The western parts of North America are dominated by a long mountain range (the Rocky Mountains). Moving eastwards, the mountains transform into flatlands (prairie), with a few rivers running southwards.

Both the western and the eastern coasts of North America are relatively flat. These regions accommodate some of the largest cities in the world, such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York. 

The five Great Lakes are found on the border between Canada and the United States.

The North American continent contains three large peninsulas: the first is Alaska in the northwest, the second is Labrador in the northeast, and the third is Florida in the southeast. 

When moving southwards from the Arctic Ocean, the vegetation changes from tundra to coniferous forests, before transforming into broadleaf forest and temperate grassland in the southern parts of the continent.