North America

The Appalachians constitute the principal relief on the eastern part of the continent, while in the west, high mountain chains (the Rocky Mountains and the Sierra Madre) follow the coast from Alaska to Mexico.

Grand Canyon

The longest gorge in the world (220 mi); the Colorado River flows through it.

Gulf of California

Separates the Baja California peninsula from the continent.

Gulf of Mexico

Part of the Atlantic located between the U.S., Mexico and Cuba.

Yucatan Peninsula

Vast plateau characterized by aridity in the northwest and abundant precipitation in the south, where a dense forest grows.

Central America

Extends from the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mexico to the Isthmus of Panama.

Isthmus of Panama

Cut by a canal with locks that is 50 mi long. The Panama Canal opened in 1914 allowing maritime traffic to travel between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean.

Caribbean Sea

Body of water (1.1 million mi2) located between Central America and the northern portion of South America.

West Indies

Archipelago that includes more than 700 islands, including the Greater Antilles in the north (Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico) and the Lesser Antilles in the east.

Mississippi River

The Mississippi (2,350 mi) drainage basin covers the entire area between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachians.

Appalachian Mountains

Old massif extending over 1,200 mi from the Canadian border to Alabama; its highest peak is Mount Mitchell (6,684 feet).

Saint Lawrence River

River (over 680 mi) that drains southeastern Canada and empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

Newfoundland Island

Great Lakes

These five lakes constitute the world’s largest reserve of fresh surface water (95,000 mi2).

Aleutian Islands

Archipelago that is an extension of Alaska; it is composed of 150 islands and islets stretching over more than 1,000 mi.

Gulf of Alaska

Northeast part of the Pacific Ocean, bordering Alaska.

Greenland

Second largest island in the world (over 770,000 mi2) after Australia.

Baffin Island

Island in the Arctic Archipelago; the Baffin Sea separates it from Greenland.

Hudson Bay

Vast gulf that opens onto the Atlantic Ocean through the Hudson Strait; the bay is frozen seven months a year.

Mackenzie River

Canada’s longest river (2,635 mi).

Beaufort Sea

Part of the Arctic Ocean between Alaska and the Arctic Archipelago.

Bering Strait

Some 62 mi wide, it connects the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean.

Rocky Mountains

Eastern margin of the western cordilleras, extending from Alaska to Mexico.