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Article: North America
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
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North America
The landmass occupied by the present-day countries of Canada, the United States, and the Republic of Mexico make up North America. Greenland (Kalaallit Nunaat), an island landmass to the northeast of Canada, is also included in North America, for it has been attached to Canada for almost two billion years.
Plate tectonics
is the main force of nature responsible for the geologic history of North America. Over time, the plates have come together to form the continents, including North America. Other processes, such as
sedimentation
and
erosion
, modify the shape of the land that has been forged by plate tectonics.
North American geologic history includes several types ...