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NORTH AMERICA

The World’s Third-Largest Continent

North America is the world’s third-largest continent. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The continent is made up of 23 independent countries, although the two largest by land area are Canada and the United States of America. North America’s highest point is Denali (formerly Mount McKinley) in Alaska, USA, at 6,190 metres above sea level. Its lowest point is Death Valley in California, USA, at 86 metres (282 feet) below sea level.

With a coastline stretching approximately 60,000 kilometres, North America has one of the longest coastlines of any continent, second only to Asia.

The United States of America

The United States of America, commonly known as the USA or U.S., is one of the world’s largest and most influential countries. It has a population of more than 340 million people, making it the third most populous country in the world.

The United States is home to bustling metropolitan cities, sprawling suburbs, small rural communities, and vast wilderness areas. Often described as a “melting pot,” it has been shaped by people and cultures from around the globe, creating a rich and diverse cultural heritage.

While American television, movies, and music have had a significant influence worldwide, the country itself is far more diverse than these portrayals suggest. Its many regions each have their own distinct landscapes, climates, traditions, and identities. Overlanding across the United States often means experiencing dramatic changes in scenery, weather, culture, and even time zones.

Canada

Canada is the largest country in North America by land area and the second-largest country in the world after Russia. It is renowned for its breathtaking natural scenery, vast wilderness, multicultural society, and rich history.

Like Australia, Canada is so large that seeing the entire country in a single trip is a considerable undertaking. More than 5,000 kilometres separate St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, on the Atlantic coast, from Victoria, British Columbia, on the Pacific coast. This is roughly the same distance as travelling from London to Riyadh, or from Cairns to Perth in Australia.

We took 12 months (2 x 6 months) to explore Canada from East to west and from th South to the Far North West. However driving across Canada can also be done in a week or more, even if you average around 700 kilometres each day—and that’s without allowing time to stop and enjoy the many attractions, national parks, and scenic landscapes along the way, you can still drive from Halifax to Vancouver.