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[[Image:America map.jpg|thumb|right|375px|The Americas]]

[[Image:America map.jpg|thumb|right|375px|The Americas]]

The '''Americas''' are a pair of continents in the Western Hemisphere, including the entire [[North America|North American]] continent and the entire [[South America|South American]] continent. They cover over 8.3% of the Earth's total surface and constitute 28.4% of its total landmass. 14% of the human population lives in the Americas.

The '''Americas''' are a pair of continents in the Western Hemisphere, including the entire [[North America]]n continent and the entire [[South America]]n continent. They cover over 8.3% of the Earth's total surface and constitute 28.4% of its total landmass. 14% of the human population lives in the Americas.

==Usage conflict==

==Usage conflict==

When speaking English, Latinos (particularly Mexicans) distinguish between [[Latin America]] and [[North America]], with [[Mexico]] specifically excluded from North America.  

When speaking English, Latinos (particularly Mexicans) distinguish between [[Latin America]] and [[North America]], with [[Mexico]] specifically excluded from North America.  

'''''[[America (continent)| The Americas]] ''''' is a general term usually meaning North, Central and South America collectively.  

'''''[[America (continent)|The Americas]] ''''' is a general term usually meaning North, Central and South America collectively.  

[[File:The Americas satellite map.jpg|left|280px|The Americas satellite map.]]

[[File:The Americas satellite map.jpg|left|280px|The Americas satellite map.]]

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''The most common origin given for the name America is derived from that of the Italian merchant and navigator [[Amerigo Vespucci]], one of the earliest European explorers of the New World.  However, a competing theory has been put forward by Dr. Basil Cottle that America may have been named after a senior collector of Customs at Bristol, Richard Amerik, who was also one of the chief investors in the second transatlantic voyage of John Cabot (the first recorded European to set foot on American soil in May 1497),<ref> [http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts/facts1.html#americaname] </ref>. How reliable each theory is is open to question as there are no contempory documents of the time that detail how the name America was arrived at.''

''The most common origin given for the name America is derived from that of the Italian merchant and navigator [[Amerigo Vespucci]], one of the earliest European explorers of the New World.  However, a competing theory has been put forward by Dr. Basil Cottle that America may have been named after a senior collector of Customs at Bristol, Richard Amerik, who was also one of the chief investors in the second transatlantic voyage of John Cabot (the first recorded European to set foot on American soil in May 1497),.<ref>[http://www.britannia.com/celtic/wales/facts/facts1.html#americaname]</ref>  How reliable each theory is is open to question as there are no contempory documents of the time that detail how the name America was arrived at.''

''The climatic zones of the two continents are quite different. In North America, subarctic climate prevails in the north, gradually warming southward and finally becoming tropical near the southern isthmus. In South America, the climate in the north is tropical, becoming cooler southward, and finally becoming a cold, marine climate'' [http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-20369/Americas America] Encyclopædia Britannica.

''The climatic zones of the two continents are quite different. In North America, subarctic climate prevails in the north, gradually warming southward and finally becoming tropical near the southern isthmus. In South America, the climate in the north is tropical, becoming cooler southward, and finally becoming a cold, marine climate'' [http://www.britannica.com/eb/topic-20369/Americas America] Encyclopædia Britannica.