable for the production of coffee, beans and other crops.
CLIMATE
ECONOMY
Canada, Mexico and the United States have significant and multifaceted economic systems. The United States has the largest economy in North America, and in the world. In 2011, the US has an estimated per capita gross domestic product (PPP) of $47,200, and is the most technologically developed economy in North America. United states Service sector 76.7 % Industry 22.2 % Agriculture 1.2 %
ECONOMY
GDP growth_1923-2009
ECONOMY
ECONOMY
ECONOMY
ECONOMY
Canada's economic trends are similar to that of the United States, with significant growth in the sectors of services, mining and manufacturing. Canada's GDP (PPP) was estimated at $39,400 in 2010. Canada Service sector 78% Industry 22% Agriculture 2% Mexico has a GDP (PPP) of $15,113 per capita and as of 2010 is the 11th largest economy in the world. Mexico maintains both modern and outdated industrial and agricultural facilities and operations. Its main sources of income are oil, industrial exports manufactured goods, electronics, heavy industry, automobiles, construction, food, banking and financial services.
ECONOMY
The North American economy is well defined and structured in three main economic areas. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) Central American Common Market (CACM) In addition to the larger trade blocs there is the Canada-Costa Rica Free Trade Agreement among numerous other free trade relations; often between the larger, more developed countries, and Central American and Caribbean countries. The North America Free Trade Agreement forms one of the four largest trade blocs in the world. (implemented in 1994)
Twenty Largest Economies by GDP at Given Years The following is a list of twenty largest economies by nominal GDP at a specific year according to IMF (International Monetary Fund)
The following is a list of twenty largest economies by GDP (PPP) at a specific year according to IMF and the World Bank
1980 1990 - European Union, United States and Japan lead expansion
URBAN EXTENTS
1990
1995
2000
1990
1995
2000