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North America, North America

North America covers an area of about 24,709,000 square kilometers (9,540,000 square miles), about 4.8% of the planet's surface or about 16.5% of its land area. As of July 2008, its population was estimated at nearly 529 million people. It is the third-largest continent in area, following Asia and Africa, and the fourth in population after Asia, Africa, and Europe.

The islands of the West Indies delineate a submerged former land bridge, which had connected North America and South America via what are now Florida and Venezuela.

Bermuda is not part of the Americas, but is an oceanic island which was formed on the fissure of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge over 100 million years ago. The nearest landmass to it is Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and it is often thought of as part of North America, especially given its historical, political and cultural ties to Virginia and other parts of the continent.

The USGS further states that No marked or monumented point has been established by any government agency as the geographic center of either the 50 States, the conterminous United States, or the North American continent. Nonetheless, there is a 15-foot (4.5 m) field stone obelisk in Rugby claiming to mark the center.

The most important trade blocs are the Caribbean Community and Common Market , the North American Free Trade Agreement , and the recently signed Central American Free Trade Agreement the last of these being an example of the economic integration sought by the nations of this subregion as a way to improve their financial status.

Source: Wikipedia > North America