North America is located in the northern hemisphere and fills the majority of the western hemisphere. Lying to the south of the Arctic Ocean, west of the North Atlantic Ocean, and east of the Pacific Ocean, North America is almost completely surrounded by water.

Sited directly above South America, the continent of North America covers an area which is equivalent to almost 5% of the total planet's surface, occupying a major part of the landmass known as the New World.

Much of North America is dominated the United States of America (USA), with Canada situated to the north, Mexico to the south, and countless islands around the coastline.

Canada occupies the northern region of North America and is bordered to the south by the USA, to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, and to the west by the North Pacific Ocean.

Divided into three territories and ten provinces, Ottawa is Canada's capital city, located in the state of Ontario, close to the Niagara Falls.

The United Mexican States stand on the southern side of North America, with the Pacific Ocean situated to the west and the Caribbean Sea to the east.

A densely populated Spanish-speaking country, Mexico contains 31 different states and a main federal district, with Mexico City being the capital.

The USA is the world's leading country and comprises 50 different states, which include both Hawaii and Alaska. Standing in North America, the United States lie between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean, edged by Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.

An important federal republic, the United States of America contains many enormous cities, nine of which feature a population exceeding one million. Washington DC is the capital of the USA, home to the White House, although New York is actually much larger, being the country's biggest city.