Americas

The Americas, sometimes called America, include both North America and South America. They are the second largest continent after Asia and are home to many people, places, and natural wonders. The land stretches from the cold, icy areas near the North Pole to the warm, rainy forests near the equator.

Many different kinds of plants and animals live there, from snowy forests to green jungles. Long ago, people first came to the Americas from Asia, and later, explorers from Europe arrived, changing the lives of many people living there.

Today, the Americas have huge cities like New York City and São Paulo, and millions of people from many backgrounds live together. Even though the past was difficult for many native peoples, the Americas now are a place of great diversity and importance in the world.

Etymology and naming

Main article: Naming of the Americas

The name "America" was first recorded in 1507 on a world map made by Martin Waldseemüller. It comes from Americus, the Latin version of explorer Amerigo Vespucci’s first name. Over time, the name was used for both North and South America. Today, people often refer to these two together as the Americas. Without extra information, though, the word "America" usually means the United States of America.

Terminology

Main article: Naming of the Americas

The Americas is a term used to describe both North America and South America together. In English, people often call these landmasses "the Americas" or the "Western Hemisphere." The word "American" can describe something from the Americas, but it is most commonly used to refer to the United States.

In Spanish, the whole area is called "América," including both North and South America. People from the United States are usually called "estadounidense" to avoid confusion. Other languages also have their own ways to talk about the Americas, sometimes leading to mix-ups about whether they mean the whole area or just the United States.

History

Main article: History of the Americas

Pre-Columbian era

Main article: Pre-Columbian era

The Pre-Columbian era covers all time in the Americas before Europeans arrived. It began when people first migrated from Asia to North America and South America. These early people settled in places like Alaska and Yukon more than 20,000 years ago. They moved south after the ice age, using routes like the Beringia land bridge.

Many great civilizations lived in the Americas before Europeans came. These included societies in Mesoamerica like the Olmec, Maya, and Aztec, and in the Andes like the Inca. These cultures built cities, farmed the land, and created complex societies. Some had their own ways of writing, though much of this knowledge was lost when Europeans arrived.

Large-scale European colonization

Main article: European colonization of the Americas

European colonization of the Americas began with Christopher Columbus's voyage in 1492. Spain was the first European country to settle in the Americas, starting with Santo Domingo on the island of Hispaniola. Other European countries followed, including France, England, and the Netherlands.

As Europeans settled in the Americas, they brought diseases that affected the native populations. Many Native Americans died from diseases like smallpox. Europeans also brought enslaved Africans to work on farms and in mines. Over time, many countries in the Americas gained their independence from European rule. This began with revolutions in the United States and Haiti in the late 1700s and continued through the 1800s as many Latin American countries fought for freedom.

Geography

Further information: Geography of North America and Geography of South America

The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere. They stretch from the very north, near Kaffeklubben Island, to the far south, close to Águila Islet. This makes them the world's longest landmass from north to south. The mainland of the Americas runs about 14,000 km from Murchison Promontory in Canada to Cape Froward in Chile.

The shape of the Americas is influenced by major mountain ranges. In South America, the Andes run along the west coast. In North America, the Rocky Mountains and other ranges line the western side. The Appalachian Mountains are found along the east coast of North America. The highest peak in the Americas is Aconcagua in Argentina, while Denali in Alaska is the tallest in North America.

The climate across the Americas changes a lot depending on the region. Some areas, like the Amazon and parts of the United States, have tropical rainforests. Other places, such as the mountains in the Rocky Mountains and Andes, have colder, drier climates. Some parts of North America, especially in the United States, experience severe weather like tornadoes and hurricanes.

Many large rivers flow through the Americas. In North America, the Mississippi is one of the biggest. In South America, the Amazon has the greatest flow of any river in the world. These rivers help shape the land and support many plants and animals.

Countries and territories

See also: List of sovereign states and dependent territories in the Americas

The Americas are home to 35 sovereign states. In addition to these countries, there are several territories governed by other nations. For example, Denmark has an autonomous country in the Americas, and France has overseas departments, collectivities, and territories. The United Kingdom also has overseas territories, and the Netherlands has constituent countries and public bodies. The United States includes unincorporated territories as well.

Economy

Main article: Economy of the Americas

See also: Economy of North America, Economy of South America, and Latin American economy

See also: List of North American countries by GDP (nominal) and List of North American countries by GDP (PPP)

See also: List of Latin American and Caribbean countries by GDP (PPP)

The Americas have a strong and varied economy. The United States is a major player in global trade, being the world's second largest exporter and the largest importer. Mexico and Canada also play important roles in international trade.

The continent is a big producer of many important crops. Countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina grow a lot of soy, sugarcane, coffee, and maize. The Americas also produce a large amount of beef, chicken meat, and cow's milk. In industry, the United States leads with the second most valuable industry in the world, followed by Mexico, Brazil, Canada, and others. The continent is also rich in natural resources like oil, natural gas, coal, and many metals.

Demographics

Population

Further information: List of countries in the Americas by population

In 2021, the Americas had a population of about 1.03 billion people. North America, which includes Central America and the Caribbean, had about 596.6 million people. South America had about 434.3 million people.

Largest urban centers

See also: Largest cities in the Americas and List of metropolitan areas in the Americas by population

Three cities stand out for their large populations based on different ways of measuring. Mexico City is the largest metropolitan area, New York City is the largest urban area, and São Paulo is the largest city by proper city limits. These cities are very important and influential.

Ethnology

The people of the Americas come from four main groups and their mixtures. These groups are the Indigenous peoples of the Americas, including Amerindians and Inuit-Yupik-Unangan, those of European ancestry such as Spanish, English, Irish, Portuguese, German, Italian, French, and Dutch, those of African ancestry mainly from West Africa, and Asians from East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian backgrounds. There are also people of mixed ancestries such as Mestizos, Mulattoes, and Zambos.

Most people live in Latin America, where cultures and languages like Spanish and Portuguese are common. This area is different from Anglo-America, where English is the main language, as in Canada (except for Francophone Canada) and the United States.

Religion

Further information: Religion in Latin America, Religion in North America, Christianity in the Americas, and Islam in the Americas

Christianity is the most common religion in the Americas, with Roman Catholicism being especially strong in Latin America. In North America, Protestantism is common, especially in the United States. Other religions include Irreligion, Islam, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, and various indigenous and African-derived religions.

Languages

Main articles: Indigenous languages of the Americas, Languages of North America, and Languages of South America

Spanish is the most widely spoken language in the Americas, followed by English and Portuguese. In Latin America, Spanish is dominant except in Brazil, where Portuguese is spoken. English is the main language in Anglo-America, while French is also official in Canada, especially in Quebec. Many other languages are spoken due to immigration, making the Americas very diverse in languages.

Culture

Main articles: Culture of North America and Culture of Latin America

The Americas have a rich variety of cultures influenced by many different peoples. Two of the most popular sports across the Americas are baseball and football. Baseball grew especially popular after the United States became more influential in the late 1800s. Football is widely followed throughout both North and South America, with different organizations managing the sport in each area.

See also: Pan American Championship

Multinational organizations

The Americas are home to many groups that bring countries together to work on shared goals. These organizations help with trade, culture, security, and more across the continents.

Some of these groups include the Alliance for Progress, Andean Community of Nations, Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean Community, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Organization of American States, Pacific Alliance, Pan American Sports Organization, and the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement. There are many more groups working together to support the Americas.