NORTH AMERICA • North America is the third largest Continent in the world, ranking behind Asia and Africa

The word “America” originates from the name of Italian explorer, Americo Vespucci

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

Flag of USA

• The flag of the United States is a symbol of freedom before which Americans recite the pledge of allegiance. The flag's 13 red and white stripes represent the 13 original colonies. Its 50 white stars on a blue background represent the 50 states.

Capital of USA

• Washington, D.C. As the capital of the United States and can be referred to formally as the District of Columbia or more informally as D.C. or Washington.

• The Washington, D.C. seats the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.

Language

• Although the country has no official language, English is the most spoken language across the country, and it is used in official platforms across most states.

The Native American (Indian)

• The term "Indian" to refer to Native Americans originated with Christopher Columbus, who mistakenly believed he had reached the East Indies (Asia) when he landed in the Americas. He therefore called the indigenous people he encountered "Indians.” Despite the inaccuracy, the term stuck and has been used for centuries.

MOUNT RUSHMORE NATIONAL MEMORIAL

• The site features the 60-foot sculpture of heads of Presidents, George Washington (1732–1799), Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), and Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865) in the Black Hills in Keystone, South Dakota.

GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK

• Grand Canyon National Park, in Arizona, is home to much of the immense Grand Canyon, with its layered bands of red rock revealing millions of years of geological history. Viewpoints include Mather Point, Yavapai Observation Station and architect Mary Colter’s Lookout Studio and her Desert View Watchtower.

• Lipan Point, with wide views of the canyon and Colorado River, is a popular, especially at sunrise and sunset.

Yosemite National Park

• Yosemite National Park is in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. It’s famed for its giant, ancient sequoia trees, and for Tunnel View, the iconic vista of towering Bridal veil Fall and the granite cliffs of El Capitan and Half Dome.

• In Yosemite Village are shops, restaurants, lodging, the Yosemite Museum and the Ansel Adams Gallery, with prints of the photographer’s renowned black-and-white landscapes of the area

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, NY

• Made in Paris by the French sculptor Frederic-Auguste Bartholdi, in collaboration with Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel (who was responsible for the steel framework)

• This towering monument to liberty was a gift from France on the centenary of American independence. Inaugurated in 1886, the sculpture stands at the entrance to New York Harbour and has welcomed millions of immigrants to the United States ever since.

DENALI, AK

• The name of the highest peak in North America was changed from “Mount McKinley” to “Denali” in 2016.

• With a peak that reaches 6,190 meters (20,310 feet) above sea level, Denali is highest mountain in North America and the third-highest of the Seven Summits (the tallest peaks on all seven continents).

• Denali came from the Koyukonlanguage that is traditionally spoken on the north side that means ‘the Great One’ or ’the High One

GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

• This suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate in California to link San Francisco with Marin county to the north.

• Upon its completion in 1937, it was the tallest and longest suspension bridge in the world.

• It was designed in 1917 by Engr. Joseph Strauss

MILLENNIUM PARK

• Cloud Gate, aka “The Bean”, is one of Chicago’s most popular sights. It is one of the world’s largest permanent outdoor art installations. The monumental work was unveiled in 2004 and quickly became of the Chicago’s most iconic sights.

LAS VEGAS

Known as the “World’s Entertainment City”

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK

• Rocky Mountain National Park is in north-central Colorado about 60 miles (97 km) north of Denver. The great range of the Rocky Mountains stretches 3,000 miles (4,800 km) from northern Canada to New Mexico.

• Rocky Mountain National Park is one of the jewels of the US Park System. This national park wonderfully preserves a spectacular section of the southern Rocky Mountains while also making it accessible to the public.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING, NY

• Empire State Building stands 1,250 feet (380 meters) tall. Counting the spire and antenna, the building clocks in at a mighty 1,454 feet (443 meters).

• It’s currently the 4th tallest building in New York City, the 6th tallest in the United States, and the 43rd tallest tower in the world.

• Construction of the building began in 1930 and, after an incredible 13 months (just 410 days), was completed in 1931 makes it the oldest building in NYC.

FLAG OF CANADA

• The maple leaf emerged in the 19th century as a symbol of Canadian identity

COUNTRY PROFILE

• Canada is a country in the northern part of North America.

• Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometers making it the world's second-largest country by total area after Russia.

• Its southern border with the United States, stretching 8,891 kilometers is the world's longest bi-national land border

CAPITAL: OTTAWA

• In 1857, there were a few cities competing to be the capital city.

• To settle it, Queen Victoria chose Ottawa because it was centrally located between the cities of Montreal and Toronto and was along the border of Ontario and Quebec (the center of Canada at the time).

• It was also far from the American border, making it safer from attacks

LANGUAGE

• Canada is an officially bilingual country, which means it has two official languages: English and French.

GROS MORNE NATIONAL PARK

• Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland is important to the world,

geologically, because the ancient rocks help people understand how the

oceans and continents were created. The park is a nature lover’s paradise

featuring lowlands along the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the alpine setting of

the Long-Range Mountains.

• The park is popular with wildlife viewers who’ll see everything from tiny

songbirds to giant whales; black bears, moose and deer are common.

• Most visitors come here during the short summer season. The exception is

the peak winter season (from February to April), when the park

experiences another mini-boom in snowmobiling and cross-country

skiing

JASPER NATIONAL PARK

• Spanning over 11,000 square kilometers, Jasper is the largest national park in the Canadian Rockies. Known for its vast wilderness, majestic peaks, abundant wildlife and outstanding natural beauty, visitors from all over Canada and round the world travel here to experience this very special place.

ATHABASCA FALLS

• One of the top attractions is Athabasca Falls, a beautiful waterfall that thunders through a narrow gorge. Even when the water level in the upper Athabasca River is low, huge quantities of water pour over the falls. Several viewing platforms and trails where it is safe to photograph the picturesque scene are located around the falls.

NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO

• Many Americans think of Niagara Falls as being only a waterfall in the United States, namely New York, when in actuality, Niagara Falls is three falls on the border between the United States and Canada.

BANFF NATIONAL PARK IN ALBERTA

• Banff is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks UNESCO World Heritage Site and regarded as the oldest national park in Canada established in 1885

NATIONAL FACTS ABOUT MEXICO

• Capital: Mexico City

• Official Language: Spanish

• Religion: Catholic

• Government Type: Federal Government

• Currency: Mexican peso (MXN)

SAN JUAN TEOTIHUACÁN

• Teotihuacán is a town and municipality located in the State of Mexico

• The holy city of Teotihuacan ('the place where the Gods were created') is situated some 50 km north-east of Mexico City. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D

• Teotihuacan takes its name from the ancient city and World Heritage site that is located next to the municipal seat. "Teotihuacan" is from Nahuatl and means "place of the gods

TULUM

• Tulum is the site of a pre-Columbian Mayan walled city which served as a major port for Coba, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo.

• The ruins are situated on 12-meter (39 ft) tall cliffs along the east coast of the Yucatán Peninsula on the Caribbean Sea in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

• Tulum was one of the last cities built and inhabited by the Maya; it was at its height between the 13th and 15th centuries and managed to survive about 70 years after the Spanish began occupying Mexico.

• Old World diseases brought by the Spanish settlers appear to have resulted in very high fatalities, disrupting the society and eventually causing the city to be abandoned.

• One of the best-preserved coastal Maya sites, Tulum is today a popular site for tourists.

Chichen Itza

• Chichen Itza, one of the New 7 Wonders of The World according to UNESCO, since July 7th, 2007