North America For Kids

Do you know about the continent of North America? Learn about the continent's rich natural resources, its diverse population, and its long coastline. You can also discover the continent's namesake: Amerigo Vespucci named it. North America is the third largest continent in the world and covers 9.5 million square miles of land. It is home to the world's largest island, the Bahamas. Facts about North America are fun and interesting to learn.

Although North America has a long coastline, it is not as flat as the Atlantic Ocean. The coastline of North America is 37,000 miles long, second only to Asia's. This coastline is marked by numerous indentations. These are most noticeable in the northern half. As such, its oceans are often referred to as 'fjords'. However, there are many other reasons why this coastline is so unique.

Although the United States' coastline is long, it has many contours and unique geographic features that make it difficult to measure. It is therefore difficult to determine the exact length of the coastline, but technology has made it possible to measure the shoreline of each state and territory. For example, the United States has a long coastline that extends beyond the continental United States, including territory in the Caribbean and Puerto Rico. Moreover, the coastline in North America is very varied, with states that include islands and wetlands as well.

North America has an extensive river system. The great Mackenzie River system in western Canada drains much of the northern interior of the continent. Several rivers drain Hudson Bay. Other major rivers in North America flow west of the Continental Divide, including the Hudson, Mississippi, Missouri, and the Columbia. All of these rivers are important to the continent's economy, and they can be found in almost every corner of the country.

While the eastern half of North America is dotted with many small lakes, Canada is home to a multitude of larger ones. While humans have been drawn to rivers in North America for more than 12,000 years, most rivers have been radically changed over time by industrialization. They have been dammed for hydropower, dewatered for human consumption, and polluted with waste products. As a result, river biodiversity has been dramatically compromised and ecosystems have become less diverse.