4 ms·

As a non-American: honest question, is Nicaragua part of North or South America? Where is the line generally drawn? I was always under the impression that "Nor

by pluma 10y ago

As a non-American: honest question, is Nicaragua part of North or South America? Where is the line generally drawn? I was always under the impression that "North America" only encompasses the big three but the Caribbeans and Central America (i.e. everything on the land bridge below Mexico up to and including Nicaragua) are not considered part of either of the two "Americas".

mrweasel 10y ago
I'm not American either, but I think regardless of nationality the geography is pretty clearly defines. The Wikipedia article seems to be consistent with what I learned in school, and it puts Nicaragua in North America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America I think the issue is that many have been taught to view America as three parts: North, South and Central. Central America however isn't actually a continent.
- pluma 10y ago
  There are at least four continents: Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica and Oceania. Everything beyond that is mostly culture and politics. You seem to be correct about Central being part of the northern continent though: the dividing line seems to be the Panama Canal, placing all of Central America in North America. The real question seems to be why Panama isn't then considered to be on both continents, considering the Canal would put a good chunk of it in South America. The answer as far as I can tell is just as I thought: politics. EDIT: Also the Caribbeans are apparently considered part of North America although Grenada is closer to Trinidad than anything beyond Puerto Rico is to the North American mainland. Fun. EDIT2: Okay, I give up. Can't we all just agree that the concept of a "continent" doesn't make sense? What continent do the Diomede islands belong to? What about Savoonga? What if Savoonga was Russian rather than part of Alaska?
- logfromblammo 10y ago
  Central America is that part of North America on the continental land mass between Colombia and Mexico. This is convenient for [U.S.] Americans that don't care to learn the names or relative positions of those countries. I consider the Lucayans, Greater Antilles, and Lesser Antilles to be North American, down to Grenada. Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, and Curacao are South American. Looking at a map that shows seafloor depth makes this distinction easier, as the latter are clearly on South America's continental shelf. This makes "the Caribbean" that part of North America on the island archipelago. Again, this is convenient for [U.S.] Americans who don't know any of those states and territories other than Puerto Rico--even the other U.S. possessions. Contrary to Wikipedia, "Middle America" is the Great Plains, Near South, and Midwest regions of the U.S., specifically the white, Protestant Christian, middle-class, suburban communities therein. "Mesoamerica" is the northern part of Central America and the southern part of Mexico. We don't talk about Bermuda or Greenland.

by pluma 10y ago

mrweasel 10y ago

I'm not American either, but I think regardless of nationality the geography is pretty clearly defines. The Wikipedia article seems to be consistent with what I learned in school, and it puts Nicaragua in North America. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America I think the issue is that many have been taught to view America as three parts: North, South and Central. Central America however isn't actually a continent.

pluma 10y ago
There are at least four continents: Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica and Oceania. Everything beyond that is mostly culture and politics. You seem to be correct about Central being part of the northern continent though: the dividing line seems to be the Panama Canal, placing all of Central America in North America. The real question seems to be why Panama isn't then considered to be on both continents, considering the Canal would put a good chunk of it in South America. The answer as far as I can tell is just as I thought: politics. EDIT: Also the Caribbeans are apparently considered part of North America although Grenada is closer to Trinidad than anything beyond Puerto Rico is to the North American mainland. Fun. EDIT2: Okay, I give up. Can't we all just agree that the concept of a "continent" doesn't make sense? What continent do the Diomede islands belong to? What about Savoonga? What if Savoonga was Russian rather than part of Alaska?
logfromblammo 10y ago
Central America is that part of North America on the continental land mass between Colombia and Mexico. This is convenient for [U.S.] Americans that don't care to learn the names or relative positions of those countries. I consider the Lucayans, Greater Antilles, and Lesser Antilles to be North American, down to Grenada. Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, and Curacao are South American. Looking at a map that shows seafloor depth makes this distinction easier, as the latter are clearly on South America's continental shelf. This makes "the Caribbean" that part of North America on the island archipelago. Again, this is convenient for [U.S.] Americans who don't know any of those states and territories other than Puerto Rico--even the other U.S. possessions. Contrary to Wikipedia, "Middle America" is the Great Plains, Near South, and Midwest regions of the U.S., specifically the white, Protestant Christian, middle-class, suburban communities therein. "Mesoamerica" is the northern part of Central America and the southern part of Mexico. We don't talk about Bermuda or Greenland.