NORTH AMERICA. 



THIS is the largest, and in every respect the 

 most important division of the western 

 hemisphere. It is bounded on the east by the 

 Atlantic ; on the south, by the Gulf of Mexico and 

 the Pacific, save where joined to South America 

 by the narrow Isthmus of Panama ; on the west, 

 by the Pacific ; and on the north, by the Arctic 

 Ocean. Including Greenland (which, however, 

 is probably insular, and not continental), the area 

 of the known continent may be stated at 8,000,000 

 square miles the great mass of which lies within 

 the northern temperate zone. 



SUPERFICIAL FEATURES 



The general physical characteristics of the con- 

 tinent are remarkable for the magnitude of the 

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scale upon which they are presented ; the plains, 

 lakes, and rivers being superior to those of all 

 other countries. The following summary of these, 

 compiled from a variety of reliable authorities on 

 the subject, will give the reader a good idea of 

 the geography of North America : i. The narrow 

 region which separates the Gulf of Mexico and 

 the Caribbean Sea from the Pacific, traversed 

 throughout its whole length by mountain- 

 ranges, which leave a narrow tract of low 

 land lying along the sea-coasts, while in certain 

 portions of the interior they form elevated table- 

 lands. Here the mountains which may be con- 

 sidered as the commencement of the great Rocky 

 chain attain a culminating point in Guatemala 

 of 14,900, and in the Mexican volcano of Popoca- 

 tepetl of 17.880 feet ; while the table-land of Mexico 



Mi 



