AMERICA
1. Geographical Position. Discovery
America is the only part of the world to lie wholly within the Western Hemisphere, far from the other parts of the world. Only in the north-west does it approach Asia, where it is separated from Chukotsk by the shallow Bering Strait.
2. Coastlines
America's coastline is not as indented as either Europe's or Asia's. Especially regular is the coastline of South America, where there is not a single large peninsula or deep bay.
North America
3. Relief. Minerals of North America
Relief. As compared to Europe and Asia, North America's relief is not so complicated. It is more varied, however, than Africa's. If you study the map of North America, you will notice a distinct contrast between the elevated western part of the continent and the lower eastern part
4. Climate of North America
General Characteristics of Climate. North America stretches almost completely across the Northern Hemisphere. The northern coasts of Greenland extend beyond parallel 80°N, while the Isthmus of Panama is only a few degrees distant from the Equator.
5. Inland Waters of North America
Rivers. The rivers of North America empty their waters into the oceans that wash its shores. There are areas on the plateaus between the Cordillera ranges whose waters do not reach the oceans, but these are very small in comparison with the undrained areas of Asia and Africa.
Natural Zones
6. Glacial and Tundra Zones. The Coniferous Forest Belt
Examine the zonal map of North America. Compare the zonal positions in North America and in Europe. North America has the same natural zones as Europe and Asia.
7. Zones of the Central and Southern Parts of North America
Prairies. West of the mixed and deciduous forests the climate becomes drier, and instead of forests there is chiefly grass. The steppes of North America are called prairies. They are covered with tall, thick grass, including feather-grass and others
South America
8. Relief. Minerals South America
As compared to North America, South America is less elevated. Vast regions are occupied by lowlands In the centre of South America, close to the Equator, lie the Amazon Lowlands, the largest in the world.
9. Climate. Rivers of South America
Climate. The greater part of South America on both sides ot the Equator lies in the torrid zone. The Equator crosses South America in the north and not, as it does Africa, in the centre. A large part of the continent in the south extends beyond the Tropic of Capricorn and lies in the temperate zone.
Natural Zones
10. Forests of the Torrid Zone. Savannahs
South America stretches a great distance from north to south and lies within both the torrid and temperate zones. Its natural features are, therefore, greatly varied. Large areas in the torrid zone are covered with equatorial and tropical forests and savannahs.
11. Steppes and Deserts. The Andes Region
Steppes. Farther south the savannahs give way to the steppes. Steppes, or pampas (the Spanish name for the vast treeless grasslands of South America south of the Amazon).
Population of North and South America
Quantity and Density of Population. The total population of America amounts to over 400,000,000, of, which over 260,000,000 inhabit North America and the West Indies and 140,000,000 South America.
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