The Americas consist of the continents of North America and South America and their associated islands, located entirely within the Western Hemisphere. They are often referred to as the New World, juxtaposed with the Old World, as they were unknown to the civilizations of Europe, Asia and Africa until 1492.

The term is a relatively recent and less ambiguous alternative to the term America, which may refer to either the entire landmass or the colloquial name for the United States of America. The original usage to describe what is sometimes considered a single continent or supercontinent is deprecated for clarity, for which the Americas is used to collectively refer to the landmass and various regions of it. When used to describe a single landmass, analogous terms to America or (the) Americas are Eurasia, which consists of Europe and Asia collectively, and Eurafrasia, which is Eurasia and Africa.

Naming of America

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The earliest known use of the name America for this particular landmass dates from 1507. It appears on a globe and a large map created by the German cartographer Martin Waldseemüller in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges. An accompanying book, Cosmographiae Introductio, explains that the name was derived from the Latinized version of the explorer Amerigo Vespucci's name, Americus Vespucius, in its feminine form, America, as the other continents all have Latin feminine names.

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Miss America Trivia: Which two states are the only states to have back to back Miss Americas and in what years?
samhaskell (Sam Haskell) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:29:33 -0000
Miss America Trivia: Which two states are the only states to have back to back Miss Americas and in what years?
Watch me and six beautiful Miss Americas on the Fox and Friends Christmas Special on Fox Network on Christmas Eve!
samhaskell (Sam Haskell) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:28:20 -0000
Watch me and six beautiful Miss Americas on the Fox and Friends Christmas Special on Fox Network on Christmas Eve!
Senate HC bill will mean Americas will spend $234 billion more over the next ten years-call Ga. senators today http://ow.ly/MGPa #hcr
CPGeorgia (CP of Georgia) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:21:21 -0000
Senate HC bill will mean Americas will spend $234 billion more over the next ten years-call Ga. senators today http://ow.ly/MGPa #hcr
See you at HAR's 2010 Realtor Celebration today at the Hilton Americas. Congrats to incoming HAR Chair Margie Dorrance and new board members
davidmendel (David Mendel) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:18:51 -0000
See you at HAR's 2010 Realtor Celebration today at the Hilton Americas. Congrats to incoming HAR Chair Margie Dorrance and new board members
@MexicanaAir The Americas, North and South, now connected through Cancun! Enjoy flights from NY, LA, Chicago, Miami, DC and more!
travelresidence (travelresidences) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:12:56 -0000
@MexicanaAir The Americas, North and South, now connected through Cancun! Enjoy flights from NY, LA, Chicago, Miami, DC and more!
RT @alinghifriends: CNN Mainsail featuring the Defender of the 33rd Americas Cup. Broadcast times available here http://tinyurl.com/yfxer3m
tictoc22 (Craig Sumpter) Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:00:01 -0000
RT @alinghifriends: CNN Mainsail featuring the Defender of the 33rd Americas Cup. Broadcast times available here http://tinyurl.com/yfxer3m

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