The United States has two big neighbors that share its borders: Canada and Mexico.
Key idea
The United States is on the continent of North America. Canada is to the north and Mexico is to the south.
Why it works
On a map, north is at the top. Canada is above the United States on the map, so it is north. Mexico is below, so it is south. All three countries are part of the same continent.
Worked example: Two neighbors
You drive from Texas straight south and cross the border. Which country are you in?
- Texas is at the bottom of the United States.
- South of Texas is Mexico.
Answer: Mexico.
- Canada is the second-biggest country in the world by area. Its capital is Ottawa.
- Mexico's capital is Mexico City.
- The Pacific Ocean is to the west; the Atlantic Ocean is to the east.
Common mistake
Children sometimes think Mexico is in South America because it is "down south." Mexico is in North America; South America starts farther south, past the narrow land of Central America.
For the grown-up. If you have family or friends in Canada or Mexico, find their cities on the map. Notice which way you would travel to visit them.