What is the total land area of the Americas?

The Americas encompass a total land area of 42,549,000 square kilometers (16,428,000 square miles), making it the second-largest landmass on Earth by area.

Approximately how many people live in the Americas?

The Americas are home to over 1.02 billion inhabitants, making it the third-largest continent by population.

How many sovereign states are located within the Americas?

There are 35 sovereign states situated within the Americas.

What are the primary languages spoken across the Americas?

The most prevalent languages spoken in the Americas are Spanish, English, and Portuguese, reflecting the major colonial influences. Other significant languages include French, Haitian Creole, and various indigenous languages.

How is the term "Americas" defined in terms of landmass?

The Americas are defined as the landmass comprising the entirety of North America and South America, often viewed as a single continental landmass.

What is the geographical significance of the Americas in relation to Earth's hemispheres?

The Americas constitute the majority of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and are collectively referred to as the New World.

What is the dominant topographical feature running along the western coast of the Americas?

The topography of the Americas is largely dominated by the American Cordillera, an extensive mountain chain that extends along the entire west coast of both continents.

How does the north-to-south extent of the Americas influence its climate and ecology?

Due to its vast north-to-south extension of approximately 14,000 km (8,700 miles), the Americas exhibit a wide range of climates and ecologies, from arctic tundra in the north to tropical rainforests in the south.

When did humans first settle the Americas, and from where did they originate?

Humans first began settling the Americas from Asia between 20,000 and 16,000 years ago, with subsequent migrations of Na-Dene speakers and the Inuit people completing the general settlement by Indigenous peoples of the Americas.

From whom does the name "America" derive?

The name "America" is derived from Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer, whose first name, Americus, was Latinized.

Who was responsible for the first recorded use of the name "America" on a map?

The name "America" was first recorded on a world map created by German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in 1507.

How has the usage of "America" evolved in English-speaking contexts?

While historically referring to the entire landmass, since the 1950s, "America" in English commonly refers to the United States of America, leading to the use of "the Americas" for the continental landmasses.

How does the term "América" function in Spanish when referring to the continents?

In Spanish, "América" refers to a single continent composed of the subcontinents of South America and North America, the land bridge of Central America, and the islands of the Antilles. The term "Americano/a" is used similarly to "Europeo/a" for inhabitants of the continent.

How is "América" used in Portuguese, and what are the preferred terms for people from the United States?

In Portuguese, "América" refers to the single continent, but "americano" is commonly used for people from the United States, though "norte-americano" or "estadunidense" are preferred in formal contexts to distinguish from the continental demonym.

In French, how is the term "américain" used, and what is an alternative for clarity?

In French, "américain" often refers specifically to things related to the United States, similar to English usage. The term "états-unien" is sometimes used for greater clarity.

What is the definition of the pre-Columbian era in the context of the Americas?

The pre-Columbian era encompasses all historical and prehistorical periods in the Americas before significant European influence, spanning from the initial settlement in the Upper Paleolithic to European colonization in the Early Modern period.

What were some common characteristics of major pre-Columbian civilizations?

Major pre-Columbian civilizations often exhibited characteristics such as permanent or urban settlements, developed agriculture, monumental architecture, and complex societal hierarchies.

What is the timeframe for the initial migration of inhabitants into the Americas from Asia?

The first inhabitants are believed to have migrated into the Americas from Asia between 20,000 and 16,000 years ago.

What are the proposed routes for the initial migration of humans into the Americas?

Proposed routes include migration across the Beringia land bridge between Siberia and Alaska, potentially following ice-free corridors, or traveling down the Pacific coast via primitive boats.

Where did Viking settlers establish their first known settlement in the Americas?

Viking settlers established their first known settlement in the Americas at L'Anse aux Meadows, near the northernmost tip of Newfoundland, Canada.

When did large-scale European colonization of the Americas begin?

Large-scale European colonization of the Americas commenced with Christopher Columbus's first voyage in 1492.

What was the first Spanish settlement in the Americas, and what is the oldest European-founded city in the Americas?

The first Spanish settlement was La Isabela in northern Hispaniola, which was later replaced by Santo Domingo de Guzmán, founded in 1496, as the oldest American city of European foundation.

What was the impact of European diseases on the Indigenous populations of the Americas?

Diseases introduced by Europeans caused a devastating population crash among the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, often leading to significant decline even before direct European contact. Smallpox was one of the most destructive diseases.

When did the process of decolonization in the Americas begin?

The decolonization of the Americas began in the late 1700s with the American Revolution and the Haitian Revolution.

How did Canada achieve independence from the United Kingdom?

Canada's independence from the United Kingdom began with the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931, culminating in the patriation of the Canadian Constitution in 1982.

What is the northernmost point of the Americas, and what is its significance?

The northernmost point of the Americas is Kaffeklubben Island, which also holds the distinction of being the most northerly point of land on Earth.

What is the approximate north-to-south distance of the mainland Americas?

The mainland of the Americas stretches approximately 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) from its northernmost point on the Boothia Peninsula in Canada to Cape Froward in Chilean Patagonia.

What geological event linked the continents of North and South America?

The formation of the Isthmus of Panama approximately three million years ago linked the continents of North America and South America, creating a single landmass for the Americas.

What was the "Great American Interchange"?

The Great American Interchange was the migration of species between North and South America after the formation of the Isthmus of Panama, which significantly altered the biodiversity of both continents.

What are the highest peaks in the Americas, located in South America and North America respectively?

The highest peak in the Americas is Aconcagua in Argentina (South America), and the tallest in North America is Denali (Mount McKinley) in Alaska, USA.

How does the climate vary across the Americas?

The climate varies significantly, with tropical rainforest climates in areas like the Amazon and Darién Gap, dry and continental climates in the Rocky and Andes Mountains, and temperate zones elsewhere.

What is the largest river basin in North America, and what is its significance?

The largest river basin in North America is that of the Mississippi River, which covers the second-largest watershed globally and drains a significant portion of the United States.

What is the largest river basin in South America, and what is its notable characteristic?

The largest river basin in South America is the Amazon Basin, which is characterized by having the highest volume flow of any river on Earth.

How did the formation of the Isthmus of Panama impact the ecology of the Americas?

The formation of the Isthmus of Panama connected the continents, allowing for the exchange of flora and fauna, known as the Great American Interchange, which significantly altered the biodiversity of both North and South America.

Which country has the largest land area in the Americas?

Canada has the largest land area in the Americas, covering approximately 9,984,670 square kilometers.

Which country has the largest population in the Americas?

The United States has the largest population in the Americas, with an estimated 320,206,000 people.

Which country in the Americas has the highest GDP (nominal)?

The United States has the highest GDP (nominal) in the Americas, projected to reach $30,507,217 million USD by 2025.

Which countries are among the largest agricultural producers globally, located within the Americas?

The United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina are among the world's largest agricultural producers.

In 2019, which crops did the Americas dominate in global production?

In 2019, the Americas dominated global production of soy (nearly 90%), sugarcane (about 55%), coffee (about 55%), and maize (about 48%).

Which countries in the Americas are major producers of oil and natural gas?

Major oil producers in the Americas include the United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Argentina. For natural gas, the top producers are the United States, Canada, Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Mexico, Venezuela, Bolivia, and Brazil.

What are the four main ancestral groups that form the population of the Americas?

The population of the Americas is primarily composed of descendants from Indigenous peoples, people of European ancestry, people of African ancestry, and Asians.

What terms are used to describe populations with mixed ancestry in the Americas?

Populations with mixed ancestry include Mestizos (mixed European and Indigenous), Mulattoes (mixed African and European), and Zambos or Cafuzos (mixed African and Indigenous).

How does Latin America differ from Anglo-America in terms of dominant cultural roots and languages?

Latin America's cultures are rooted in Romance languages from Latin Europe (primarily Spanish and Portuguese), while Anglo-America's cultures derive predominantly from Germanic roots, with English as the prevalent language.

What role did the transatlantic slave trade play in the demographic composition of the Americas?

The transatlantic slave trade brought millions of Africans to the Americas, particularly South America, to work on plantations and in mines, significantly shaping the socio-economic and demographic landscape of the hemisphere.

What historical event led to the establishment of the world's first black republic?

The Haitian Revolution, led by Jean-Jacques Dessalines, resulted in the establishment of the world's first black republic, Haiti, after a successful slave revolt that began in 1791.

What is the most prevalent religion in the Americas?

Christianity is the most prevalent faith in the Americas, practiced by approximately 86% of the population.

Which Christian denomination has the largest following in Latin America?

Roman Catholicism is the largest Christian denomination in Latin America, with Brazil alone having the greatest number of Roman Catholics globally.

What are the three most widely spoken first languages in the Americas?

The most widely spoken first languages in the Americas are Spanish, followed by English, and then Portuguese.

What is "Portuñol," and where is it spoken?

Portuñol is a lingua franca that is a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish, spoken in the border regions between Brazil and its Spanish-speaking neighbors.

What is one of the most popular sports in the Americas that spread due to US influence?

Baseball is one of the most popular sports in the Americas, having spread across the hemisphere following the growth of US influence in the late 19th century.

Which sport is considered perhaps the most popular and widely followed in the Americas?

Association football (soccer) is considered perhaps the most popular and followed sport across the Americas, with regional governing bodies CONCACAF (North, Central America, and Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America).

Americas Wiki: Hemispheres United: An Exploration of the Americas

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Defining the Americas

A Landmass of Two Continents

The Americas constitute the totality of North America and South America. When considered as a single landmass, they represent the second-largest continent by area and the third-largest by population. This vast region encompasses most of the Earth's Western Hemisphere and is often referred to as the "New World."

Vast Scale and Diversity

Spanning approximately 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) from north to south, the Americas exhibit an extraordinary range of climates and ecologies. This includes arctic tundra in the north, temperate zones, and lush tropical rainforests in the south. The topography is dramatically shaped by the American Cordillera, a mountain system running along the western coast, complemented by extensive river basins like the Amazon and Mississippi.

A Billion Inhabitants

Home to over a billion people, the Americas are characterized by significant population centers, including eight megacities such as Mexico City, São Paulo, and New York City. The population is a rich mosaic, reflecting millennia of indigenous settlement, European colonization, and subsequent global migration.

Geography: A Diverse Landscape

Topography: Mountains and Plains

The western Americas are dominated by the American Cordillera, featuring the Andes in South America and the Rocky Mountains and other ranges in North America. The eastern regions are characterized by extensive plains and major river basins, including the Amazon, Mississippi-Missouri, St. Lawrence-Great Lakes, and La Plata basins. Notable mountain ranges also include the Appalachian Mountains in North America.

Climate Zones

The climatic conditions across the Americas are highly varied. Tropical rainforest climates are found in equatorial regions, while dry and continental climates prevail in mountainous areas like the Rockies and Andes. The southeastern United States is known for tornadoes and hurricanes, phenomena influenced by the collision of air masses from Canada and the Atlantic.

Hydrology: Rivers and Basins

Major river systems are crucial to the continent's geography and ecology. The Mississippi-Missouri system in North America is one of the world's largest watersheds. In South America, the Amazon basin boasts the highest river flow globally, while the Paraná River basin is the second largest. Numerous other significant rivers shape the landscape and support diverse ecosystems.

Ecology: A Shared Biosphere

The formation of the Isthmus of Panama approximately three million years ago facilitated the Great American Interchange, allowing for the significant exchange of flora and fauna between North and South America. While initially balanced, the exchange became more dominated by North American genera migrating southward, shaping the unique biodiversity observed today.

Historical Journey

Early Settlement

Human settlement in the Americas began with migrations from Asia between 20,000 and 16,000 years ago, with evidence suggesting even earlier presence. These early inhabitants, the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, spread throughout the continents, developing diverse cultures and civilizations prior to European arrival.

Norse and European Arrival

The first known European settlement was by Norse explorers around 1000 CE in Vinland (modern Newfoundland). However, large-scale European colonization commenced with Christopher Columbus's voyages in 1492. This initiated the Columbian Exchange, a period of exploration, conquest, and colonization that profoundly impacted the continents' demographics, cultures, and environments.

Decolonization

The process of decolonization began in the late 18th century with the American and Haitian Revolutions, followed by numerous Latin American wars of independence in the early 19th century. Canada achieved independence gradually, culminating in 1982. Many Caribbean nations gained independence in the latter half of the 20th century.

Etymology and Terminology

Origin of the Name

The name "America" originates from Amerigo Vespucci, an Italian explorer. The term first appeared on a 1507 world map by Martin Waldseemüller, who applied it to South America. It was later extended to both continents by Gerardus Mercator. The feminine form, "America," aligned with the naming conventions of other continents like Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Linguistic Nuances

In English, "the Americas" is commonly used to refer to both continents, while "American" typically denotes the United States. This can cause ambiguity, leading to terms like "Pan-American" or "New Worlder" for clarity. In Spanish and Portuguese, "América" refers to the entire landmass, with specific terms like "estadounidense" (Spanish) or "norte-americano" (Portuguese) used to denote citizens of the United States to avoid confusion.

Nations and Territories

Sovereign States and Dependencies

The Americas comprise 35 sovereign states and numerous dependent territories. These entities exhibit vast differences in area, population, and cultural heritage, reflecting a complex history of settlement, colonization, and independence.

The following table provides a snapshot of key data for countries and territories within the Americas:

Country or territory	Total area (km²)	Population^{[note 1]}	Pop. density (per km²)	Common languages (official in bold)	Capital
Anguilla (United Kingdom)	91	13,452	164.8	English	The Valley
Antigua and Barbuda	442	86,295	199.1	Creole,^[103] English	St. John's
Argentina	2,766,890	42,669,500	14.3	Spanish	Buenos Aires
Aruba (Netherlands)	180	101,484	594.4	Papiamentu, Spanish, Dutch	Oranjestad
The Bahamas	13,943	351,461	24.5	Creole,^[105] English	Nassau
Bajo Nuevo Bank (United States / Colombia / Jamaica)	100^[106]	0^[107]	0.0	Uninhabited	N/A
Barbados	430	285,000	595.3	Bajan,^[108] English	Bridgetown
Belize	22,966	349,728	13.4	Spanish, Kriol, English^[109]	Belmopan
Bermuda (United Kingdom)	54	64,237	1,203.7	English	Hamilton
Bolivia	1,098,580	10,027,254	8.4	Spanish and 36 indigenous languages	La Paz and Sucre^[110]
Bonaire (Netherlands)	294	12,093	41.1	Papiamentu, Spanish, Dutch^[111]	Kralendijk
Brazil^[124]	8,514,877	203,106,000	23.6	Portuguese	Brasília
British Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)	151	29,537	152.3	English	Road Town
Canada	9,984,670	41,548,787	3.8	English, French	Ottawa
Cayman Islands (United Kingdom)	264	81,546	212.1	English	George Town
Chile^[112]	756,950	17,773,000	22	Spanish	Santiago
Clipperton Island (France)	6^[106]	0^[107]	0.0	Uninhabited	N/A
Colombia	1,138,910	47,757,000	40	Spanish	Bogotá
Costa Rica	51,100	4,667,096	89.6	Spanish	San José
Cuba^[125]	109,886	11,167,325	102.0	Spanish	Havana
Curaçao (Netherlands)	444	150,563	317.1	Papiamentu, Spanish, Dutch	Willemstad
Dominica	751	71,293	89.2	French Patois, English^[113]	Roseau
Dominican Republic	48,671	10,378,267	207.3	Spanish	Santo Domingo
Ecuador	283,560	15,819,400	53.8	Spanish, Quechua^[114]	Quito
El Salvador	21,041	6,401,240	293.0	Spanish	San Salvador
Falkland Islands (United Kingdom)^[115]	12,173	3,000	0.26	English	Stanley
Federal Dependencies of Venezuela (Venezuela)	342	2,155	2.4	Spanish	N/A
French Guiana (France)	91,000	237,549	2.7	French	Cayenne
Greenland (Denmark)	2,166,086	56,483	0.026	Greenlandic, Danish	Nuuk
Grenada	344	103,328	302.3	English	St. George's
Guadeloupe (France)	1,628	405,739	246.7	Guadeloupean Creole, French	Basse-Terre
Guatemala	108,889	15,806,675	128.8	Spanish, Garifuna and 23 Mayan languages	Guatemala City
Guyana	214,999	784,894	3.5	English	Georgetown
Haiti	27,750	10,745,665	361.5	Creole, French	Port-au-Prince
Honduras	112,492	8,555,072	66.4	Spanish	Tegucigalpa
Jamaica	10,991	2,717,991	247.4	Patois, English	Kingston
Martinique (France)	1,128	392,291	352.6	Patois,^[116] French	Fort-de-France
Mexico	1,964,375	119,713,203	57.1	Spanish, 68 indigenous languages	Mexico City
Montserrat (United Kingdom)	102	4,922	58.8	Creole English, English^[117]	Plymouth; Brades^[118]
Navassa Island (United States / Haiti)	5^[106]	0^[107]	0.0	Uninhabited	Lulu Town
Nicaragua	130,373	6,071,045	44.1	Spanish	Managua
Panama	75,417	3,405,813	45.8	Spanish	Panama City
Paraguay	406,750	6,783,374	15.6	Guaraní, Spanish	Asunción
Peru	1,285,220	30,814,175	22	Spanish, Quechua, and other indigenous languages	Lima
Puerto Rico (United States)	8,870	3,615,086	448.9	Spanish, English	San Juan
Saba (Netherlands)	13	1,537^[119]	118.2	English, Dutch	The Bottom
Saint Barthélemy (France)	21^[106]	8,938	354.7	French	Gustavia
Saint Kitts and Nevis	261	55,000	199.2	English	Basseterre
Saint Lucia	539	180,000	319.1	English, French Creole	Castries
Saint Martin (France)	54^[106]	36,979	552.2	French	Marigot
Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France)	242	6,081	24.8	French	Saint-Pierre
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines	389	109,000	280.2	English	Kingstown
Serranilla Bank (United States / Colombia / Honduras)	100^[106]	0^[107]	0.0	Uninhabited	N/A
Sint Eustatius (Netherlands)	21	2,739^[119]	130.4	Dutch, English	Oranjestad
Sint Maarten (Netherlands)	34	37,429	1,176.7	English, Spanish, Dutch	Philipsburg
South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (United Kingdom)^[120]	3,093	20	0.01	English	King Edward Point
Suriname	163,270	534,189	3	Dutch and others^[121]	Paramaribo
Trinidad and Tobago	5,130	1,328,019	261.0	English	Port of Spain
Turks and Caicos Islands (United Kingdom)	948	31,458	34.8	Creole English, English^[122]	Cockburn Town
United States of America^{[note 2]}	9,629,091	320,206,000	34.2	English, Spanish	Washington, D.C.
U.S. Virgin Islands (United States)	347	106,405	317.0	English	Charlotte Amalie
Uruguay	176,220	3,286,314	19.4	Spanish	Montevideo
Venezuela	916,445	30,206,307	30.2	Spanish and 40 indigenous languages	Caracas
Total	42,320,985	973,186,925	21.9

Economic Landscape

Economic Powerhouses

The economic landscape of the Americas is diverse, with the United States leading significantly in nominal GDP. Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina represent other major economies within the region, showcasing a range of development levels and economic structures.

The following table highlights the nominal GDP of key countries in the Americas:

Rank	Country	GDP (nominal, peak year) millions of USD^[123]	Peak year
1	United States	30,507,217	2025
2	Brazil^[124]	2,616,156	2011
3	Canada	2,241,253	2024
4	Mexico	1,852,723	2024
5	Argentina	683,533	2025
6	Cuba^[125]	545,218	2021
7	Venezuela^[124]	482,359	2014
8	Colombia	427,766	2025
9	Chile	343,823	2025
10	Peru	303,293	2025

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio

Click here to open the "Americas" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about americas while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.

Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

battle of philippi

quique setién

georgia in the american civil war

fall of the assad regime

anderson county south carolina

strangling

grand prix of st. petersburg

hoboken terminal

austin city limits

treaty on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons

References

See list of countries by population for references.

Webster's New World College Dictionary, 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.

La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia; Sucre is the judicial seat.

1 Million Milestone US Census Bureau

A full list of references for this article are available at the Americas Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.

This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional geographical, historical, or economic consultation. Always refer to official sources and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.

The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.

Hemispheres United

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Defining the Americas ℹ️

🌎 A Landmass of Two Continents

📏 Vast Scale and Diversity

👥 A Billion Inhabitants

Geography: A Diverse Landscape 🗺️

⛰️ Topography: Mountains and Plains

☁️ Climate Zones

💧 Hydrology: Rivers and Basins

🌿 Ecology: A Shared Biosphere

Historical Journey ⏳

🚶 Early Settlement

⚔️ Norse and European Arrival

🚩 Decolonization

Etymology and Terminology 🏷️

📜 Origin of the Name

🗣️ Linguistic Nuances

Nations and Territories 🏛️

🗺️ Sovereign States and Dependencies

Economic Landscape 💰

📈 Economic Powerhouses

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

True or False? 🤔

❓ Test Your Knowledge! ❓

Gamer's Corner 🎮

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Explore More Topics

📜 Discover other topics to study!

References

📜 References

Feedback & Support 👍

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Defining the Americas

A Landmass of Two Continents

Vast Scale and Diversity

A Billion Inhabitants

Geography: A Diverse Landscape

Topography: Mountains and Plains

Climate Zones

Hydrology: Rivers and Basins

Ecology: A Shared Biosphere

Historical Journey

Early Settlement

Norse and European Arrival

Decolonization

Etymology and Terminology

Origin of the Name

Linguistic Nuances

Nations and Territories

Sovereign States and Dependencies

Economic Landscape

Economic Powerhouses

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice