## TL;DR

North America (24.7 million km²) is the 3rd largest continent. 23 countries, ~600 million people. Features: Rocky Mountains, Great Plains, Mississippi River, Great Lakes (largest freshwater system), Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls. Diverse climates: Arctic (north) → temperate → subtropical (south) → tropical (Central America).

## Core Explanation

Rocky Mountains: 4,800 km from Canada to New Mexico. Mississippi-Missouri River: 4th longest globally (5,971 km). Great Lakes: Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario — 21% of world's surface fresh water. Death Valley (CA): hottest place on Earth (56.7°C, 1913). Denali (AK): highest peak (6,190m), vertical rise > Everest. Tornado Alley: central US — most tornadoes globally.

## Further Reading

- [North America: A Geography (Birdsall, Florin, Palka)](https://www.pearson.com/en-us/subject-catalog/p/north-america/P200000009517)