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North America is a continent in the Earth's northern hemisphere and almost fully in the western hemisphere, bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean; South America lies to the southeast. It covers an area of about 24,480,000 km² (9,450,000 sq mi), or about 4.8% of the planet's surface. As of July 2002, its population was estimated at more than 514,000,000. It is the third largest continent in area, after Asia and Africa, and is fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.

Etymology

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A number of theories exist regarding the naming of North and South America. The most widely recognized is that they are named after Amerigo Vespucci, who was the first European to suggest that the Americas were not the East Indies, but a New World, previously undiscovered by Europeans. The second and less generally accepted is that the continents are named after an English merchant named Richard Amerike from Bristol, who is believed to have financed John Cabot's voyage of discovery from England to Newfoundland in 1497. A third and minutely explored belief that has been advanced is that America was named for a Spanish sailor bearing the ancient Visigothic name of 'Amairick'.

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North American Membership Clubs: Join Handyman Club of America FREE for 30 days http://bit.ly/5nrulE
xbitbird (Twitt3rBird) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 13:00:17 -0000
North American Membership Clubs: Join Handyman Club of America FREE for 30 days http://bit.ly/5nrulE
#factsaboutme The continents dat I've been 2 are north america, south america, and europe!
LoveableChris (Christina T) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:56:21 -0000
#factsaboutme The continents dat I've been 2 are north america, south america, and europe!
http://twitpic.com/umzsw - In My Window early This Morning: The Most Important City in North America, #Toronto. The Centre of the Universe.
HiMYSYeD (HiMY SYeD) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:53:16 -0000
http://twitpic.com/umzsw - In My Window early This Morning: The Most Important City in North America, #Toronto. The Centre of the Universe.
@sarahsmed Yes! Santa wanted to bestow the gift of me upon North America early. :)
MikeyPiff (Mikey Piff) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:52:30 -0000
@sarahsmed Yes! Santa wanted to bestow the gift of me upon North America early. :)
QinetiQ North America is Hiring: Technical Supply & Logistics Systems ... (Huntsville, AL) http://bit.ly/1a3esG #Jobs #TweetMyJOBS
tmj_hsv_it (TMJ - HSV IT Jobs) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:49:28 -0000
QinetiQ North America is Hiring: Technical Supply & Logistics Systems ... (Huntsville, AL) http://bit.ly/1a3esG #Jobs #TweetMyJOBS
North America Investment Daily 12.22.09 Citibank Research $$ http://bit.ly/5lihHp
theback9 (Theback9) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 12:39:31 -0000
North America Investment Daily 12.22.09 Citibank Research $$ http://bit.ly/5lihHp

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