North America is the third-largest continent, covering approximately 24.7 million square kilometers (9.5 million square miles). It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and South America to the south. The continent consists of 23 countries, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico, which are the largest by land area. North America is home to diverse landscapes, from the Rocky Mountains and the Great Plains to the Great Lakes and vast forests. It has a rich cultural history, with indigenous civilizations such as the Maya, Aztec, and Inuit, and later European colonization. The continent experiences a wide range of climates, from Arctic cold in Canada to tropical warmth in the Caribbean. It is also a global economic powerhouse, with the United States and Canada ranking among the world's wealthiest nations.