Continents of the Earth

The continents are large massifs of the earth's crust, most of which rise above the level of the World Ocean. Their basis is the continental crust. How many continents on Earth? There are six of them: Africa, Eurasia, South America, Antarctica, Australia, North America. They are all located in different parts of the planet. The total area occupied by the continents of the Earth is 29.1% of the total area of the planet, that is, 148,647,000 km². They are also islands located nearby.

Eurasia

Eurasia has a larger volume and massif than other continents of the globe. It is washed by four oceans: from the north side - the Arctic, from the south - from the Indian, from the east - from the Pacific, and from the west - from the Atlantic. The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere approximately in the middle of 9 ° W. Etc. and 169 ° W. Etc., but part of it (mostly islands) belongs to the Southern Hemisphere, and the main massif is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. And only the extreme parts from the east and west lie in the Western Hemisphere. The length of Eurasia from the northern edge to the south is 8 thousand km, and from the western to the eastern it is 16 thousand km. Its area is ≈ 54 million km ², which is more than a third part of the total land area. The area of the islands of the continent is about 2.75 million km2. The continent is located in two parts of the world: Asia and Europe, the boundary between which is conditional.

From the north the continent goes far beyond the Arctic Circle. In the west its extreme point is Cape Rock, from the east Cape Dezhnev.

South America

Most of South America is located in the Southern and Western hemispheres, but a small part of it is located in the Northern Hemisphere. On the western side of the continent, the waters of the Pacific Ocean are washed, and the Atlantic from the east. In the north, the border with North America runs across the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus of Panama. The composition of the mainland is also credited with various islands.

The continent is more humid than the rest of the continents of the Earth. The total area is 17,850,568 km², the total area of the Paraná, Orinoco and Amazon river basins is 9,583,000 km ². Also in South America is the highest in the world waterfall Angel, Iguazu Falls - the most powerful, highest navigable lake Titicaca and many other lakes and waterfalls.

North America

North America is located in the northern part of the Western Hemisphere of our planet, it is washed by four oceans and several seas. In the south it is separated from South America by the Panamanian isthmus, and on the western side it is divided with the Eurasia Bering Strait. To North America is also listed a number of islands: the Aleutian, Vancouver, Greenland, etc. Without islands, the continent's area is equal to 20.4 million km2, and with the islands it is about 24.2 million km².

Africa

Africa is the second largest continent on the planet. Its northern shores are washed by the Mediterranean Sea, the northeast by the Red, the eastern and southern shores by the Indian Ocean, and the western by the Atlantic Ocean. This is the only continent, the length of which begins from the subtropical northern belt and to the subtropical south. It is crossed not by one climatic zone, but also by the equator. In addition to the coastline on the continent, there is nowhere any natural climate regulation due to the absence of glaciers, the aquifer of mountains and insufficient irrigation by precipitation. Africa is drier than other continents of the Earth.

Antarctica

The continent is in the far south of the globe. Its central point is located approximately at the geographical South Pole. The mainland is washed by the Southern Ocean from all sides. It has almost no population, due to severe climatic conditions. Antarctica is much colder than other continents of the Earth. Its territory, with an area of 14 million km², is completely covered with ice and snow.

Australia

Australia is located in the Southern and Eastern hemispheres. Its northern and eastern shores are washed by the waters of the Pacific seas, and the southern and western by the Indian Ocean. The area of the mainland is 7.6 million km2. Near it are such islands as Tasmania and New Guinea.