What Is The Longest Road in the United States? - Ask the Rambler - General Highway History - Highway History - Federal Highway Administration Home / Resources / Highway History / General Highway History / Ask the Rambler / What Is The Longest Road in the United States? Ask the Rambler What Is The Longest Road in the United States? Welcome, once again, to the popular feature which allows the Rambler to make up a question he already knows the answer to, pretend he had to do a lot of eye-straining research, and submit a voucher for "travel expenses." Well, he's done it again, and we're not falling for it. But here's his answer anyway. Background The longest road in the United States was once the second longest: U.S. 20 from Boston, Massachusetts, to Newport, Oregon. This map of the Northwest shows the final routing of U.S. 20, U.S. 30, and other U.S. highways as approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials on November 11, 1926. Click for larger version 2 mb When the State and Federal highway officials on the Joint Board on Interstate Highways conceived the U.S.

numbered highway system in 1925, they decided that numbers ending in zero would be assigned to the transcontinental or major east-west routes, with the lowest number in the north (U.S. 2 was assigned to the northernmost route to avoid using U.S. 0). The transcontinental or major east-west routes were: U.S. 2: Houlton, Maine, to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. U.S. 10: Detroit, Michigan, to Seattle, Washington. U.S. 20: Boston, Massachusetts, to Astoria, Oregon. U.S. 30: Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Salt Lake City, Utah. U.S. 40: Wilmington, Delaware, to San Francisco, California. U.S. 50: Annapolis, Maryland, to Wadsworth, Nevada. U.S. 60: Chicago, Illinois, to Los Angeles, California. U.S. 70: Morehead City, North Carolina, to Holbrook, Arizona. U.S. 80: Savannah, Georgia, to Laredo, Texas. U.S. 90: Jacksonville, Florida, to Van Horn, Texas. The description of U.S.

20 in the Joint Board's report of October 30, 1925, read (all spellings as in the original): From Boston, Massachusetts, to Springfield, Pittsfield, Albany, New York, Auburn, Batavia, Buffalo, Erie, Pennsylvania, Cleveland, Ohio, Maumee, South Bend, Indiana, Chicago, Illinois, Rockford, Dubuque, Iowa, Waterloo, Webster City, Sioux City, O'Neill, Nebraska, Chadron, Lusk, Wyoming, Casper, Shoshoni, Greybull, Yellowstone National Park, Idaho Falls, Idaho, Pocatello, Twin Falls, Boise, Payette, Pendleton, Oregon, Umatilla, The Dalles, Portland, Astoria.[Emphasis added] The Secretary of Agriculture forwarded the Joint Board's report to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) for adoption. This transmittal reflected the fact that the States owned the roads. AASHO asked the States for their concurrence in the Joint Board's proposed plan and numbering. A Numbering Switch On December 30, 1925, Roy A. Klein, Secretary of the Oregon Highway Commission, wrote to William C.

Markham, AASHO's Executive Secretary. Klein explained that the northwestern States supported the plan but had a number of concerns, including the routing of U.S. 20 and U.S. 30. On this matter, he said: The Highway Commission of Oregon approves the numbering of the routes in Oregon with the exception of route #20. This route as at present shown on the map makes a long detour to the north through Yellowstone Park, thence south to Pocatello, Idaho and continues on to the Coast via the Columbia River Gateway. Many sections of this road are unimproved and the route is open only a few months in the year during the summer season on account of snow on the high altitude. Further, there is a $7.50 toll charge on entering the Park for all traffic. Because of this fact, Oregon recommends that Pocatello be made the western terminus of route #20, which is approved by Wyoming and Idaho.

The Highway Commission of Oregon favors the extension of route #30 through to the Pacific Coast via Ontario and the Columbia River, which would be effective west of Granger and extending through Kemmerer, Wyoming, Montpelier, Idaho, Pocatello, Boise, Ontario, Oregon, Pendleton, Astoria. A conference was held at Detroit on this proposition at which were present James, Hewes, Purcell, Bureau of Public Roads; Peter and Blood, Utah; Sevison, Wyoming; Gregory, Idaho; Duby and Klein, Oregon. At this meeting, Wyoming, Idaho and Oregon favored the designation of route #30 throughout as indicated above, the representatives of Utah, however, held out for route #30 through Ogden or Salt Lake.

As finally agreed upon after considerable discussion, the section west of Granger through Kemmerer, Montpelier, Pocatello to junction point east of Burley takes the number 530 and the section through Evanston, Ogden (or Salt Lake), Brigham, thence via Snowville to junction east of Burley (present route #191) should take number 630, until such time as the section from Brigham through Snowville to the junction east of Burley be designated a part of the Federal-Aid system in both Idaho and Utah and improved to Federal-Aid standards, after which it would take the through route number 30. Oregon's viewpoint was that the Columbia River Gateway was entitled to a through numbered route via Kemmerer between Granger and Burley for the reason that this route is an all year road direct to the whole Northwest; that for the greater part of the distance it has been improved to high standards, and that it is the best located topographically, as evidenced by the fact that it is the route traversed by the pioneers of the Old Oregon Trail and later by the Union Pacific Railroad.

For that reason, the Oregon Highway Commission felt that the cutoff section should retain the through route number 30, rather than 530, a branch line designation; nevertheless, in view of harmony, its representatives agreed to the 530 designation. As to the open question of the location of the route through Ogden or Salt Lake, Oregon's preference is for Ogden because this is a more direct route to the Pacific Ocean. The adoption of the route #30 in lieu of #20 will necessitate a change in the numbering of 320 and 420, short branch line connections at Weiser and Umatilla, respectively. Would suggest #730 and #830 unless those numbers are assigned elsewhere. Oregon is particularly interested in the designation of this route 30 in adjacent states as it is our only through route from the east and, until further improvements are made on the northern route through Montana, it is the best through route for the whole Northwest, hence our anxiety for a proper designation.

Markham replied on January 5, 1926: The adjustments of Route 20 have already been agreed upon, and those changes together with others suggested by you will be put in form for submitting to the Executive Committee at their meeting in Chicago January 14-15, and you will be advised as promptly as possible of the action taken. Thus, U.S. 20 was halted at the entrance to Yellowstone National Park, while U.S. 30 was extended to Oregon. The Lincoln Highway Association Objects The routing of U.S. 30 was of interest to the Lincoln Highway Association (LHA), backers of the era's most famous transcontinental route (New York City to San Francisco) and one of the first proposed, dating to September 1912. E. W. James, Chief of the Division of Design in the Bureau of Public Roads (BPR) and Secretary of the Joint Board, had approached the LHA to secure support for the plan to replace the country's many named highways.

As James, who had conceived the numbering plan, recalled in a letter dated February 21, 1967: Having assisted the Lincoln Highway Association in the First World War, I next went to Detroit to their headquarters and laid my scheme before them, very frankly telling them that it would mean the end of the Lincoln Highway Association, the Dixie, and all others. They understood it all; said they were for a big plan for roads across the U.S.; would be with my scheme if I would give the Lincoln Highway recognition so far as possible in the No. 30. I agreed to do all I could to put it across, and so had their support toward washing out all the named routes. They were the strongest of all the Associations and with them with us, who could be against us? Following completion of the Joint Board's work, James contacted the LHA on October 26, 1925, to describe the outcome: The route known as the Lincoln Highway is generally followed by United States Highway No. 30 from Philadelphia to Salt Lake City. Beyond Salt Lake City the Lincoln Highway is not followed by the Federal Aid System, but a considerable part of it is included in United States Highway No.

50 to Wadsworth, Nevada. From Wadsworth to San Francisco Route 40 covers the Lincoln Highway. James was referring to the fact that under the Federal Highway Act of 1921, Federal-aid funds were restricted to a designated system that could not exceed 7 percent of the roads in each State, with 60 percent of the network required to be "interstate in character." Utah requested Federal-aid designation for the alignment of the Victory Highway (proposed in 1921 and sharing the Lincoln Highway's termini) into Nevada via Wendover. Because only one route into Nevada could quality for Federal-aid, Utah did not propose the Lincoln Highway routing in Nevada via Ely for Federal-aid designation. The LHA protested vigorously, even to the point of a hearing on May 14, 1923, before Secretary of Agriculture Henry Wallace (the BPR was in the U.S. Department of Agriculture). The Secretary ruled on June 6 that under the law, he could act only on proposals by Utah's State highway agency, which favored Federal-aid status for the Victory Highway routing. When the Joint Board was designating U.S.

routes, the Federal-aid designation and Utah's support gave the Victory Highway priority. It was assigned to U.S. 40, while the parallel Lincoln Highway was split among numbers as noted by James. Nevertheless, James had delivered on his promise to the LHA that he would do what he could to assign as much of U.S. 30 to the Lincoln Highway as he could. A few months later, the LHA was surprised to discover that U.S. 30 had developed a western extension to Oregon, far off the line of the Lincoln Highway. On April 3, 1926, Gael S. Hoag, the LHA's secretary, wrote to James about the change. Hoag had seen a new map of Oregon showing U.S. 30 where U.S. 20 had been and wanted to know why this scheme differed from the Joint Board's map. The letter did not explain Hoag's concern, but the Rambler speculates he may have hoped that "30" would someday be extended west on the Lincoln Highway, rather than diverted to the Northwest. On April 6, James replied: Originally Route No.

30 stopped at Salt Lake where it converged with 40, which continued to the Pacific Coast. This convergence was made at the desire of Wyoming more particularly and created a condition which made it desirable to carry the route numbered 20 through Yellowstone Park down to Pocatello and thence west to Portland. A study of the geography of the Sierra Range will indicate to you that there was no other adequate method of developing the gateway at Ontario, Oregon. This detail of the Joint Board was not satisfactory to the northwestern States, more particularly Oregon and Idaho, and when the situation was realized by Wyoming that State also was dissatisfied with the adjustments made, consequently the four States involved, namely, Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah had a conference and agreed that the Ontario gateway should be developed by the only direct and logical route, for that purpose, namely, the route through southern Wyoming. This route as far as Granger was No. 30 from the Atlantic Seaboard, and in the readjustment this number 30 was carried on to Portland, number 20 being terminated at the Yellowstone Park.

All of the necessary adjustments of subnumbers [branches], etc., have been made and all of the States concerned in the adjustments have indicated their approval. When AASHO members approved the U.S. numbered highway plan on November 11, 1926, the transcontinental and major east-west routes were: U.S. 2: Houlton, Maine, to Bonners Ferry, Idaho. U.S. 10: Detroit, Michigan, to Seatle, Washington. U.S. 20: Boston, Massachusetts, to Yellowstone National Park. U.S. 30: Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Astoria, Oregon. U.S. 40: Atlantic City, New Jersey, to San Francisco, California. U.S. 50: Annapolis, Maryland, to Sacramento, California. U.S. 60: Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Springfield, Missouri. U.S. 70: Beaufort, North Carolina, to Holbrook, Arizona. U.S. 80: Savannah, Georgia, to San Diego, California. U.S. 90: Jacksonville, Florida, to Van Horn, Texas. The log described U.S.

20 as follows (all spellings as in the original): United States Highway No. 20. Total Mileage, 2,542 Massachusetts Beginning at Boston via Worcester, Springfield, Lenox to the Massachusetts-New York State line west of Pittsfield. New York Beginning at the Massachusetts-New York State line west of Pittsfield via Schodock Center, Rensselaer, Albany, Cherry Valley, Richfield Springs, Bridgewater, Cazenovia, LaFayette, Auburn, Geneva, Canandaigua, Avon, Geneseo, Warsaw, East Aurora, Athol Springs, Fredonia, Westfield to the New York-Pennsylvania State line west of Westfield. Pennsylvania Beginning at the New York-Pennsylvania State line east of Northeast via Erie, West Springfield to the Pennsylvania-Ohio State line east of Conneaut.

Ohio Beginning at the Pennsylvania-Ohio State line east of Conneaut via Ashtabula, Geneva, Painesville, Cleveland, Elyria, Oberlin, Norwalk, Bellevue, Fremont, Woodville, Perrysburg Maumee, Charaghar, Oak Shade, Fayette, Alvordton, to the Ohio-Indiana State line west of Columbia. Indiana Beginning at the Ohio-Indiana State line west of Columbia via Angola, LaGrange, Elkhart, South Bend, Michigan City, Gary to the Indiana-Illinois State line at Hammond. Illinois Beginning at the Indiana-Illinois State line at Hammond via Chicago, Elgin, Marengo, Rockford, Freeport, Galena to the Illinois-Iowa State line at East Dubuque. Iowa Beginning on the Illinois-Iowa State line at Dubuque via Manchester, Independence, Waterloo, Iowa Falls, Fort Dodge, Rockwell City, Early, Connectionville to the Nebraska State line at Sioux City. Nebraska Beginning at the Iowa-Nebraska State line at South Sioux City via Laurel, Orchard, O'Neill, Ainsworth, Valentine, Rushville, Chadron to the Nebraska-Wyoming State line west of Harrison.

Wyoming Beginning at the Nebraska-Wyoming State line west of Harrison via Van Tassell, Lusk, Orin Junction, Douglas, Casper, Shoshoni, Worland, Greybull, Cody to the east entrance of Yellowstone National Park. To The Northwest By the late 1930's, Idaho and Oregon were thinking about an extension of U.S. 20 via newly improved roads. When AASHO's Executive Committee considered State routing proposals on June 21, 1937, it considered and deferred Oregon's request. The minutes of the meeting explained: The continuation of a route from the Yellowstone Park to the Pacific Coast, suggested to be as follows: "Beginning at the west end of the Yellowstone National Park; thence over U.S. 191 and U.S. 91 at Blackfoot; thence over Idaho State Route 27 to Arco; State Route 22 to Mt. Home; then coincident with U.S. 30 to Boise; thence State Route 24 to the Oregon State line." "In Oregon it is proposed that the route shall coincide with U.S.

28 twelve miles to Vale; then over State Route 54 to Albany, via Juntura, Burns and Bend." was not approved at the present time. The State Highway Department of Oregon reports that the proposed route will not be recommended for travel for two years. There are likewise parts of the route in Idaho not yet satisfactory. When the proposed route has been completed for satisfactory interstate travel, the Committee will again open the proposition. Conditions had improved when the Executive Committee met on June 3, 1940. This time, the extension was approved: Idaho-Oregon. U.S. 20 is extended west of the Yellowstone National Park to read as follows: Beginning at the west end of Yellowstone National Park, thence over U.S. 191 and U.S. 91 to Blackfoot, thence over Idaho State Route 27 to Arco, State Route 22 to Mount Home, thence coinciding with U.S. 30 to Boise, thence over State Route 44 to the Oregon State line. Oregon: Beginning at a point on present U.S.

30 north of Caldwell, Idaho, thence via Parma, Nyssa, Cairo Junction, Valle, Juntura, Burns, Bend, Tumalo, Sisters, Lebanon, to Albany. With this extension, U.S. 20 was 3,277 miles long. The Longest Road U.S. 20 was now the second longest road in the country, behind U.S. 6. As the "6" designation suggests, U.S. 6 was not conceived as a transcontinental or major east-west route. The Joint Board had assigned the number to a route from Provincetown, Massachusetts, to Brewster, New York. By the time AASHO's member State highway agencies approved the numbering plan in November 1926, the route had been extended to Erie, Pennsylvania. Gradually, AASHO approved requests to extend U.S. 6 across the country. In 1937, it reached Long Beach, California, 3,652 miles from Provincetown. At this length, U.S. 6 was the longest road in the country. (For more information on the evolution of U.S.

6, see .) That status lasted until June 18, 1963, when AASHO approved California's request to change the terminus to Bishop. This change shortened U.S. 6 to 3,227 miles as measured at the time. (According to the most recent U.S. numbered highway log, published in 1989 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, the route is 3,249 miles long). In 1963, therefore, U.S. 20 became the longest road in the country. U.S. 20 is 3,365 miles long according to the 1989 log. The route begins in Boston at a junction with Massachusetts Route 2 and ends in Newport, Oregon, at a junction with U.S. 101. Because U.S. numbered highways are not designated with National Parks, U.S. 20 is divided into an East Section ending at the eastern entrance to Yellowstone National Park and a West Section beginning at the west entrance to the park. An Anomaly The western extension of U.S. 20 to Newport, Oregon, created an anomaly in the U.S. highway numbering plan.

The Joint Board's 1925 version of U.S. 20 and U.S. 30 was consistent with the idea that the zero-numbers assigned to transcontinental and major east-west routes would increase from north (U.S. 2) to south (U.S. 90). The numbers on the West Coast were 10, 20, 40, and 60 in north-to-south order. When U.S. 20 was stopped at Yellowstone National Park and U.S. 30 extended to Astoria, Oregon, the numbering remained consistent with the plan (10, 30, 40, 50, and 80). Where U.S. 20 and U.S. 30 were parallel, "20" remained north of "30." However, when AASHO approved extension of U.S. 20 to Newport, its placement violated the south-to-north pattern of zero-numbered routes because "20" ended up below "30." AASHO had little choice but to accept the anomaly because switching the western ends of U.S. Routes 20 and 30 for the sake of consistency was impractical.

From a motorist's standpoint, such anomalies make little difference. Most motorists are not aware of the numbering plan conceived in 1925; they follow road signs and maps, so anomalies are not a source of confusion. Contact The world’s longest runways - Airport Technology The runway at McCarran has undergone extensions and is the third longest civilian runway. The world’s longest runways The rising popularity of mammoth aircraft has led to a drastic need for runways long enough to cater for them. As airports adjust to handle aircraft such as the Airbus A380, airport-technology.com profiles some of the world’s longest commercial runways. Whether constructed out of asphalt or concrete, runways across the world are getting longer. The capability to cater for airliners of increasing size, such as Airbus's mammoth A380, has dictated the need for longer and wider runways. Extended runways also pose other benefits, such as the ability to act as a back-up runway for space shuttle missions. While new airports are being designed with that specific capability in mind, current airports are having to find the space necessary to extend existing runways.

As more and more airports examine the feasibility of such programmes, airports already possessing that asset are reaping the benefits. Denver International Airport's runway Denver International Airport's 16R/34L runway, measuring 16,000ft long, is the longest commercial runway in North America. It is one of six operational runways that make Denver International one of the largest airports in the world, and also one of the busiest. Constructed at a cost of $166m, the runway was paced in just 41 days using 168,000 cubic yards of concrete. The runway forms part of the airport's original master plan and can accommodate new generation airplanes, including the Airbus A380. The successful addition has won numerous awards, most notably the 2004 Project Achievement Award by the Construction Management Association of America. New Doha International Airport, Qatar New Doha International Airport Not only will New Doha International Airport be one of the largest airports in the world, it will also possess one of the longest runways. The first runway, at 17,700ft long, will be the longest runway in Western Asia when it opens on 12 December 2012.

A second runway at the airport, measuring approximately 14,000ft, will be far enough apart to run concurrently, with both runways capable of taking Airbus A380 aircraft. The initial phase of the airport's construction, costing around $14.5bn, will have an annual capacity of 28 million passengers - an increase of ten million over the current Doha International Airport. Madrid Barajas International Airport, Spain Madrid Barajas International Airport The largest and busiest airport in Spain, Madrid Barajas International Airport's passenger growth of ten pecent a year triggered the Spanish airport authority AENA to approve a €2.91bn expansion project. Madrid Barajas is now expected to become Europe's third busiest airport in 2012. Of the airport's four runways, two measure more than 13,000ft in length, with the longest coming in at 14,268ft. The longest runway, designated 18R-36L, started operations in November 1998 and is one of the largest runways in central Europe.

JFK International Airport The sixth busiest airport in the US, JFK International Airport handled almost 48 million passengers in 2011. Traffic to the airport is serviced by four runways, three of them having an asphalt surface. The largest runway has a concrete surface, and measures more than 14,500ft in length, rendering it capable of accepting large commercial airliners, such as the Airbus A380. The runway, designated 13R-31L, is the second longest commercial runway in the US, second to only Denver International Airport. Situated alongside Terminals 1, 2 and 3, the runway also serves as a back-up for space shuttle missions. Indira Gandhi International Airport, India Indira Gandhi International Airport runway Indira Gandhi International Airport is the primary international airport of India's capital of Delhi, and is one of India and South Asia's largest aviation hubs, with a capacity to handle more than 46 million passengers. A planned expansion programme hopes to increase the airport's capacity to 100 million passengers by 2030, with new terminal buildings constructed to support the growth.

The airport's largest runway measures 14,852ft in length and was inaugurated on 21 August 2008 before opening for commercial operations on 25 September 2008. The runway increased the airport's capacity, enabling it to handle 85 flights an hour. All three of the airport's runways are used simultaneously to reduce stress on the airport's main runway. McCarran International Airport, US McCarran International Airport McCarran International Airport has four runways within its 2,800 acres of land, the longest runway being asphalt-surfaced and 14,510ft in length. The runway has undergone various extensions and is now the third longest civilian runway in the US, behind runways at JFK International Airport in New York and Denver International Airport. The airport itself has been remodelled during the past 20 years, with various improvements and expansion projects costing more than $4bn. Although the airport was ranked just 22nd in the world for passenger traffic in 2010, it was ranked ninth in the world for aircraft movements owing to its close location to the Las Vegas strip.

Largest Countries in the World, Top 10 Biggest Countries by Area Africa 2,381,741 Russia's geographical position is commonly described as "Eurasia". Its Asian part alone has larger area as compared to an entire country. As the largest country in the Western Hemisphere, Canada has the longest coastline. Its border with the United States is the world's longest land border. Slighter smaller in area than Canada, the United States of America is bordered by Mexico to the south and Canada to the north. It has the world's most fertile growing areas. China shares its border with 14 different countries, including Afghanistan to the east, Russia to the north, and Vietnam to the south. It is also home to 56 recognized ethnic groups. As the largest country in South America, Brazil is the home to the world's largest rainforest named as the Amazon. Also, it has a lengthy Atlantic coastline on the eastern side. As the largest country in Oceania, Australia is a continental landmass and not an island. The country is well known for its extreme climate and wildlife. With rapidly changing boundaries over the past century, India has China, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal sharing their borders with it.

It was once separated from Asia by a particular sea. As the largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world, Argentina has a varied climate and geography. Its southern tip, Cape Horn is the stormiest location available on Earth. Formerly part of the USSR, Kazakhstan has been the largest nation in the world for most of the 20th century. It is also the largest landlocked country on the globe. Algeria is situated in Northern Africa and has a majority of its desert regions highly elevated. The Algerian Sahara desert extends all the way to the south of Algeria past its borders with Mali and Niger The world's ten biggest countries by size are ranked based on information from the CIA World Factbook. The numbers shown are based on the total land area of each country, including both land and water areas within the international boundaries. Russia is the largest country in the world by a wide margin, covering 17,098,242 square kilometers. Russia stretches across Eurasia, spanning nine time zones and covering about an eighth of the inhabited land area of the Earth. The next largest country is also located in the far north.

Canada covers the northern part of the Western Hemisphere, with a total area of 9,984,670 square kilometers. The United States and China are next on the list, so close in size that their positions are sometimes reversed, depending on the inclusion of particular territories and water areas. Just behind China and the USA is the largest country in South America, Brazil, with an area of 8,514,877 square miles, followed by Australia with an area of 7,692,024 square kilometers. Rounding out the top ten are the much smaller countries of India, Argentina, Kazakhstan and Algeria. Interactive Map of Largest Countries in the World The map of the ten largest countries by area is an interactive map of the world showing the largest countries. Hover your mouse over each of the top ten countries to see their areas in square kilometers. You must be Interested to Know North America | Map of North America Mineral Map of North America About North America Map :-North America is the third-largest continent and is spread over 9,540,000 sq miles. The continent encompasses 23 independent states including the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The Map of North America points out all the capital cities such as Ottawa, Washington D.C., Mexico City, Guatemala, San Salvador, Managua, San Jose, Panama City, Tegucigalpa, Belmopan, Kingston, Havana, Nassau, Santo Domingo, Port of Spain, Port-su-Prince, and Nassau. The North America map also points to the major rivers in the continent including River Mississippi, River Mackenzie, River Colorado, and River Missouri, the highest peaks such as Mt. Washington, Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Katahdin, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Hood, Mt. Baker, and Mt. Elbert, and the major landforms such as the Appalachian Mountains, the Rocky Mountains the Great Basin, the Sierra Madre, the Edwards plateau, the Colorado Plateau, the Caribbean island nations, and the Atlantic and Pacific coastal regions. History of North America Anthropologists are of the opinion that early initial inhabitants arrived in North America around 40,000 years ago, possibly through the Bering Land Bridge by using primitive boats. Paleo-Indians are thought to be amongst the first to arrive in North America from Asia or migrated down the Pacific coast.

These people proliferated and created diverse communities across the continent. Much before the European exploration, the continent witnessed cultural advances with Aztecs emerging as one of the most advanced pre-Columbian civilizations. Mayan civilization in Central America developed written language, built pyramids and made progress in mathematics. Mayan culture was present in Mexico and Guatemala till the time the Spanish explorers arrived in 1500. Europeans began “exploring and staking claims” in several parts of North America with the advent of the Age of Discovery (from early 15th century). The native population dwindled owing tothe violent conflicts and introduction of European diseases. After Britain , Spain , and France had fought against each other and established their presence in North America, several independence movements started across the continent in the late 18th century leading to creation of the modern countries. After the 13 British colonies on the North Atlantic coast were declared independent in 1776, they became the USA . The northern territories controlled by Britain and France were unified to form Canada . New Spain (from modern-day southern US to Central America) became the first Mexican empire after it was declared independent in 1810. North American Countries with Area and Population S.

No Geography North America is the third largest continent with an area of 24,346,000 square km (9,400,000 square miles). This northernmost continent is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean on the east, Pacific Ocean on the west, Arctic Ocean on the north and the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic ocean on the south. North America is broadly divided into four great regions: the Great Plains stretching from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian Arctic, the Rocky Mountains, the Great Basin and Alaska in the west, and the plateau of the Canadian Shield in the northeast. The eastern region of the continent is the fourth great region that comprises the Appalachian Mountains , the Florida peninsula, and the coastal plain. The Great Plains and the Mississippi River System are among the most interesting geographical features of North America. Except a few hills, the Great Plains is generally a large swathe of treeless areas and shallow river valleys. Mississippi (3,765 km) is the most important river of North America. It combines with its tributaries – Missouri and Ohio rivers – to become the third largest river system (6,236 km) in the world.

North America is a home to numerous islands located off the continent's coasts. Greenland, the world's largest island, is also a part of the continent geographically. According to the United States Geographical Survey (USGS), the geographic center of North America is about 24 km (15 mi) from Rugby, North Dakota. Mt McKinley (20,322 ft) in Alaska and the Death Valley (282 ft below sea level) in California are the highest and lowest points in the continent. Geology Canada is one of the oldest regions in the continent with large reserves of iron, nickel, zinc, copper, gold, lead, molybdenum, and uranium. The Canadian Shield in the north is also known for its boreal forests, which are the lifeline of the logging industry. Central America is considered the geologically most active zone in the continent with volcanic eruptions and earthquakes frequenting the region. This region also has several mountain ranges with Sierra Madre de Chiapas and the Cordillera Isabelia being the longest ones. Biodiversity The richness in biodiversity in Canada and the USA is directly linked to their diverse landscape and large areas.

While continental US and Canada are known for their vascular plants and temperate forests, Hawaii is home to more than 1,800 species of flowering plants. Laurel forests, which are temperate evergreen cloud forests, could be seen in large swathes in the southernmost point of North America. More than 430 species of mammals are endemic to the continental U.S. White-tailed deer, American mink, American beaver, striped skunk, and red fox add diversity to the fauna of North America. Gray wolf, brown bear, caribou, wolverine, and the musk ox are synonymous with Canada. The red-tailed hawk is not only quite commonly seen in the U.S., but also in the entire continent. Apart from cougars, Jaguars, and spider monkeys, it is the red brocket (deer) found in tropical forests that make the continent's fauna exclusive. Climate Greenland is the coldest region in the entire continent by virtue of having an Arctic climate. The average temperatures hardly exceed 10°C (50° F) even during the peak of summer.

However, the southern part of the country can witness temperatures rising more than 20° C (68° F) in June, July or August. Canada is known for harsh winters owing to its continental climate. Coastal regions, including British Columbia, have a temperate climate with mild winter and warm summers with average temperature ranging from 25 to 30 °C (77 to 86° F). Different climatic zones exist in the USA, thanks to its geographic variety. While south Florida and Hawaii have tropical climate, the Great Plains witness semi-arid climate. The Mediterranean climate in coastal California is in sharp contrast to the sub-Arctic climate of Alaska. North Mexico has a dry climate unlike in the tropical lowlands of southern part of the country that witnesses an average rainfall of more than 2,000 mm. The capital city of Mexico remains pleasant throughout the year with the difference between summer and winter mean temperatures being approximately 6 to 8 °C (11 to 14 °F).

Demography United States is the most populous country in North America with a total population of 320, 806, 576 (as of May 4, 2015). Mexico comes a distant second with a population of 120,286,655 (July 2014). Canada is the third largest country with a population of 34,834,841(July 2014). North America is also home to the biggest island, Greenland, which also has the world's lowest population density. Some of the Caribbean island-nations such as Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago have large cities with populations greater than one million. English, Spanish, and French are the dominant languages in the continent. In Canada, English and French are considered co-official languages. In fact, places such as Ontario, Manitoba, and the US state of Louisiana have significant French-speaking population. Mexican is widely spoken in southern part of the USA. Greenland has a significant Danish-speaking population and Dutch is spoken in some of the Caribbean nations.

A large chunk of North America’s population is found in the U.S.A., Mexico and Canada, and Christianity is the dominant religion in these countries. Followers of Hinduism, Buddhism and Sikhism have also made inroads into this continent. Politics Democracy dominates the political system in the Caribbean with the presence of one-party system, multi-party systems and two-party systems. While Cuba is a revolutionary socialist democracy with one-party system, Jamaica and Barbados are among the anglophone nations that have two-party systems. The multi-party system is evident in countries such as Haiti and Suriname. US is a two-party system dominated by the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. While the democrats support a modern American liberal platform, the Republicans favor a conservative platform. Like, the US, Mexico has a congressional system of government wherein the President is the head of state and head of government. Politics of Canada stands out as it is considered a constitutional monarchy, which means the Monarch is the head of the state. The country has a multi-party system and follows the principles of parliamentary democracy. Economy Of all the nations in North America, the U.S.A. has the largest economy.

The country's estimated per capita gross domestic product (as on 2014) is $54,980. Canada is close second with its per capita GDP estimated at $44,656 and considerable growth in service, manufacturing, and mining sectors. Mexico is comparatively new to the idea of an industrialized country as it is on the cusp of change from traditional operations to modern operations. Electronic goods, industrial exports, oil and automobiles are revenue-generating sectors of Mexican economy. Cuban economy has largely been state-controlled. It is now in a revival mode after it received a setback owing to its adherence to socialist principles. The North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) is one of the largest trade blocs in the world with its member nations – USA, Canada, and Mexico – establishing strong economic cooperation to eliminate trade barriers. The Caribbean trade bloc, CARICOM (Caribbean Community), is one of the earliest entities formed in 1973 with an objective of promoting economic integration among the 15 Caribbean nations. Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) was implemented in 2004 by Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua along with Dominican Republic and the U.S.A.

to promote financial cooperation among its members and create a free trade area similar to NAFTA. Guatemala has the largest economy in Central America, with bananas, coffee, sugar, and petroleum being its main exports. Food Cuisine in North America is as varied as its topography. While Caribou stew, smoked salmon, roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, and Montreal-style smoked meat are a craze in Canada, the US swears by its hamburgers, pies, and hot dogs. Rice and fish is the staple food of the Caribbean. Flying fish, lobster, crab soup, turtle stew, and meat pies are common in almost every island in the region. Coconut is a dominant ingredient in the curries. In fact, the cuisine of Southeastern Mexico also has a Caribbean influence. Seafood is more popular in regions close to the Pacific Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico. Cuban dishes are mostly sautéed or slow-cooked. Sofrito, which is widely used for seasoning, adds a distinctive flavor to the native cuisine. Stews, meat dishes, and tomato-based sauces are quite a hit among the locals. Music From Mexican Mariachi to American Rock & Roll, the North America is known for introducing several genres of music to the world.

American pop stars such as Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson are still considered the stalwarts. Cuban music is inspired by various musical styles like salsa, mambo and the cha-cha-cha. Popular Cuban music has strong African and European influences. The evolution of Caribbean music is largely attributed to the descendants of African slaves. Calypso and reggae are some of the genres that got worldwide popularity. Celine Dion and Shania Twain are the names that continue to bring the focus back on Canadian music. Art & Sculpture The Afro-American and European sculptors who migrated to the US revived the classical tradition and gave prominence to the idea of American Expressionism. After artists such as Jackson Pollock showed interest in Native American art, several American artists followed suit and began to recreate their traditional art. They also gave birth to a new art blending European and Native American ideas. Cuba has a long tradition when it comes to visual arts. The country has witnessed a steady transition from pre-revolution modernist masterpieces to contemporary paintings and sculptures. The mural paintings of Mexico is revered by art lovers all over the world.

The immediate impact of Mexican Revolution (1910 to 1920) on Mexican art was 'dramatic', to say the least. Apart from murals, paintings with nationalistic and political messages were created on public buildings, and they had established a tradition in other parts of the Americas. Design & Architecture The US is distinctly known for its ability to create the tallest and the swankiest buildings of the world. Names such as Frank Lloyd Wright and Philip Johnson are associated with the US architecture. In Mexico, it is common to find colonial architecture with traces of Baroque style. The Meso-American architecture is noted for its pyramidal structures. The colorful colonial buildings on the streets of Cuba are among the most photographed architecture. Besides, the country includes an assortment of styles and influences for creating a uniquely Cuban-style of architecture. Literature American literature has wowed the world with its dedicated practitioners dishing out thought-provoking ideas through novels, verses, essays and plays. The world vividly remembers such names as T. S. Eliot, Robert Frost, and Ezra Pound.

Modern playwrights such as Tennessee Williams and Arthur Miller and novelists such as Toni Morrison, Virginia Woolf, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway are amongst the doyens of American literature. Mexican literature is also known for its prolific patrons and globally recognized authors. Cuban literature has received a belated recognition. Its themes of freedom and independence got prominence not before the advent of the 19th century. Cinema Hollywood, or the American movie industry, is perhaps the most popular across the world. It is closely intertwined with the Canadian cinema which finds a respectable position in the world cinema. Notable filmmakers such as James Cameron, David Cronenberg, and Deepa Mehta have added to the list of glorious movies made in North America. The Golden Age of Mexican cinema (1936 and 1969) has left the movie buffs with much to relish. Salma Hayek is another name that is inherently linked to Mexican and world cinema. Movies such as 'I Am Cuba' (1964) and 'The Last Supper' (1976) brought limelight on Cuban cinema.

In fact, the 'Imperfect Cinema' of Cuba has been widely acknowledged as very thought-provoking and ingenious works of art. Railways North America has an extensive railway network. The United States, Canada, and Mexico have an interconnected rail system. Plans are afoot to connect Alaska to the North American rail network. Freight-oriented railways in Mexico has a railroad network that connects the US. Panama Canal Railway connects Atlantic Ocean with Pacific Ocean. The railway line runs parallel to the Panama Canal. Guatemala runs occasional chartered tourist trains across the country. Cuba's railway system is the only one in the Caribbean islands. It provides both passenger and freight services within the country. Roadways Pan-American Highway is a network of roads totaling a length of about 48,000 km (30,000 mi). It links almost all the mainland nations. This is considered as the world's longest "motorable road." The U.S.A. has the world's largest road network with 6.4 million km (4 million mi) of roadways including interstate highways and U.S. Highways. The Trans-Canada Highway is the lifeline of Canada. In fact, Canada and the U.S.A.

have built the Alaska Highway that connects Anchorage (Alaska) to Canada and the rest of the United States. Mexico also has a large road network of 323,977 km. The Inter-American Highway, which is a section of Pan-American Highway in Central America, runs for 5,470 km (3,400 mi) between Nuevo Laredo, (Mexico), and Panama City, (Panama). Waterways Like Alaska, several North American islands are not linked to continental road network and are served by ferries or private boat. West Indies, Vancouver Island, and Newfoundland (island) are some of the examples. Alaska's state-owned ferry system (Alaska Marine Highway) serves local transportation purpose. The same system operates a ferry service from Bellingham (Washington) to British Columbia in Canada. The rail ferry service between Alaska and British Columbia is one of the few such services in the entire world. Panama operates one of the busiest waterways in the world – the Panama Canal. It connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Airways The popularity of air travel as a feasible mode of transport was felt following the World War II. The busiest airports in North America are located in the United States.

Except the Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, nine out of 10 busiest airports are in the U.S.A. Atlanta International Airport (Atlanta) and O'Hare International Airport (Chicago) are among the major gateways to North America. While Panama has around 53 airports with paved runways, Cuba's state-owned airline 'Cubana' serves several destinations in North, Central and South America along with Europe and the Caribbean. North America Timeline

Question: Behind U.S.A. which country has the second longest road network in the world?
Answer: India