[WikiEN-l] ABOUT LATITUDE.

Thu Sep 9 13:14:48 UTC 2004

There are seven traditional continents in geography. In no particular
order, they are:

* North America
* South America
* Europe
* Africa
* Asia
* Australia (the "island continent")
* Antarctica (no inhabitants but penguins and a handful of researchers)

This leaves two issues:
1. Where do the various islands go? 
2. What about geographical vs. cultural/political distinctions?

To answer the second question first: as a matter of GEOGRAPHY, the North
American "continent" consists of 10 major countries:

* Canada
* United States (excluding Hawaii)
* Mexico
* The 7 Central American countries: Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica & Panama

The South American "continent" begins with Columbia, Venezuela & Peru
and has several more (sorry, can't list 'em off the top of my head).

HOWEVER: 

Culturally or politically, Latin America crosses continental boundaries
and adds Central America and Mexico to South America where there is a
primarily "Latino" population (Spanish & Portuguese speakers) who refer
to citizens of Canada & the US as 'norteamericanos' (i.e., 'North
Americans').

Obviously, this means that [[North America]] can be either a "continent"
or a linguistic/cultural/political region.

BUT:
This leaves the first question unanswered, and I now yield the floor to
my betters...

Ed Poor