NORTH AMERICA

A vast continent stretching north and south from the Arctic Ocean in the north to just below the Tropic of Cancer in the south.

At its widest point thousands of miles separate the Pacific Ocean on the western shore from the North Atlantic Ocean on the east.

At its southern most point only a few miles of land separate the South Atlantic Ocean from the Pacific Ocean.

Four countries share this vast spance of land.
The total combined population of all it's countries is approximately 430 million people.
The land mass has a geographic range that includes mountains in the western coast lines, flat plains throughout the central portion of the continent and low worn mountains and low lands along the eastern coast lines.
Greenland, which forms the eastern most portion of the continent, is generally flat and 85% covered in ice. This country although part of the North American continent is politically associated with Denmark.

The continental climate ranges from arctic in the north to sub tropic in the south.

The majority of the population is the offspring of immigrant families that began to settle on the continent soon after 1492 when Spanish explorers seeking an ocean trade route to China accidentally came across an unknown continent that blocked their path.

The native populations are believed to have settled there approximately 5000 years earlier. The economies of the countries vary but for the most part were established on minerals and agriculture. But the United States during the last two centuries expanded its industrial base to such an extent that for the last 100 years it has been the world leader in industrial innovation and economics.

Mexico has the second largest population and the least landmass of the three countries. Mexico has been the most economically challenged of the three countries while at the same time it could claim to be the most culturally rich having maintained its Spanish and Mayan heritage as the most prominent characteristics.
The traditional economic base for the country has been minerals and tourism but in recent years government initiatives are changing that to an industrial driven economy, providing more work opportunities for the countries citizens.

Canada has the largest land mass but surprisingly the lowest population. The majority of its citizens are huddled within 20 miles of its boarder with the United States and the demographics of this population are mainly the descendants of the immigrant families from Europe and Asia.

The original peoples are diverse in cultures and are more evenly spread throughout the landmass of the country.

Canada's economy in the past was founded on natural resources and agriculture. These continue to play prominent roles in the economy, although the stature of agriculture is greatly diminished in importance while commerce and industry now generate more jobs and cash flow into it's economy.