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How long is North America’s coastline?

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Map of North America showing international boundaries, country names, and capital cities. The map includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, Greenland, Central American countries, and Caribbean nations, with a locator inset at the bottom left for global context. Major bodies of water such as the Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Arctic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea are labeled.
North America

North America’s coastline measures approximately 37,000 miles (60,000 km) in length. This makes it the second longest coastline among the world's continents, surpassed only by Asia.1

The continent's coastline is particularly notable for its high number of indentations, especially throughout its northern regions. These coastal features, such as the numerous bays and fjords found today, were significantly shaped by rising sea levels following the melting of the last great ice sheets approximately 12,000 years ago.123