continent report

7/31/2019 Continent REPORT

1/25

Ignited Dragons: North America

1


2/25


2

Contents

Summary: .................................................................................................................................... 4

Statistics ...................................................................................................................................... 7

List of Countries in North America ............................................................................................. 8

Geography .................................................................................................................................. 9

Major Cities: .............................................................................................................................. 12

Important Major Cities: ............................................................................................................ 13

Vancouver: ............................................................................................................................ 13

Toronto: ................................................................................................................................ 13

Chicago: ................................................................................................................................ 14

New York: .............................................................................................................................. 14

Washington, D.C.: ................................................................................................................. 15

Las Vegas: ............................................................................................................................. 15

Mexico City: .......................................................................................................................... 16

Belize: .................................................................................................................................... 16

Panama City: ......................................................................................................................... 17

Havana: ................................................................................................................................. 17

Trade and Economy .................................................................................................................. 18

Economic Development ........................................................................................................ 19

Roaring Twenties .............................................................................................................. 19

Great Depression .............................................................................................................. 19

World War II...................................................................................................................... 20

US-Canada Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA ................................................................ 20

Regional variation ............................................................................................................. 20

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation .................................................................................. 20

Caribbean Community ...................................................................................................... 21

Central American Free Trade Agreement ......................................................................... 21

North American Free Trade Agreement ........................................................................... 22

Economic sectors .................................................................................................................. 22

Agriculture ........................................................................................................................ 22


3/25


3

Manufacturing .................................................................................................................. 23

Service ............................................................................................................................... 23

Investment and banking ................................................................................................... 23

Tourism ............................................................................................................................. 24

Highest 10 GDPs of North America:...................................................................................... 24


4/25


4

NORTH AMERICA

Summary:

In 1492, Genoese explorer Christopher Columbus, under contract to the Spanishcrown, reached several Caribbean islands, making first contact with the indigenous

people. Indigenous people of the United States are now commonly called "American

Indians", or just "Indians" domestically, but are also often referred to as "Native

Americans". These were the original occupants of this continent along with the Incas,


5/25


5

Mayans, Aztecs and several other civilizations. Columbus stumbled upon this

Newfoundland while on a quest to find India.

North America is divided into three subcontinents namely North America, Central

America and The Caribbean. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the

east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America, and to the west andsouth by the Pacific Ocean.

North America is the source of much of what humanity knows about geologic time

periods. The geographic area that would later become the United States has been the

source of more varieties of dinosaurs than any other modern country. According to

paleontologist Peter Dodson, this is primarily due to stratigraphy, climate and

geography, human resources, and history. Much of the Mesozoic Era is represented by

exposed outcrops in the many arid regions of the continent. The most significant LateJurassic dinosaur-bearing fossil deposit in North America is the Morrison Formation

of the western United States.

During the thousands of years of native inhabitation on the continent, cultures changed

and shifted. Archaeologists often name different cultural groups they discover after the


6/25


6

site where they were first found. One of the oldest cultures yet found is the Clovis

culture of modern New Mexico. A more recent example is the group of related

cultures called the Mound builders (e.g. the Fort Walton Culture), found in the

Mississippi river valley. They flourished from 300 BC to the 150s AD. Upon the

arrival of the Europeans in the "New World", the Native American population

declined substantially, primarily due to the introduction of European diseases to which

the Native Americans lacked immunity. Native peoples found their culture changed

drastically. As such, their affiliation with political and cultural groups changed as well,

several linguistic groups went extinct, and others changed quite quickly. The names

and cultures that Europeans recorded for the natives were not necessarily the same as

the ones they had used a few generations before, or the ones in use today.

In the late 18th century and beginning of the 19th, several independence movements

started across North America. The 13 British colonies on the North Atlantic coast

declared independence in 1776, becoming the United States of America. New Spain, a

territory that stretched from modern-day southern U.S. to Central America, declared

independence in 1810 becoming the First Mexican Empire. In 1823 the former

Captaincy General of Guatemala, then part of the Mexican Empire, became the first

independent state in Central America, officially changing its name to the United

Provinces of Central America.


7/25


7

Statistics

Area 24,709,000 km2 (9,540,000 sq mi) Population 528,720,588 (2008) Pop. Density 22.9/km2 (59.3/sq mi) Countries 23 Languages English, Spanish, French, Dutch Time Zones UTC-10 to UTC


8/25


8

List of Countries in North America

1. Antigua and Barbuda2.

Bahamas

3. Barbados4. Belize5. Canada6. Costa Rica7. Cuba8. Dominica9. Dominican Republic10.El Salvador11.Grenada12.Guatemala13.Haiti14.Honduras15.Jamaica16.Mexico17.Nicargua18.Panama19.Saint Kitts and Nevis20.Saint Lucia21.

Saint Vincent and Grenadines

22.Trinidad and Tobago23.United States of America


9/25


9

Geography

North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally

referred to as the New World, the Western Hemisphere, the Americas, or

simply America (which, less commonly, is considered by some as a single

continent with North America a subcontinent).

North America's only land connection to South America is at the Isthmus of

Panama. The continent is delimited on the southeast by most geographers at

the Darin watershed along the Colombia-Panama border, placing all of

Panama within North America. Alternatively, less common views would end

North America at the man-made Panama Canal; and some geologists

physiographically locate its southern limit at the Isthmus of Tehuantepec,


10/25


10

Mexico, with Central America extending southeastward to South America

from this point. The Caribbean islands, or West Indies, are considered part of

North America.

Before the Central American isthmus was raised, the region had been

underwater. The islands of the West Indies delineate a submerged former land

bridge which had connected North America and South America via what are

now Florida and Venezuela. The continental coastline is long and irregular.

The Gulf of Mexico is the largest body of water indenting the continent,

followed by Hudson Bay. Others include the Gulf of Saint Lawrence and the

Gulf of California.

There are numerous islands off the continents coasts, principally, the Arctic

Archipelago, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, the Greater and Lesser Antilles,

the Aleutian Islands (some of which are in the Eastern Hemisphere proper), the

Alexander Archipelago, the many thousand islands of the British Columbia

Coast, and Newfoundland. Greenland, a self-governing Danish island, and the

world's largest, is on the same tectonic plate (the North American Plate) and is

part of North America geographically. In a geologic sense, Bermuda is not part

of the Americas, but an oceanic island which was formed on the fissure of the

Mid-Atlantic Ridge over 100 million years ago. The nearest landmass to it is

Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. However, Bermuda is often thought of as part

of North America, especially given its historical, political and cultural ties to

Virginia and other parts of the continent.

The vast majority of North America is on the North American Plate. Parts of

California and western Mexico form the partial edge of the Pacific Plate, with

the two plates meeting along the San Andreas fault. The southernmost portion

of the continent and much of the West Indies lie on the Caribbean Plate,

whereas the Juan de Fuca and Cocos plates border the North American Plate

on its western frontier.


11/25


11

The continent can be divided into four great regions (each of which contains

many subregions): the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the

Canadian Arctic; the geologically young, mountainous west, including the

Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin, California and Alaska; the raised but

relatively flat plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast; and the varied

eastern region, which includes the Appalachian Mountains, the coastal plain

along the Atlantic seaboard, and the Florida peninsula. Mexico, with its long

plateaus and cordilleras, falls largely in the western region, although the

eastern coastal plain does extend south along the Gulf. The western mountains

are split in the middle and into the main range of the Rockies and the coast

ranges in California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia with the

Great Basina lower area containing smaller ranges and low-lying desertsin

between. The highest peak is Denali in Alaska.


12/25


12

Major Cities:

Figure: Major cities by Population


13/25


13

Important Major Cities:

Vancouver:

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city in British Columbia, Canada. The city

proper has more than 640,000 people, making it the eighth largest among

Canadian cities and the most densely populated Canadian city with over

25,000 residents.

Toronto:

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada.

As Canada's economic capital and one of the top financial centers in the

world, It is home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the world's seventh

largest in terms of market value.


14/25


14

Chicago:

Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. Its metropolitan area,

sometimes called "Chicagoland," is the 27th most populous urban

agglomeration in the world, the largest in the Great Lakes

Megalopolis, and the third largest in the US. Today, the city retains its

status as a major hub for industry, telecommunications and infrastructure.

New York:

New York is the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of

the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a

significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion,

research, technology, education, and entertainment.


15/25


15

Washington, D.C.:

Formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to

as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United

States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation

of a special district to serve as the permanent national capital as permitted

by the U.S. Constitution.

Las Vegas:

Las Vegas is the most populous city in Nevada, United States, and an

internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine

dining. Las Vegas, which bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the

World, is famous for its casino resorts and associated entertainment.


16/25


16

Mexico City:

Mexico Cityalso known as the Valley of the Damned, is the capital city ofMexico and is located in the Valley of Mexico. It is the most important

center for financial, economic and cultural events of the country. The city

was originally built by the Aztecs in 1325 on an island of Lake Texcoco,

with the municipality of Mexico City established in 1524.

Belize:

Belize City proper is split into two areas: North side Belize City, bounded

by the Haulover Creek and ending in the east at the Fort George area, and

Belize City South side, extending to the outskirts of the City.


17/25


17

Panama City:

Panama City is an urban center unmatched by any other Central Americancity. Most often compared to Miami, it contains a cosmopolitan bustle of

diverse cultures, nationalities, and attractions.

Havana:

Havana is the capital of Cuba. Havana was a candidate to host the 2012

Summer Olympic Games. Havana was the third city in the world to receivegas lighting, in 1848.


18/25


18

Trade and Economy

The economy of North America comprises more than 528 million people (8%

of the world population) in its 23 sovereign states and 15 dependent territories.

It is marked by a sharp division between the predominantly English speaking

countries of Canada and the United States, which are among the wealthiest and

most developed nations in the world, and the countries of Central America and

the Caribbean that are less developed. Mexico lies in between these two

extremes as a newly industrialized country (NIC), and is a part of the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the only Latin American

member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

(OECD). The United States is by far the largest economy in North America

and the largest national economy in the world.

The US, Canada and Mexico have significant and multifaceted economic

systems. 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. The United States' services sector comprises 76.7% of the country's

GDP (estimated in 2010), industry comprises 22.2% and agriculture comprises

1.2%.

Canada's economic trends and 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's services

sector comprises 78% of the country's GDP (estimated in 2010), industry

comprises 20% and agriculture comprises 2%.

Mexico has a GDP (PPP) of $13,900, and per capita income is estimated at

approximately one-third of the United States'. The country has both modern

and outdated industrial and agricultural facilities and operations, and is


19/25


19

modernizing in sectors such as energy production, telecommunications and

airports.

Economic Development

Roaring Twenties

The 1920s were a time of economic growth and prosperity in North America.

Increased incomes as well as the large increase in the ability of private citizens

to obtain credit resulted in a surge of consumer spending after World War I.

Great Depression

The Great Depression began in North America in October 1929. The start is

often dated to the stock market collapse of Black Tuesday although this was

not the cause of the Great Depression. Canada and the United States

experienced especially large declines, with the gross domestic product falling37% from 1929 to 1933 in the United States, and 43% in Canada over the same

period. The economy reached its lowest point in 1933, however recovery was

slow. The outbreak of World War II in 1939 created demand for war materials

that brought about the end of the depression.

The Great Depression spurred increased government intervention in the

economy in North America. The United States introduced unemployment

insurance, a minimum wage and standardised working hours under the New

Deal. Canada introduced similar measures. Mexico nationalised some key

industries during the Great Depression, with the railroads nationalised by 1937

and the oil industry nationalised in 1938.


20/25


20

World War II

The large scale enlistment of men into armed forces during World War II

women entered the workforce en masse, filling many jobs in manufacturing

and technical areas that had previously been closed to women. This led to the

"We can do it!" campaign. The economic output in North America increased

substantially, with unemployment practically eliminated in the United States.

Rationing severely reduced the availability of consumer goods, with the

increase in industrial production coming from the demand for war materials.

US-Canada Free Trade Agreement and NAFTA

The Canada-United States Free Trade Agreement of 1989 and the subsequent

expansion to the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) triggered a

dramatic increase in trade between these three countries, with Mexican trade

with the United States and Canada increasing threefold. Over 85% of Canadian

exports in 2006 went to the United States.

Regional variation

With various climate zones, agricultural products vary from country to

country. Job sectors are also different, with industrialized countries having

more service workers, and developing countries relling on agriculture.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is a group of Pacific Rim

countries which meet with the purpose of improving economic and political


21/25


21

ties. APEC's stated goals are aimed at free and open trade and investments by

cutting tariffs between zero to five percent in the Asia-Pacific area for

industrialised economies by 2010 and for developing economies by 2020.

The organisation has members from four continents, those from North Americaare Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Caribbean Community

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was created "To provide dynamic

leadership and service, in partnership with Community institutions and

Groups, toward the attainment of a viable, internationally competitive and

sustainable Community, with improved quality of life for all".

- On January 1, 2006 six members: (Barbados, Belize, Guyana, Jamaica,

Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago) un-officially ushered in the Caribbean

(CARICOM) Single Market and Economy (CSME).

- At the official signing of the protocol on January 30, 2006 in Jamaica, A

further six members: (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts

and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) announced their

intention to join by the second quarter of 2006. Montserrat, a British Oversees

territory is awaiting approval by the United Kingdom. Haiti and the Bahamas

have no immediate plans to join.

Central American Free Trade Agreement


22/25


22

The Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) is an agreement

between the United States and the Central American countries of Costa Rica,

Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The treaty is aimed at

promoting free trade between its members. Canada and Mexico are negotiating

membership.

North American Free Trade Agreement

The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is an agreement

between Canada, Mexico and the United States to eliminate tariffs on goods

traded between themselves.

Although currently only a trade agreement, with no supranational bodies or

laws as in the European Union, there have been various proposals to move

towards a customs union or a North American currency union. It is unknown

whether or not this may eventually develop into a North American Union

similar to that of Europe.

Economic sectors

Agriculture

Agriculture is very important in Central American and Caribbean nations. In

western Canada, in the provinces of Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia

and Manitoba, wheat and other various main agricultural products are grown.

The U.S. also has many states with significant agriculture production, mainly


23/25


23

in the central continental U.S. Mexico produces many tropical fruits and

vegetables as well as edible animals.

Manufacturing

North America has developed and its manufacturing sector has grown. In the

beginning the European nations were the large manufacturing powers. At the

start of the 1950s, the United States was a top manufacturing power, with

Canada and Mexico also making significant progress.

Service

In Canada, the US and the Caribbean, service-based employment is a

significant percentage of overall employment. Many people work in stores and

other retail locations. In Canada more than 70% work in the services sector,

with a similar percentage in the United States.

Investment and banking

The United States leads North America in investment and banking. Canada,

Mexico and most recently El Salvador is growing in this sector, and smaller

economic powers such as Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, and Panama are

also growing slowly in this sector.


24/25


24

Tourism

Tourism is extremely important for the Caribbean economies, as they contain

many beaches and have warm climates. Skiing in Canada and the US is also

important. Tourism of national parks and natural landmarks, such as Mount

Rushmore and the Grand Canyon in the United States, and Niagara Falls and

Moraine lake in Canada, contribute to the economy in these regions.

Highest 10 GDPs of North America:


25/25


25

continent report

Documents