Geography facts about Americas
The Americas are a landmass in the Western Hemisphere, encompassing North and South America and covering 8% of Earth’s total surface area and 28.4% of its land area.
The name “America” derives from Americus, the Latin version of Italian explorer who surveyed the new continents, Amerigo Vespucci’s first name. The feminine form of America corresponded with the feminine names of the continents of Europe, Asia, and Africa. North America and South America are typically seen as separate continents and, taken jointly, are called the Americas in the plural, such as the Dakotas or the Carolinas.
Derived from America, the term “American” initially denoted all the Americas. But its usage has changed over time and commonly designates people from the United States. The map below shows a survey on identification with the term “American.”
