North America occupies the northern portion of the landmass generally referred to as the New World. It is bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the southeast by the Caribbean Sea, and on the south and west by the North Pacific Ocean. North America covers an area of about 24,490,000 square kilometers (9,450,000 sq mi), about 4.8 percent of the planet's surface or about 16.4% of its land area.
Central America is a narrow isthmus extending from Mexico to Panama where it connects to South America. Most of Central America rests atop the Caribbean Plate. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur from time to time.
The Caribbean is a region of the Americas consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its 7,000 islands, islets, reefs, and cays and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of North America, east of Central America, and to the north and west of South America.