Today we want to talk to you about American continent. It is the second largest continent, after Asia. It is located in what has been called the western hemisphere of our planet and in 2013 it was estimated that its population reached almost one hundred million.
American continent
It is a continent that occupies an area from the glacial Arctic Ocean in the north to Cape Horn in the south, in the region where the Atlantic and Pacific oceans join, which also surround the continent to the east and west. West.
Place names
The Spanish conquerors, led by the admiral of the ocean sea Christopher Columbus, gave these lands the designation of the Indies, because Columbus believed that he had reached that country located in the east but by a new route. As of 1494, the Spaniard Pedro de Anglería was the one who began to designate it with the terms New World, a name with which the name was first made known. American continent.
American continent
The designation of America was made in honor of the Italian-born navigator Américo Vespucio, who in his letters and stories, managed to describe the nature of this recently discovered continent and how they looked and how life was for the aborigines.
In 1507 a geographer born in Lorraine, Martín Waldseemüller, in his book Introduction to Cosmography, was the one who first used the designation of America to name the New World.
It took a few years for cartographers to be able to generalize the use of the name of America, a fact that was verified in the XNUMXth century, when it was accepted worldwide as the name by which the continent that was in the West should be called.
In colonial times, just as in Spain the nickname American was given to anyone who had been born somewhere in their domains in America, in the United Kingdom, a century after the discovery, they were given the name of americans to the settlers who lived in the areas of North America that this other kingdom had been occupying, and that included the annexed territory that had the name of Nova Francia.
The influence of the United States in Europe and in the world in general has favored the fact that they have almost monopolized the name for themselves. The use of the term american, which in Spanish means American, is very widespread today in countries whose native language is English and in many other languages due to its influence, but in the Spanish language the designation used in a common is that of Americans.
It must be taken into consideration that the word American is not and cannot be exclusive to the people who live in the United States, because American is everyone who lives in America, because America is a continent.
History of American continent
They introduced new diseases such as smallpox, which found a fertile area in the new continent, causing a decimation of the population that some scholars place in the death of 93% of the indigenous population. In this situation, several European kingdoms dedicated themselves to conquering and colonizing a large part of the continent that was previously occupied by other cultures and civilizations that were already permanent.
Spain was able to subdue great civilizations, such as the Aztecs and the Incas, due to a power of fire from which the aborigines could not defend themselves, and founded its Empire, colonizing the entire Pacific coast and the basin of the Río de la Plata, meanwhile Portugal managed to colonize the Atlantic coastal area of what is now known as Brazil.
France was also able to found some colonial territories in part of the coastal territory facing the Atlantic Ocean, from what is now Canada to northern Brazil. The United Kingdom managed to take over the area of the Atlantic coast of North America and some areas of the Caribbean coast. For their part, the Netherlands and Denmark founded their overseas territories on small Caribbean islands, and Russia was finally able to conquer the Alaskan area.
The European movement of European conquest was successfully pushed out in some areas of the continent. Some native peoples managed to resist the European invasions over vast territories, and managed to maintain their domination over them until the end of the XNUMXth century.
Araucanía, Patagonia, the pampas, Mato Grosso, the Amazon and the vast extensions of the territory of the North American West, were extensions of land, which were dominated by nations such as the Mapuche, Ranquel, Wichí, Het, tribes Amazonian, Qom, Algonquian, Comanche, Aopi, Inuit and many others.
independence of the American continent
After three centuries of colonial power, the American peoples rose up and began to declare themselves independent from their dominators, demanding their right to have their own nation organized as national states, which led to a military confrontation with the European powers, beginning a global process of decolonization.
The United States
In 1775, settlers on the Atlantic coast of North America rebelled against the English crown. Exchanges between the colonies and the British Empire became increasingly difficult, not without regularity of violent incidents.
In May of that same year, the Second Continental Congress took place. George Washington, at that time the richest of the North American colonists, was elected Commander of the North American forces, while Thomas Jefferson, landowner and owner of many slaves, drafted the Declaration of Independence of the United States, which was adopted on the 4th of July 1776.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TYJQ7tEZME
Haiti
In 1804 the slaves of African origin who were on the island of Haiti rose up against the French settlers, declared the independence of that country and made the first social revolution on the American continent, since the Thirteen Colonies had abolished slavery before it happened. an uprising. In both cases the bloody cost of lives was appalling.
The rest of the American Continent
Starting in 1809, the peoples that were under the domination of the Spanish Empire began the Spanish-American War of Independence, which had a continental significance, which resulted, after bloody struggles and difficult processes, in the birth of several new nations: Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
In the years 1844 and 1898 the process would culminate with the independence of the Dominican Republic and Cuba, respectively, the latter overshadowed by the intervention of the United States.
But years before, in 1816, a great independent South American state had been formed, which was baptized with the name of Gran Colombia, and which included the territories of the current republics of Panama, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador. Unfortunately, Gran Colombia was dissolved in 1830.
In 1822 Brazil managed to become independent and organize itself as an independent monarchy, under the name of the Empire of Brazil, when the United Kingdom of Portugal, Brazil and the Algarve was dissolved, until the monarchy was abolished in 1889 and a republic was established. On the other hand, the United States and Great Britain managed to negotiate an independence process in 1867, but with restrictions for Canada, which was consolidated during the XNUMXth century.
Towards the second half of the XNUMXth century, thanks to the auspices of the United Nations and its initiative for a decolonization process, several Caribbean peoples were able to obtain their independence from Great Britain, although they continue to belong to the Common Wealth and their head of state continues to be Queen Elizabeth II. Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Seer and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Jamaica, Grenada, Barbados, Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Belize and Guyana had that opportunity.
For its part, Suriname managed to gain its independence from the Netherlands. Currently, there are still several towns and territories that are dominated by British, French and Dutch control.
Towards the XNUMXst century
Since the end of the 1948th century, the countries of the Americas founded institutions such as the Organization of American States (OAS) in XNUMX. In another perspective, and in the same period, the countries of the Americas have increased their willingness to integrate subregionally into various organizations such as the Mercosur (Common Market of the South), the Andean Community of Nations (CAN), the Central American Integration System (SICA), the Caricom (Caribbean Community) and the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA).
Political division of America
As we have already indicated, America is made up of 35 sovereign states and 25 territories dependent on other countries or subject to them in some way.
The sovereign nations are:
- Venezuela.
- Uruguay
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Argentina
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados, Bahamas
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Cuban, Dominican
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Grenada
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Haiti
- Honduras
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Santa Lucía
- San Vicente y las Grenadines
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- United States
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Panama
The areas that are considered territories are:
- Aruba
- Bonaire
- Greenland
- French Guiana
- Guadalupe
- Martinique
- Montserrat
- Eel
- Bermuda Islands
- BVI
- United States Virgin Islands
- Cayman Islands, Falkland Islands
- Navassa Island, Saba Island
- South Georgia Islands
- Curazao
- r
- Puerto Rico
- San Bartolome
- San Martin
- Saint Pierre and Miquelon
- Saint Eustace
- Saint Marteen and South Sandwich
- Turks and Caicos
- Clipperton Island, but the latter has also established itself as part of Oceania.
Geographic characteristics
Having an area of around 42.044.000 km², the American continent It is the second largest land area on the planet, the territorial extension of America it covers 8,3% of its total surface and 30,2% of the land that emerged from the waters, and also concentrates approximately 12% of the world's human population.
Because it is a very large continent and due to its topography, America has historically been divided into North, Central, South America and the Antilles. But if we want to attend to the characteristics of America cultural, we can differentiate Anglo-Saxon America, the non-Latin Caribbean and Latin America.
Geography of American continent
The territory of America spreads from the northernmost points of the planet. This is how it is from Cape Columbia (58ºN, Canada) in the Arctic Ocean to the Diego Ramírez Islands (56ºS, Chile), where Drake Passage is located, which is an isthmus that divides the American continent from Antarctica.
The area furthest to the east is Cape Branco, Brazil (34°47'W), while the most besieged area to the west is where Attu Island is located in the Aleutian Islands (173°11'E). ), near the Bering Strait that separates Alaska from the Asian continent.
relief of the American continent
In the territory of the American continent, the plates of the earth's crust (North American, Caribbean and South American) in their transfer from the center of the Atlantic to the west, which is called Continental Drift, have created a chain of mountains on the western edge of America, the product of a process of subduction of the Pacific plate.
This mountain range is basically made up of a variety of high ranges on the western coast, notably the Rocky Mountains, the Sierra Madre Occidental and the Sierra Madre Occidental. Andes mountains, all of them located in the area of the Pacific Ring of Fire, product of the collision of the continental tectonic plates with the oceanic one, finding plains in the eastern zones of the continent.
The coast, which is very regular over a large area, exhibits stretches that look dismembered, particularly in its northern points, which originates in the arctic islands of the Canadian section and Greenland in the north, and towards Chile and Tierra del Fuego in the South. Other relevant island groups are the Aleutian Islands in the extreme northwest, the Antilles in the Caribbean Sea, the Galapagos Islands in the central Pacific Ocean, and the Malvinas Islands in the South Atlantic.
Hydrography of American continent
The hydrography of the American continent is very differentiated, so we can divide it into:
North America
In North America it is possible to identify rivers from the three directions that exist there: the Mackenzie River that culminates in the Arctic Ocean, the Yukon, Colorado and Columbia Rivers that are the longest rivers in the section of the Pacific Ocean, and finally, In the Atlantic section, the North Bravo River, the Mississippi-Missouri system and the San Lorenzo River stand out.
Of all of them, the most notable is the Mississippi, because it is the longest and has the largest basin in that area of the continent, but it is also the main river in the United States.
As far as lakes are concerned, the Great Lakes area stands out, in which we will find Lakes Superior, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Eire. All the mentioned lakes share a lacustrine system of glacial origin, whose waters accumulate due to winter melting. These lakes are connected by rivers, canals and locks, and flow into the Atlantic Ocean through the San Lorenzo River.
Central America
In the case of Central America, the rivers are small and correspond mostly to the Atlantic slope. These rivers have various roles, some of them serve as natural borders between countries, as occurs with the Segovia or Coco rivers, which separate Honduras and Nicaragua; or the Lempa River that separates Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras; and the San Juan River that separates Costa Rica from Nicaragua.
In this area, the lakes are also smaller, highlighting the Nicaragua, Managua and Gatun lakes, the latter is artificial, since it was built by man, and is located in the Panama Canal, to which it supplies the water that it is required for ships to bridge level differences as they pass through the lock system.
South America
Being in South America, we observe that the Pacific slope reappears, although the rivers of the Atlantic slope are longer and more significant. The Orinoco rivers, the Paraná-Río de la Plata system and the Río de la Plata stand out in the southern section of the continent. Amazon River.
It could be said that the Amazon River is the most majestic, not in the American continent, but in the entire world, because it is the largest, mightiest and longest in extension and beauty on the planet. Another characteristic of this famous river is that thanks to it, we have the largest hydrographic basin on the planet. In the section of the most important lakes in South America we find Lake Maracaibo, Lake Titicaca, Lake Poopó and Lake Buenos Aires/General Carrera.
Climate of American continent
America has with almost all Weather Elements that exist. Between the coasts of Mexico and the south of Brazil, a warm climate develops in the flat coastal extensions and mountain slopes. The rainy climate of the tropics and the climate of the jungle are typical of a large portion of Central America, of the flat Amazonian areas and of the Caribbean islands, while on the Atlantic coast of Colombia, Venezuela and Guyana the climate that we can find is the of savannah areas.
In the subtropical areas that are close to latitude 30º, the arid zones are located, with desert characteristics, as occurs in the Sonora desert, in the south of the United States and north of Mexico, and the Atacama desert, which is located in the north. of Chile, where the Drought it is so brutal that it is cataloged as the driest place on earth, where years can pass without rain, and in Patagonia we find a cold desert climate. The steppes serve as transition zones towards more temperate climates.
The temperate climate is observed between the middle areas and the mountain climbs, particularly in the Atlantic extension. This type of climate, with rains throughout the year, can be observed in the coastal strips of Canada, Alaska and southern Chile, giving rise to areas of mixed forest.
This type of temperate climate with summer rains is the type of climate that we will find the most, essentially on the continent, particularly in the southeastern section of the United States, central Mexico and southeastern Brazil. We will observe the Mediterranean climate in California and the Chilean Central Valley, giving rise to a type of vegetation known as chaparral.
Finally, cold climates are found throughout the extremes of the continent, in areas near the poles, particularly in North America. Tundra is seen throughout much of Alaska and Canada, and in the southern tip of South America.
Due to the action of the height, in the Andean zone and a large part of the mountainous areas, such as the Rocky Mountains and the Andes, we will also find cold climates. Finally, the polar climate is in Greenland.
Demography
America is the fourth continent in terms of population density, after Asia, the African continent and Europe, and it is also one of the least densely populated, due to the vastness of its territory. In addition, three quarters of its population lives in cities.
The American continent is made up of 36 countries, 23 colonial dependencies, three French departments, and the so-called free associated state of Puerto Rico, considered a territory dominated by the United States according to the UN Decolonization Committee.
Ethnography
The American population is made up of almost 1.000 million inhabitants, descendants of three large ethnic groups, and the product of their miscegenation, the latter phenomenon is observed more in Latin America: Amerindians and Eskimos, who are the aboriginal inhabitants of America; European and African descendants of slaves. There are also descendants of other immigrants, particularly Asians, both from the Middle and Far East.
Culture
In the American continent there are multiple and varied peoples, who have a versatile mix of customs. These customs have been influenced by their geographical location and the place where the towns or communities develop.
There is also a great wealth of folklore in all these towns, closely related to the environment, whose origin predates the conquest. It is relevant to indicate that in America there were immense native communities and peoples with an abundance of traditions.
Languages
The total number of languages spoken in the Americas is well over 500, if we add languages, dialects, and Patois. The main languages are those that were imposed by the European colonizers, followed by the languages spoken by the main Amerindian cultures.
Among the main languages we can highlight:
- Spanish: This is the language spoken by around 372 million people, in areas such as South America, Central America and Mexico. There are also significant Spanish-speaking communities in the United States and some Caribbean islands.
- English: is the language spoken by around 325 million people. It is the most widely used language in the United States and is the official language in Canada, Guyana, the Falkland Islands, and Belize, as well as some West Indian territories. In Puerto Rico it is present as the second official language.
- Portuguese: It is the official language of Brazil, and is spoken by more than 185 million people.
- French: it is the language spoken in some Caribbean islands, such as Guadeloupe, Haiti and Guadeloupe, among others, and it is the official language in Canada, mainly in the province of Québec, and in French Guiana.
- Quechua: we refer to the aboriginal language that is used the most, with approximately 12 million people. It is one of the official languages of Bolivia and in Peru there are areas where it is the dominant language. It is the language spoken by an important minority in Ecuador, also in southern Colombia, in Santiago del Estero in Argentina, and in northern Chile.
Aymara is also the official language in Bolivia, while it is in Peru where it is the most widely spoken aboriginal language. Similarly, Aymara is the first language of a third of the population of Bolivia and is the main Amerindian language of southern Peru and northern Chile.
Fauna and flora of the American Continent
From the American continent, initially to Europe and then to other parts of the world, multiple native natural products such as cocoa, corn, avocado, tomato and potato, as well as animals such as turkey or turkey, were brought. The endemic species of this continent are the puma, the axolotl, the llama, the white-tailed deer, the alpaca, the quetzal, the ocelot and many species of insects, amphibians and even reptiles such as the Gila monster.
In America, too, there are thick forests of large, ancient trees like the redwoods found in California; plains and agricultural areas and meadows, swamps, exotic jungles such as the Amazon, savannahs and steppes in South America. Countries like Mexico, Peru, the United States and Brazil are called multidiverse countries, due to the marked biodiversity they enjoy.
The fauna of the American continent is very similar to the fauna of the European continent. Likewise, America has a great variety of native or endemic species, many of them endangered or at risk of extinction. It has animals with bright colors and exceptional characteristics. It can be said that each of the parts of the continent has its favorites and among them we can find: the grizzly bear, the tapir, the llama, the bison, the vicuña, the alligator, the agouti, the jaguar, the beaver, and the puma .
The North American section contains the natural habitat of reindeer, seals, blue foxes, bears, antelopes, bison, and a wide variety of reptiles and birds. In the southern part of America, where the unexplored jungles of the Andes, the pampas and the Amazon region are, we will not find a great variety of mammals. But there is an abundance of reptiles, insects and birds.
Central America is home to Chiroptera, which are nocturnal flying mammals, such as bats, as well as some carnivorous mammals and many rodents. To the south, the Andean region, is the habitat of extraordinary animals that are not found in other areas of the world such as the vicuña, the llama, the guinea pigs and the alpacas.
On the other hand, the jungle sections of Central and South America are home to many species of monkeys, parrots and birds of fancy colors, snakes, turtles and large carnivorous mammals such as the jaguar and the puma.
Other endemic animals of South America are the penguins, the toucans, the iguana, the martucha, the sunbird, the condor, the South American beetles such as the butterflies, the giant armadillo, the parrots, the priñana, the red homero, the platyrrhine monkeys , the rhea, the maned wolf, the hoatzin, the ocelot, the sloth, the red howler monkey and many more.
Curiosities
- The great rock that fell to earth and caused the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago fell in what is now part of Chicxulub, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
- Officially, the American continent was made known to the planet in the year 1492, but archaeological excavations have confirmed the existence of human remains and the presence of prehistoric populations from 17.000 years ago.
- The Mayan civilization is considered one of the most significant in the world.
- The most populous country on the American continent is the United States with 329 million inhabitants, a figure that represents 33% of the entire population of America. Brazil and Mexico follow.
- The least populated country in the American continent is Saint Kitts and Nevis with only 56,000 inhabitants.
Literature
The American continent has been the birthplace of excellent writers who have achieved worldwide fame and importance. Notable among English-language writers are Nathaniel Hawthorne, Edgar Allan Poe, and Henry David Thoreau, who established unparalleled reputations in the mid-XNUMXth century.
Mark Twain is considered a giant of letters, who together with the poet Walt Whitman are considered the main figures of letters in the second half of the XNUMXth century and Emily Dickinson, who was absolutely unknown during her lifetime, would later be recognized as one of America's Greatest Poets.
If we talk about literature in the Spanish and Portuguese languages, we will find distinguished authors who have left their mark on world literature, Paulo Coelho, Mario Vargas Llosa, Arturo Uslar Pietri, Rómulo Gallegos, Gabriel García Márquez, Jorge Luís Borges, Gabriela Mistral, Pablo Neruda, Mario Benedetti, the list of distinguished examples of Latin American prose would be enough to make a book.
Music
The music of the American continent has reached all corners of the world. Rhythms such as the son of Cuban origin, the bossa nova of Brazil or the tango of Argentina, along with pop, rock, salsa, merengue and jazz, among others, today have enormous acceptance in the region and in many other places. of the planet.