North America is the third largest continent in the world, with a surface area of about 9,450,000 square miles. It is located in the northern hemisphere, between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and to the north of South America. North America's highest point is Alaska's Mount McKinley, which rises 20,320 feet above sea level.

North America consists of three large nations and one large island territory that covers most of its area. They are Canada, the United States of America, Mexico and Greenland, respectively. There are also seven smaller nations at its southern extreme (collectively known as Central America), around two dozen island nations and territories in the Caribbean and one isolated French territory off the Canadian Atlantic coast. Although these last two regions are technically part of the North American continent, they are commonly listed separately from their larger neighbors to the north; hence the distinctive region names.