North America

==== Central America ====
{{Main|Central America}}
[[File:Tectonic plates Caribbean.png|thumb|[[Central America]] rests on the [[Caribbean Plate]].]]
[[Central America]] is geologically active with [[volcanic eruption]]s and earthquakes occurring from time to time. In 1976 Guatemala was hit by [[1976 Guatemala earthquake|a major earthquake]], killing 23,000 people; Managua, the capital of Nicaragua, was devastated by earthquakes in 1931 and 1972, the last one killing about 5,000 people; three earthquakes devastated El Salvador, one in 1986 and two in 2001; one [[2009 Costa Rica earthquake|earthquake]] devastated northern and central Costa Rica in 2009, killing at least 34 people; in [[2009 Honduras earthquake|Honduras]] a powerful earthquake killed seven people in 2009.

Volcanic eruptions are common in the region. In 1968 the [[Arenal Volcano]], in Costa Rica, erupted and killed 87 people. Fertile soils from weathered volcanic lavas have made it possible to sustain dense populations in agriculturally productive highland areas.

Central America has many [[mountain range]]s; the longest are the [[Sierra Madre de Chiapas]], the [[Cordillera Isabelia]], and the [[Cordillera de Talamanca]]. Between the mountain ranges lie fertile valleys that are suitable for the people; in fact, most of the population of Honduras, Costa Rica, and Guatemala live in valleys. Valleys are also suitable for the production of coffee, beans, and other crops.