The largest mountains in America. USA mountains. What is the highest peak on earth

Geography of North America
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North America, the third largest continent in the world, includes 6 countries (some sources also include countries in North America Central America And Caribbean, however, in our directory they were placed in a separate section for clarity). In addition, North America includes the world's largest island, Greenland.

Located in the northern and eastern hemisphere, the region is bordered in the north by the Arctic Ocean and in the east by Atlantic Ocean, in the southeast – from Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and in the west - with the Pacific Ocean.

Mountains, foothills, and plains of North America

Alaska Range

These mountains of south-central Alaska extend from the Alaska Peninsula to the border with Yukon Territory (Canada). The highest point in all of North America is located here - Mount McKinley (height - 6,194 m).

Coast Range

Mountains along the Pacific coast of California, Oregon, and Washington. They also extend along the western border of British Columbia in Canada, and the southern tip of Alaska, all the way to the Kenai Peninsula and Kodiak Island.

Great Plains

The Great Plains of North America descend to the east from Rocky Mountains, and extend to the border of the Canadian Shield, and the western borders of the Appalachians. The land is generally flat, with large areas without trees and valleys with shallow rivers. Small hills and mountains occur in the Ozark Plateau (Missouri) and in the Boston and Ouachita Mountains northwest of Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Sandhills and buttes cover areas of north-central Nebraska.

Appalachian Mountains

The Appalachians, approximately 2,600 km long, stretch from central Alabama (USA) through the New England states and the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Quebec.

Significant chains of the Appalachian Mountains include: Cumberland (Tennessee), Blue Ridge (Virginia), Allegans (Pennsylvania), Catskill (New York), Green Mountains (Vermont), White Mountains (New Hampshire) .

The highest point is Mount Mitchell in North Carolina (height - 2,037 m).

Canadian shield

Plateau region located in the eastern and northern Canada, as well as the Great Lakes region of North America, consisting primarily of rough and rocky terrain, and large areas of coniferous (evergreen) forests. In addition, the northern regions located along the Northern Arctic Circle, represented by rocky frozen tundra. The highest elevation is supposedly 500 meters.

Cascade Mountains

A mountain range extending from northeastern California through Oregon and Washington. Major peaks include Mount Hood, Rainer, and St. Helens.

Continental Divide

In North America, the Western Continental Divide is an imaginary line running through a series of mountain peaks across North America that divides the continent into two major drainage areas.

Atlantic lowland

This large area in the southern and southeastern United States extends to the continental shelf, and is generally characterized by forested plains different types. Coastal areas contain estuaries and streams, swamps, swamps, etc.

Rocky Mountains

The Rocky Mountains are approximately 3,000 km long, stretching from the US state of New Mexico, across the western United States, and all the way to the northernmost borders of British Columbia in Canada.

The largest mountain ranges in this chain include: Absaroka, Bear River, Beaverhead, Big Belt, Big Horn, Bitterroots, Canadian, Clearwater, Columbia, Front, Guadalupe, Laremy, Lemley, Lewis, Lost River, Medicine Bow, Monashee, Auhi, Purcell , Sacramento, Samon River, San Andres, Sangre de Cristo, Southwatch, Shawshone, Steans, Stillwater, Swan, Tetons, Unita, Wallowa, Wasatch, Wind River, Wyoming, Zuni.

The highest point in the Rocky Mountains is Mount Elbert, located 15 kilometers from Leadville, Colorado. Its height is 4,399 meters.

Sierra Madre

The Sierra Madre includes two large mountain ranges and one smaller one. The Sierra Madre Occidental runs parallel to the Mexican ocean coast, with some of its peaks exceeding 3,000 meters. The Sierra Madre Oriental runs parallel to the Gulf Coast, and some of its peaks also exceed 3,000 meters. The Sierra Madre Sur is located in the southern Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca.

Brooks Range

Mountains in northern Alaska. The highest point is Mount Isto (height - 2,760 m).

Rivers of North America

Hundreds of rivers and their tributaries flow through North America. Some of the largest and most significant of them will be listed and described below.

Brazos

This Texas river originates in the northern part of the state in Stonewall County, and flows south to Brazoria County, and then to the Gulf of Mexico. Its length is 1,351 km.

Colorado

Rising in the Rocky Mountains of northern Colorado, the river flows southwest and ends in the Gulf of California. Its length is 2,333 km. Over the centuries, the river has formed many canyons along its meandering path. The most famous of them is the Grand Canyon, in northern Arizona. Along the entire route of the river there are 30 power plants, as well as dozens of dams and reservoirs.

Colombia

This wide, fast-flowing river begins in the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia in Canada, then flows south through Washington State, then forms the natural border between Washington and Oregon. It ends in the Pacific Ocean and is 1,857 km long. Hydroelectric development in the river basin brought inexpensive electricity to residents of the Pacific Northwest, but greatly impacted salmon spawning and the migration of native fish.

Mackenzie

It is Canada's longest river and divides the Northwest Territories. It flows mainly northwest into the Mackenzie Gulf and Beaufort Sea. This river of historical significance was discovered by Alexander Mackenzie, and along its route are lush green forests and dozens of lakes. Its length is 1,800 km. When combined with its tributaries, the Slave, Peace, and Finlay, its total length is 4,240 km, making it the second longest river in North America, behind the Mississippi/Missouri River system (which is 6,236 km long). .

Mississippi

It is the main river of North America and the United States, with a length of 3,765 km. It flows from northwestern Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico, near the city of New Orleans. It is an important transportation artery, and if connected to its main tributaries (the Missouri and Ohio Rivers), it will become the third largest river system in the world, with a length of 6,236 km.

Missouri

This river originates in southern Montana in the Rocky Mountains, and flows first north, then southeast, through the heart of the United States, ending in the Mississippi River, north of St. Louis, Missouri. It is the longest river in the United States (4,203 km).

Ohio

Formed by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Ohio River flows generally southwest. It forms the natural border between Ohio and West Virginia, between Ohio and Kentucky, and part of the border with Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky. It ends in the Mississippi River in Illinois and is 1,569 km long.

St. Lawrence River

This river flows northeast from Lake Ontario into the Gulf of St. Lawrence. It is 1,225 km long and can be used by deep-sea vessels between the Atlantic Ocean and the Great Lakes. It includes several man-made canals, locks and dams, and is considered one of the most important trade routes on the planet.

Rio Grande

This is one of the most long rivers North America (3,034 km long), it begins in the San Juan Mountains in southern Colorado, then flows south through New Mexico. It forms the natural border between Texas and Mexico as it flows southeast to the Gulf of Mexico. In Mexico the river is known as the Rio Bravo del Norte. The waters of this river, used by both countries as drinking water, are becoming increasingly polluted as settlements, surrounding the path of the river waters, increase in size, and dump more and more sewage and pesticides into the water.

Fraser

This river in British Columbia, Canada, begins in the Canadian Rockies and then flows into different directions(mainly south), then finally turns west, ending in the Strait of Georgia, south of Vancouver. Its length is 1,368 km.

Churchill

This river, which flows in central Canada, originates in northwestern Saskatchewan, then flows east to Manitoba, and on to Hudson Bay. It flows through a series of lakes and is known for its fast currents. Its length is 1,609 km.

Yukon

This river originates in the southwestern part of the Yukon Territory of Canada, and then flows northwest across the border into Alaska. This massive river then continues southwest through central Alaska, ending in the Bering Sea. Despite its length (2,035 km), and the fact that, for the most part, this river is navigable, it freezes from October to mid-June.

The process of formation of mountains on Earth lasts millions of years. They arise from collisions of huge tectonic plates that make up the earth's crust.

Today we will get acquainted with the highest mountains on 6 continents and see how they look against the backdrop of the highest mountain peaks in the world - the “eight thousand meters”, whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters.

How many continents are there on Earth? It is sometimes believed that Europe and Asia are 2 different continents, although they are one continent:

Before we start talking about the tallest mountains on the 6 continents, let's take a look at the overall chart of the tallest peaks on Earth.

"Eight-thousanders" is the common name for the 14 highest mountain peaks in the world, whose height above sea level exceeds 8,000 meters. They are all in Asia. Conquering all 14 "eight-thousanders" of the planet - conquering the "Crown of the Earth" - is a great achievement in high-altitude mountaineering. As of July 2012, only 30 climbers managed to do this. (Clickable, 2010×810 px):

North America - Mount McKinley, 6,194 m

This is the highest double-peaked mountain in North America, named after the 25th President of the United States. Located in Alaska.

Indigenous peoples called this peak “Denali,” which means “great,” and during the period of Russian colonization of Alaska it was simply called Big Mountain.

Mount McKinley as seen from Denali National Park:

The first ascent of the main summit of McKinley took place on June 7, 1913. There are 5 large glaciers on the slopes of the mountain.

South America - Mount Aconcagua, 6,962 m

This is the highest point of the American continent, South America, as well as the western and southern hemispheres. Belong to the longest mountain range world - Andam.

The mountain is located in Argentina and means "Stone Guardian" in the Quechua language. Aconcagua is the largest extinct volcano on our planet.

In mountaineering, Aconcagua is considered a technically easy mountain if you climb along the northern slope.

The first recorded ascent of the mountain was in 1897.

Europe – Mount Elbrus, 5,642 m

This stratovolcano in the Caucasus is the highest peak in Russia. Considering that the border between Europe and Asia is ambiguous, Elbrus is often called the highest European mountain peak. (Clickable, 2500×663 px):

Elbrus is a two-headed volcano with a saddle. The Western peak has a height of 5,642 m, the Eastern peak - 5,621 m. Last eruption dates back to 50 AD...

In those days, the eruptions of Elbrus were probably reminiscent of the eruptions of modern Vesuvius, but were more powerful. From the craters of the volcano at the beginning of the eruption, powerful clouds of vapors and gases, saturated with black ash, rose many kilometers upward, covering the entire sky, turning day into night. The earth shook from powerful tremors.

Nowadays, both peaks of Elbrus are covered eternal snows and ice. On the slopes of Elbrus they diverge into different sides 23 glaciers. average speed glacier movement is about 0.5 meters per day.

The first successful ascent to one of the peaks of Elbrus was made in 1829. The average annual death toll during climbing on Elbrus is 15-30 people. (Clickable, 1650×630 px):

Everest (Chomolungma) is the top of our world! The first highest eight-thousander and the highest mountain on Earth.

The mountain is located in the Himalayas in the Mahalangur Himal range, with the Southern peak (8760 m) lying on the border of Nepal, and the Northern (main) peak (8848 m) located in China.

Everest has the shape of a triangular pyramid. At the top of Chomolungma there are strong winds blowing at speeds of up to 200 km/h, and the air temperature at night drops to -60 Celsius.

The first ascent to the top of Everest took place in 1953. From the first ascent to the summit until 2011, more than 200 people died on the slopes of Everest. Now the climb to the top takes about 2 months - with acclimatization and setting up camps.

View from space:

Climbing Everest is not only extremely dangerous, but also expensive: the cost of climbing in specialized groups is up to 65 thousand US dollars, and the climbing permit alone, issued by the Nepalese government, costs 10 thousand dollars

Australia and Oceania - Mount Puncak Jaya, 4884 m

The highest peak in Australia and Oceania, which is located on the island New Guinea. It is located on the Australian Plate and is the most high mountain in the world, located on an island.

The mountain was discovered in 1623 by Dutch explorer Jan Carstens, who saw a glacier on the summit from afar. Therefore, the mountain is sometimes called the Carstens Pyramid.

The first ascent of Puncak Jaya took place only in 1962. The name of the mountain roughly translates from Indonesian as “Victory Peak.”

These are the most high mountains Antarctica. The existence of the mountain range became known only in 1957. Since the mountains were discovered by American aircraft, they were subsequently named Vinson Massif, in honor of the famous American politician Carl Vinson.

View of Vinson Massif from space:

It is the highest point in Africa, a huge dormant volcano with two well-defined peaks in northeastern Tanzania. The mountain has no documented eruptions, but local legends speak of volcanic activity 150-200 years ago.

The higher one is the peak of Kibo, an almost regular cone with powerful glaciation.

The name comes from the Swahili language and supposedly means "mountain that sparkles."

The snow cap that has covered the mountaintop for 11,000 years since the last Ice Age is rapidly melting. Over the past 100 years, the volume of snow and ice has decreased by more than 80%. It is believed that this is not caused by a change in temperature, but by a reduction in snowfall.

The highest peak in Africa was first conquered by German explorer Hans Meyer in 1889.

North American terrain can be divided into several types: in the central and northern parts you can admire the delightful plains, while the southeast and west are represented mainly by mountain ranges. North America is a unique continent where you can see all the diversity and splendor of nature. Despite the fact that the local peaks are far from reaching even seven thousand meters, mountaineering in these places is popular. On some slopes you can snowboard and ski almost all year round, while other peaks have routes of varying difficulty levels. In any case, the mountains of North America leave no one indifferent, we present to your attention the ranking - the highest mountains in North America: Top 10.

10. Mount Steele (5073 m)

Mount Steele is administratively located in the United States and is part of the Alaska and Yukon Ranges. The peak was not conquered by man for a long time; until 1935, not a single climber managed to climb the peak. Guides and professional mountain climbers consider the end of summer - beginning of autumn to be the most preferable time for rock climbing. Despite the relatively low altitude, the climb to the top takes a long time and requires careful preparation. You can’t climb Steele alone; you will definitely need the help of a whole team of like-minded people. Depending on the route, a person may need to organize several intermediate stops and long-term acclimatization.

9. Mount King (5173 m)

Administratively, King Peak is located in the state of Canada, in the province of Yukon; geographically, it is part of the Alaska region, in the Saint Elias Mountains. The height of King Peak is measured with great precision and is 16,971 feet in feet. The most favorable periods for climbing are considered to be spring, summer and the first two autumn months. The summit is not conquered by everyone and requires sufficient preparation, since along the entire route there are extremely difficult sections to overcome. Experienced climbers believe that King Peak cannot be climbed without high-quality equipment. Another difficulty here may be the complex weather, which cannot be underestimated.

For the average person, the difference between “dormant” and “extinct” volcanoes is not obvious. But the differences between them are quite significant,...

8. Iztaccihuatl (5230 m)

It is located in tropical-equatorial latitudes in the north of the Western Hemisphere. Administratively, Iztaccihuatl belongs to Mexico, geographically to the Cordillera Neovolcanica mountain range. The peak was first conquered in 1889. Winter and early spring are considered optimal for climbing. Climbing to the peak is akin to walking tour, but for a person with heart problems, you need to be careful. Several routes of varying degrees of difficulty have been developed for climbers; professional climbers are encouraged to take the most extreme route.

7. Mount Lucania (5240 m)

Mount Lucania is located in the subpolar latitudes and administratively belongs to the state of Canada (the exact location of Mount Lucania is the Yukon province). Geographical position The peak is associated with the Saint Elias Mountains massif. The first ascent took place in 1937; before that, several attempts were made to conquer the peak, but they were never successful. The best time for climbing is summer, and the expedition should consist of several people, since solo ascent here is almost impossible. Particular attention should be paid to insurance, as there are very dangerous gaps along the route.

6. Mount Foraker (5304 m)

It is located in mid-polar latitudes in the northern part of the Western Hemisphere. Administratively, Mount Foraker belongs to the United States of America; geographically, the peak belongs to the Alaska Range. The peak was conquered by man in 1934, after which routes of varying degrees of difficulty were laid along its slopes. Climbers consider the ideal period for climbing to be from April to June, but without serious preparation it will not be possible to overcome the height. From time to time there are sharp temperature changes and deteriorating weather conditions, which only makes the climb more difficult.

Rivers entangle all of Russia like a web. If you count them all down to the smallest one, you get over 2.5 million! But the vast majority of them...

5. Popocatepetl (5426 m)

Administratively, the peak is located on the territory of the state of Mexico and geographically belongs to the Cordillera Neovolcanica mountain range. The name Popocatépetl is translated from the Nahuatl dialect as “smoking hill” and this is quite justified: Popocatépetl, by its geology, is active volcano, located next to another giant of volcanic origin - Iztaccihuatl. These two peaks have become famous throughout the world, as they are part of the “Legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccihuatl.” Not far from the volcano is the capital of the country - Mexico City, whose population is more than 20 million people. The mountain was first conquered by Diago de Ordaz in 1519, after which the image of Popocatepetl was applied to the ancestral hymn of the mountain climber.

4. Mount St. Elias (5489 m)

Mount Saint Elias is located in the mid-polar latitudes, in the northern part of the Western Hemisphere and administratively belongs to the United States, and is geographically part of the Saint Elias Mountains massif. The first ascent took place in 1897, although previous attempts had been made, but weather conditions stopped the climbers midway. The summer months are considered the most favorable for climbing, although even in this case, daredevils will need professional equipment, special insurance and a guide who knows the local specifics.

3. Mount Orizaba (5675 m)

Pico de Orizaba or Citlaltepetl, translated from Aztec as “star mountain,” is part of the Cordillera mountain range. According to its geological component, it is a stratovolcano, administratively located on the territory of Mexico and considered its largest peak. The last serious eruptions were officially recorded in 1613, 1630, 1687 and 1846. The first ascent was made in 1848 by American explorers Maynard and Reynolds. The best time For the rise, the winter period and the beginning of spring are considered.

As for such natural wonders as waterfalls, Europe has not been very successful with them, because the most enormous in power are located on other continents...

2. Mount Logan (5959 m)

Geographically located in Canada and is its most high point. Geographically, it is part of the Cordillera mountain system, located in the southwest of the Yukon province, in Kluane National Park, just 40 km from Alaska. The peak was named in honor of the famous Canadian geologist who founded the first geological survey in the country. The base of the mountain has a girth of more than 100 km, so Logan has one of the largest massifs. The first ascent took place in 1925; the discoverers of Logan were climbers from the Canadian Club.

1. Mount Denali (6194 m)

The mountain is located in the center of the national park of the same name; in the Athabascan language the name translates as “great.” The mountain is located in Alaska, is part of the Alaskan mountain range and belongs to the United States. On geographical map the peak was mapped by the Russian explorer Wrangel. Until 2015, the mountain was called McKinley - in honor of the American president. McKinley was first conquered in 1913; the first to climb to the top were a group of explorers led by the Englishman Hudson Stark.

The Cordillera of North America is the northern part of the Cordillera mountain system, stretching along the Pacific coast of the mainland for nine thousand kilometers, and spreading over more than one and a half thousand kilometers in width. They start with , them southern border- the valley of the Mexican Balsas River, separating North and Central America, to the south are the Sierra Madre Southern mountains, belonging to the Cordillera of Central America, which pass into the Andes, forming the longest mountain system on Earth, more than 18 thousand km long.
These mountains cross the territory of three countries in North America: the USA (from Alaska to California), Canada and Mexico.
The history of the formation of the North American Cordillera is incredibly complex, primarily due to the large area of ​​​​this object and the significant duration of its formation: for example, the age of the rocks of the vast Colorado Plateau and the eastern ridges of the Rocky Mountains is about 2.4 billion years. The process of formation of the Cordillera of North America is still in an active phase, earthquakes are not uncommon here, and volcanic eruptions also occur.
In the configuration of this part of the Cordillera, three longitudinal mountain belts are clearly visible.
The eastern one, also known as the belt with the Elbert peak, is a chain of high massive ridges. In the east it is limited by a sharp ledge, which is the border of the piedmont plateaus (Arctic Plateau, Great Plains), and in the west it is limited by deep tectonic depressions called the “Rocky Mountain Ditch”, or valleys large rivers like the Rio Grande. The southernmost section of the eastern belt forms the Sierra Madre Oriental, about 4 km high.
The inner belt is enclosed between the eastern belt and the western belt of the Pacific ridges. In Alaska, these are vast tectonic depressions occupied by river valleys and alternating with relatively low mountain ranges; in Canada, there are numerous high plateaus 2.5 km high; within the United States and Mexico proper, there are high mountain ranges and volcanic plateaus.
The western (Pacific) belt, which includes the highest ridges, consists of a belt of Pacific ridges, a belt of intermountain depressions and a belt of coastal chains. The Pacific ridge belt includes the Alaska Range with the highest point of the entire continent - the peak of Denali. Part of the western belt are large mountains- Cascade, Sierra Nevada and Transverse Volcanic Sierra. Most of the peaks of the local mountains are cones of active and extinct volcanoes 4 km high and above, the most famous are Rainier, Orizaba, Popocatépetl and Nevada de Colima.
Sedimentary rocks accumulated in depressions between mountain ranges for a long time, as a result, huge deposits of various minerals were formed throughout the Cordillera of North America, and metal ores were formed in the thickness of the mountains. In the Canadian Pre-Cordilleran foredeep and in depressions in Alaska and California there are oil deposits, in the Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevada and Sierra Madre - ores of gold, tungsten, copper, molybdenum, base metals, in the Coast Ranges - mercury and everywhere - deposits of stone coal
Glaciers occupy almost 70 thousand km 2, most are located in the mountains of Alaska, among them the Bering stands out - the largest mountain glacier in North America (some glaciologists believe that in the whole world).
The Cordillera contains the sources and headwaters of many major rivers in North America: Yukon, Saskatchewan, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande. There are lakes, many of them salty, the most famous being Bolshoye Solenoye.
The Cordillera of North America is the northern part of the Cordillera mountain system, stretching along the western edge of North America and in Central America.
The length of the Cordillera of North America is large, which explains the noticeable difference in landscapes, depending on the latitudinal position of the mountain system.
The natural landscapes of the Cordillera of North America throughout their entire length, due to their significant altitude, have a pronounced altitudinal zonation, which is in many ways typical of such large mountainous regions.
The division of the Cordillera zone of North America into four main ones is accepted natural area: Northwestern, Canadian Cordillera, US Cordillera and Mexican Cordillera.
The Northwestern (Alaska Cordillera) occupies most of the American and Canadian Yukon Plateau. Here is the kingdom of high mountain ranges with powerful glaciation, the climate ranges from arctic to temperate. The vegetation is poor because there is permafrost everywhere. On the slopes of the mountains there is mountain tundra, and higher up there are glaciers, in the valleys of freezing rivers there is forest-tundra, on the west coast - which is warmer - subarctic meadows and coastal coniferous forests appear. Reindeer, arctic fox, polar hare, and lemming live in the tundra. The forest is the habitat of the grizzly bear, wolf, and fox. A lot of birds.
People settled only on the coast, where all the cities and towns are located.
The population is engaged in fishing, hunting fur-bearing animals and extracting the most valuable minerals (gold, oil), since the export of others is too expensive.
The Canadian Cordillera, which partially extends into the United States, is the narrowest part of the mountain belt. There are many mountain ranges and glaciers, but the climate is milder - temperate, humid. Steppes appear in river valleys, and thickets of mountain coniferous forests appear on the plateau: fir, spruce, red cedar, balsam pine. The fauna becomes more diverse, moose, wolverine, lynx, puma, mountain sheep, fur-bearing animals appear: marten, ermine, mink, nutria, muskrat.
The local population is residents of large port cities like Vancouver, as well as farmers: the steppes are plowed, forest-steppe plateaus are used as pastures.
The US Cordillera is the widest part of these mountains, so there is more variety natural conditions. High, forested ridges with glaciers lie close to vast desert plateaus. The climate is subtropical, and on the coast it is Mediterranean; in the inland areas, where moisture no longer reaches from the ocean, it is arid. On the slopes of the Front Range and Sierra Nevada - mountain pine forests The lower coastal ridges are covered with groves of relict sequoia and hard-leaved shrubs - chapparral. But the forests in the west have been largely cut down or burned in forest fires - also due to human fault.
Where people have settled, large animals have either been destroyed or are on the verge of destruction: for example, the bison has been almost completely destroyed. Rich animal world preserved only in very large nature reserves, such as Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks.
The bulk of the population is concentrated along the Pacific coast, where there are big cities Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The Mexican Cordillera is the Mexican Highlands and the California Peninsula. The climate is tropical, very dry, vegetation is poor, except tropical forests on the slopes of the mountains. Pronghorn antelope, coyote, monkeys, and jaguar live here. Most of population lives in and around Mexico City or in port cities.

general information

Location: western North America.

Mountain ranges: eastern belt (Brooks, Richardson, Mackenzie, Sawatch, San Juan, Frontline, Uintah, Sierra Madre Oriental), inner belt (Kilbuck, Kuskokwim, Ray, Cassiar, Omineca, Columbian, Yukon Plateau, Stikine, Fraser, Snake, Great Basin, Colorado and Mexican Highlands), western (Alaskan, Aleutian, Coastal, Sierra Nevada, Transverse Volcanic Sierra, Sierra Vizcaino, St. Elias Massif, Cascade and Chugach Mountains).

Plateaus, highlands and plateaus: Yukon, Fraser, Colombian, Colorado, Mexican.

Administrative affiliation: USA, Canada, Mexico.
Large cities: Mexico City - 8,851,080 people. (2010), Los Angeles - 3,928,864 people. (2014), San Francisco - 852,469 people. (2014), Vancouver (Canada) - 2,313,328 people. (2011).
Languages: English, French, Indian dialects.

Ethnic composition: whites, African Americans, indigenous peoples.
Religions: Christianity (many branches and directions), Judaism, Islam.

Currency: Canadian dollar, US dollar, Mexican peso.

Large rivers (headwaters and headwaters): Yukon, Peace, Athabasca, Mackenzie, Saskatchewan, Missouri, Columbia, Colorado, Rio Grande, Fraser.

Large lakes: Bolshoye Solenoye, Tahoe.

Numbers

Length: more than 9000 km.

Maximum width: in Alaska - 1100-1200 km, in Canada - up to 800 km, in the US proper - about 1600 km, in Mexico - up to 1000 km.

Highest point: Mount Denali (Pacific belt, 6144 m).

Other peaks: Mount (5951 m), Volcano Orizaba (5700 m), Volcano Popocatepetl (5452 m), Mount Whitney (4418 m), Mount Elbert (4399 m), Volcano Rainier (4392 m), Volcano Nevado de Colima (4265 m), Mount Marques Baker (4016 m), Mount Waddington (4042 m), Yliamna Volcano (3075 m).

Glaciers: area - about 67 thousand km 2.

Climate and weather

In the north - arctic and subarctic, to the south - temperate, in the south - from subtropical to tropical. On the eastern (Pacific) slopes - soft, oceanic to Mediterranean, in the interior - continental.

Average January temperature: in the north -30°С, in the south -17°С.
Average temperature in July: in the north +15°С, in the south up to +30°С.

Average annual precipitation: on southern ranges Alaska - 3000-4000 mm, on the coast of British Columbia - up to 2500 mm, on the internal plateau of the USA - up to 400-200 mm, in the Mojave Desert - 50 mm per year.

Relative humidity: from 70-80% in the north to 50-60% in the south.

Economy

Minerals: oil, natural gas, hard and brown coal, manganese, gold, silver, tungsten, copper, molybdenum, mercury, uranium, vanadium, limestone, granite, marble.
Industry: mining, metallurgy, heavy and transport engineering, chemical, food.

Agriculture: in the north - reindeer husbandry, in the temperate zone - grains and cattle, in the south - citrus fruits.

Service sector: tourism, transport, trade.

Attractions

■ Natural: national parks Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, Sequoia, Rocky Mountain, Grand Canyon (all - USA), Jasper, Banff, Yoho, Nahanni, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes, provincial park Garibaldi (all - Canada).

Curious facts

■ Overall, the Cordillera is the longest mountain system globe, located along west coast South and North America. The total length is about 18 thousand km, the width on average is about 1000 km. The Cordilleras are located on the territory of 9 countries, starting with the USA and Canada in the north and ending with Chile in the far south.
■ The world's largest mountain glacier, the Bering Glacier, is located in the Nugach Mountains in Alaska, its length is 203 km, and its area is about 5800 km 2. The glacier was named after Russian traveler Vitus Bering (1681-1741). The glacier is only 10 km from the coast of the Gulf of Alaska. As a result of a global increase in air temperature over the past 100 years, the glacier has shrunk by 12 km, reducing its mass, which put pressure on the earth’s crust and restrained seismic activity. As a result, the number of earthquakes in Alaska has increased dramatically.
■ The western (Pacific) belt of the Cordillera of North America has a characteristic feature: intermontane longitudinal depressions are not only lowlands like the Great California Valley, but also large sea bays and straits, like Cook Inlet and Shelikhov Strait, flooded sea ​​water when sea levels rise.
■ In the Cordillera of North America there are all the main types of glaciers: large ice fields and caps, washed glaciers (Depont Glacier in the Coast Range), foothill glaciers or foothill glaciers (Malaspina), valley glaciers (Hubbard), ridge and short hanging glaciers, mostly disappearing (Sierra Nevada), and star-shaped glaciers are formed on the volcanic peaks, so named because numerous glacial streams depart from them (there are several dozen of them on Mount Rainier alone).
■ The Mackenzie Mountains in Canada were named in memory of Alexander Mackenzie (1822-1892), Canada's second prime minister. He carried out a number of important reforms, but his government fell in 1878, when an economic crisis began in Canada, so strong that, with all his authority, Mackenzie was unable to overcome it.
■ Groves of sequoiadendron, or mammoth trees, on a narrow strip of the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, including national park“Sequoia” are the most massive trees in the world: each one contains up to 1500 m 2 of wood.
■ In 1799-1867. Mount McKinley ( modern name Denali) was the highest point Russian Empire, but in 1867 it was sold to the United States along with all of Alaska.
■ Most of the most famous volcanic eruptions in the United States involve volcanoes in the Cascade Mountains, including the 1914–1915 eruption of Lassen Peak. and the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

North America ranks third in size among the 6 continents of planet Earth and is located in the north of the Western Hemisphere. The area of ​​the entire continent, excluding nearby islands, is approximately 20.36 million km2 (with islands 24.25 million km2), which is approximately 14% of the planet's total land area.

There are 23 states on the mainland. If you follow the link, you can see a complete list of countries and dependent states on the territory of the North American mainland. And the population is approximately 500 million people, which is approximately 7% of the total number of people on planet Earth.

The continent of North America is washed in the south by the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, in the west the coast of the continent is washed by the Pacific Ocean, in the north the coast of the continent is washed by the Arctic Ocean, and in the east the coast of the continent is washed by the Atlantic Ocean.

The length of the continent from north to south is 7326 km, and from west to east approximately 4700 km. North America and South America are separated by the Isthmus of Panama, and North America and Eurasia by the Bering Strait.

Extreme points of continent North America

The extreme points of North America that are located on the mainland:

1) The most extreme northern point on the mainland is Cape Murchison, which is part of the Kitikmeot region.

2) The westernmost point of the mainland is Cape Prince of Wales, which is located on the Seward Peninsula in Alaska. Interesting fact is that this cape and the extreme continental point in the west of Eurasia (Cape Dezhnev) are separated by a distance of only 86 kilometers.

3) extreme point The mainland in the south is Cape Mariato, which is located on the Azuero Peninsula.

4) The easternmost point of the continent is Cape St. Charles, which is located on the Labrador Peninsula.

Relief of North America

The central part of mainland North America has many mountain ranges, of which the longest are the Cordillera de Talamanca, Sierra Madre de Chiapas and Cordillera Isabella. And between these mountain ranges are fertile valleys where the bulk of the population of Guatemala, Honduras and Costa Rica lives.

In the east of the continent there is the Appalachian mountain system, and on the mainland there are the Rocky and Cascade Mountains, the Cordillera Mountains.

On the continent there are the Great Plains - a foothill plateau that is located to the east when looking from the Rocky Mountains, the Central Plains - plains that are located in the interior of the continent, as well as coastal lowlands. The height of the coastal lowlands does not exceed 200 meters, and in the coastal zone they are expressed as lagoons, bars, beaches and spits.

The central part of the continent is characterized by fairly high seismic activity, which is expressed in the form of volcanic eruptions and earthquakes.

The highest point of the continent is Mount Denali (until 2015 it was called McKinley), and the lowest point of the continent is Death Valley, which is located at 86 meters below sea level.

Climate of North America

The continent of North America is located in the north in the western hemisphere, thus the climate on the mainland varies from arctic to subequatorial. At the same time, the coastal regions of the continent have an oceanic climate, and the interior regions of the continent have a continental climate.

Since the continent extends from north to south for more than 7,000 km, all types of climate on the planet can be found on the continent, except equatorial. It is thanks to this that the animal vegetable world North America is so rich.

If you look at temperatures, then in the northernmost part of the continent in winter average temperature is -36 degrees Celsius, and in summer +4 degrees Celsius. At the same time, in the southernmost part of the continent the average temperature in winter is +20 degrees Celsius, and in summer +32 degrees Celsius.

The Arctic climate is located in the northernmost part of the continent. It is characterized by very cold winters and an almost complete absence of summer. On the hottest days, temperatures may rise slightly above 0 degrees Celsius.

Next comes the subarctic zone, which is also characterized by very cold winters, but there is already a short summer. Somewhere in June the snow begins to melt and the warm weather lasts for about a month. In summer, temperatures can reach up to +16 degrees Celsius. In winter it is approximately -24-40 degrees Celsius, winters are very long and cold, the maximum part of precipitation falls in summer.

The temperate zone covers northern part USA and southern Canada. The western part of the continent in this zone is characterized by cool summers (+8+16 degrees Celsius) and relatively warm winters (0-16 degrees Celsius). In the central part of the continent of this zone, the climate is sharply different. It is characterized by warmer summers (+16+24 degrees Celsius) and colder winters (-8-32 degrees Celsius). The eastern part of the continent in this zone has warm summers (+16+24 degrees Celsius) and warm winters (0-16 degrees Celsius).

The subtropical zone is located in the southern United States and northern Mexico. This belt is characterized by hotter summers and warmer winters. The central part of the continent, which is located in the subtropical zone, has proven itself to have unfavorable climate conditions. There is a problem of desert expansion and climate desiccation.

The tropical climate covers central North America. It is characterized by hot summers (+16 to +32 °C) and warm winters (+8 to +24 °C). There is little precipitation.

The subequatorial belt occupies small area in the very south of the continent. The climate here is hot. For all year round The air temperature remains above 20 degrees. There is a lot of precipitation, mostly in the summer.

Inland waters of North America

Continent North America is rich in both rivers and lakes. The longest river system in North America is the Mississippi River. Its length reaches 3770 kilometers. Largest reserves fresh water on the mainland are concentrated in the Great Lakes. The Great Lakes include five large lakes: Michigan, Superior, Huron, Ontario and Erie (sometimes a sixth Lake St. Clair is added), total area which is approximately 244,106 kilometers.

All rivers of mainland North America belong to the basins of the Arctic, Pacific and Atlantic oceans.

The mainland is irrigated rather unevenly. This is due to several reasons, including climatic and orographic. Most of the mainland's rivers have both transport and hydroelectric importance.

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