Continent(from Latin continents, Genitive continentis) - large massif earth's crust, a significant part of which is located above sea level (land), and the rest of the peripheral part is below ocean level. The continent also includes islands located on the underwater periphery. In addition to the concept of continent, the term continent is also used.
Terminology
Mainland- a vast expanse of land washed by seas and oceans (or land, land - as opposed to water or islands). In Russian, the words continent and continent have the same meaning.
Continents from a tectonic point of view are areas of the lithosphere that have a continental structure of the earth's crust.
There are several continental models around the world (see below). In the territory post-Soviet space The model of six continents with a divided America was adopted as the main model.
There is also a similar concept of a part of the world. The division into continents is made on the basis of separation body of water, and parts of the world are rather a historical and cultural concept. Thus, the continent of Eurasia consists of two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. And part of the world, America, is located on two continents - South America and North America. In other cases, parts of the world coincide with the above continents.
The border between Europe and Asia runs along the Ural Mountains, then the Ural River to the Caspian Sea, the Kuma and Manych rivers to the mouth of the Don River and further along the shores of the Black and Mediterranean seas. The Europe-Asia border described above is not indisputable. This is just one of several accepted options around the world.
In geology, the continent also often includes the underwater edge of the mainland, including the islands located on it.
In English and some other languages, the word continent refers to both continents and parts of the world.
Continental models
Around the world, different countries estimate the number of continents differently. Number of continents in different traditions
- 4 continents: Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica, Australia
- 5 continents: Africa, Eurasia, America, Antarctica, Australia
- 6 continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, America, Antarctica, Australia
- 6 continents: Africa, Eurasia, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia
- 7 continents: Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Antarctica, Australia
The seven continents model is popular in China, India, and partly in Western Europe and in English-speaking countries.
The model of six continents with a united America (we usually call it “Parts of the World”) is popular in Spanish-speaking countries and parts of Eastern Europe including Greece with its penta-continental model (five inhabited continents).
Comparison of area and population
|
Continent |
Length (km from east to west, and from south to north, along the periphery) |
Sushi share |
Population |
Population share |
|
Afro-Eurasia |
||||
| Oceania |
- the largest and only continent on Earth, washed by four oceans: in the south - Indian, in the north - Arctic, in the west - Atlantic, in the east - Pacific. The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere between approximately 9° W. Longitude and 169°W etc., while some of the islands of Eurasia are located in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of continental Eurasia lies in Eastern Hemisphere, although the extreme western and eastern ends of the continent are in the Western Hemisphere. Eurasia stretches from west to east for 10.5 thousand km, from north to south - for 5.3 thousand km, with an area of 53.6 million km2. This is more than a third of the entire land area of the planet. The area of the Eurasian islands is approaching 2.75 million km2.
Contains two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The border line between Europe and Asia is most often drawn along the eastern slopes Ural mountains, Ural River, Emba River, northwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, Kuma River, Kuma-Manych depression, Manych River, eastern coast of the Black Sea, southern coast of the Black Sea, Bosphorus Strait, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles Strait, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Gibraltar strait. This division has developed historically. IN natural attitude There is no sharp border between Europe and Asia. The continent is united by the continuity of land formed on currently tectonic consolidation and unity of numerous climatic processes.
(English North America, French Amérique du Nord, Spanish América del Norte, Norteamérica, Asian Ixachitlān Mictlāmpa) - one of the continents of planet Earth, located in the north Western Hemisphere Earth. North America is washed from the west by the Pacific Ocean with the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska and California, from the east by the Atlantic Ocean with the Labrador, Caribbean, Gulf of St. Lawrence and Mexican seas, from the north by the North Arctic Ocean with the seas of Beaufort, Baffin, Greenland and Hudson Bay. From the west, the continent is separated from Eurasia by the Bering Strait. In the south, the border between North and South America passes through the Isthmus of Panama.
North America also includes numerous islands: Greenland, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the Aleutian Islands, Vancouver Island, the Alexandra Archipelago and others. The area of North America including the islands is 24.25 million km2, without the islands it is 20.36 million km2.
(Spanish: América del Sur, Sudamérica, Suramérica, port: América do Sul, English: South America, Dutch: Zuid-Amerika, French: Amérique du Sud, Guar: Ñembyamérika, Quechua: Urin Awya Yala, Urin Amerika) - southern continent in America, located mainly in the Western and Southern hemispheres of planet Earth, however, part of the continent is also located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is washed in the west by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north it is limited by North America, the border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and the Caribbean Sea.
South America also includes various islands, most of which belong to the countries of the continent. The Caribbean territories belong to North America. South American countries that border Caribbean Sea- including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana - are known as Caribbean South America.
The most important river systems in South America are the Amazon, Orinoco and Parana, the total basin of which is 7,000,000 km2 (the area of South America is 17,800,000 km2). Most of South America's lakes are in the Andes, the largest of which and the world's highest navigable lake is Titicaca, on the border of Bolivia and Peru. The largest lake in area is Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela; it is also one of the oldest on the planet.
The tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, is located in South America. The most powerful waterfall, Iguazu, is also located on the mainland.
- the second largest continent on our planet Earth after Eurasia, washed by Mediterranean Sea from the north, the Red Ocean from the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean from the west and the Indian Ocean from the east and south.
Africa is also the name given to the part of the world consisting of the continent of Africa and its adjacent islands, the largest of which is the island of Madagascar.
The African continent crosses the equator and several climatic zones; its peculiarity is that it the only continent, stretching from the northern subtropical climate zone to the southern subtropical.
Due to the lack of constant precipitation and irrigation on the bottom of the continent - as well as glaciers or the aquifer of mountain systems - there is practically no natural regulation of climate anywhere except the coasts.
(from Latin australis - “southern”) is a continent located in the Eastern and Southern hemispheres of our planet Earth.
The entire territory of the mainland is the main part of the state of the Commonwealth of Australia. The continent is part of the world Australia and Oceania.
The northern and eastern coasts of Australia are washed by the Pacific Ocean: the Arafura, Coral, Tasman, Timor Seas; western and southern - Indian Ocean.
There are large islands near Australia New Guinea and Tasmania.
Along the northeastern coast of Australia, the well-known, largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef, stretches for more than 2000 km.
(Greek ἀνταρκτικός - the opposite of Arctida) - a continent located in the very south of the Earth, the center of Antarctica approximately coincides with the southern geographic pole. Antarctica is washed by the waters of the Southern Ocean. Antarctica is also called the part of the world consisting of the mainland of Antarctica and adjacent islands.
Antarctica is the most high continent, his average height- 2040 meters. The continent also contains about 85% of the planet's glaciers. Resident population not on Antarctica, but more than forty are present scientific stations belonging to different states and intended for research and detailed study of the characteristics of the continent.
Antarctica is almost completely covered by ice sheets, the average thickness of which exceeds 2,500 meters. There is also a large number of subglacial lakes (more than 140), the largest of which is Lake Vostok, discovered by Russian scientists in the 1990s.
Hypothetical continents
Kenorland
Kenorland is a hypothetical supercontinent that, according to geophysicists, existed in the Neoarchean (approximately 2.75 billion years ago). The name comes from the Kenoran folding phase. Paleomagnetic studies indicate that Kenorland was located at low latitudes.
Nuna
Nuna (Columbia, Hudsonland) is a hypothetical supercontinent that existed between 1.8 and 1.5 Ga (maximum assembly ~1.8 Ga). Its existence was proposed by J. Rogers and M. Santosh in 2002. Nuna's existence dates back to the Paleoproterozoic era, making it presumably the oldest supercontinent. It consisted of plateau predecessors of ancient platforms that were part of the earlier continents of Laurentia, Fennosarmatia, the Ukrainian Shield, Amazonia, Australia and possibly Siberia, the Sino-Korean platform and the Kalahari platform. The existence of the continent of Colombia is based on geological and paleomagnetic data.
Rodinia
Rodinia (from Russian Rodina or from Russian to give birth) is a hypothetical supercontinent that supposedly existed in the Proterozoic - Precambrian eon. Originated about 1.1 billion years ago and disintegrated about 750 million years ago. At that time, the Earth consisted of one giant piece of land and one giant ocean, called Mirovia, also taken from the Russian language. Rodinia is often considered the oldest known supercontinent, but its position and outline are still a matter of debate. After the collapse of Rodinia, the continents managed to once again unite into the supercontinent Pangea and break up again.
Lavrussia
Laurussia (Euramerica) is a Paleozoic supercontinent formed as a result of the collision of the North American ( ancient continent Lawrence) and East European (ancient continent Baltica) platforms during the Caledonian orogeny. The names Caledonia, “Old Red Continent”, and “Old Red Sandstone Continent” are also known. During the Permian period it connected with Pangea and became its integral part. After the collapse of Pangea, it became part of Laurasia. It disintegrated in the Paleogene.
Gondwana
Gondwana in paleogeography is an ancient supercontinent that arose approximately 750-530 million years ago, for a long time localized around South Pole, which included almost all the land now located in southern hemisphere(Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia), as well as the tectonic blocks of Hindustan and Arabia, which have now moved to the northern hemisphere and become part of the Eurasian continent. In the early Paleozoic, Gondwana gradually shifted north and in the Carboniferous period (360 million years ago) connected with the North American-Scandinavian continent into the giant protocontinent Pangea. Then, during the Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago), Pangea split again into Gondwana and the northern continent of Laurasia, which were separated by the Tethys Ocean. 30 million years later, in the same Jurassic period, Gondwana gradually began to break up into new (current) continents. Finally, all modern continents: Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica and the Hindustan Peninsula emerged from Gondwana only at the end of the Cretaceous period, that is, 70-80 million years ago.
Pangea
Pangea (ancient Greek Πανγαῖα - “all earth”) is the name given by Alfred Wegener to the protocontinent that arose during the Paleozoic era. The giant ocean that washed Pangea from the Silurian period of the Paleozoic to the early Mesozoic inclusive was called Panthalassa (from the ancient Greek παν - “all-” and θάλασσα “sea”). Pangea formed in the Permian period, and split at the end of the Triassic (approximately 200 - 210 million years ago) into two continents: the northern continent - Laurasia and the southern continent - Gondwana. During the formation of Pangea, mountain systems arose from more ancient continents at the sites of their collision, some of which have existed to this day, for example, the Urals or the Appalachians. These early mountains are much older than relatively young mountain systems (the Alps in Europe, the Cordillera in North America, the Andes in South America or the Himalayas in Asia). Due to erosion lasting many millions of years, the Urals and Appalachians are not high mountains.
Kazakhstania
Kazakhstania is a Middle Paleozoic continent that was located between Laurussia and Siberian platform. It stretches from the Turgai trough and the Turan lowland to the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts.
Laurasia
Laurasia is a supercontinent that existed as the northern part of the fault of the protocontinent Pangea (southern Gondwana) in the late Mesozoic era. United most of those territories that make up the existing continents today Northern Hemisphere- Eurasia and North America, which in turn broke off from each other between 135 and 200 million years ago.
Pangea Ultima
It is assumed that in the future the continents will once again gather into a supercontinent called Pangea Ultima.
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A continent is a significant landmass washed by seas and oceans. In tectonics, continents are characterized as sections of the lithosphere that have a continental structure.
Continent, continent or part of the world? What is the difference?
In geography, another term is often used to designate a continent - a continent. But the concepts “mainland” and “continent” are not synonymous. IN different countries accepted various points view of the number of continents, called continental models.
There are several such models:
- In China, India, and also English speaking countries In Europe it is generally accepted that there are 7 continents - they consider Europe and Asia separately;
- In Spanish speaking European countries, and also in the countries of South America they mean division into 6 parts of the world - with a united America;
- in Greece and some countries of Eastern Europe a model with 5 continents was adopted - only those where people live, i.e. except Antarctica;
- in Russia and the neighboring Eurasian countries they traditionally designate 4 continents, united in large groups.
(The figure clearly shows different representations of continental patterns on Earth, from 7 to 4)
Continents
There are 6 continents in total on Earth. We list them in descending order by area size:
- — largest continent on our planet (54.6 million sq. km)
- (30.3 million sq. km)
- (24.4 million sq. km)
- (17.8 million sq. km)
- (14.1 million sq. km)
- (7.7 million sq. km)
All of them are separated by the waters of the seas and oceans. Four continents have a land border: Eurasia and Africa are separated by the Isthmus of Suez, North and South America by the Isthmus of Panama.
Continents
The difference is that continents do not have land border. Therefore, in this case we can talk about 4 continents ( one of the continental models of the world), also in descending order by size:
- AfroEurasia
- America
Parts of the world
The terms "mainland" and "continent" have scientific significance, but the term “part of the world” divides the land according to historical and cultural criteria. There are 6 parts of the world, only unlike the continents, Eurasia differs in Europe And Asia, but North and South America are defined together as one part of the world America:
- Europe
- Asia
- America(both North and South), or New World
- Australia and Oceania
When we talk about parts of the world, we also mean the islands adjacent to them.
Difference between a mainland and an island
The definition of a continent and an island is the same - a part of land washed by the waters of the ocean or seas. But there are significant differences.
1. Size. Even the most small continent, Australia, is significantly larger in area than the world's largest island, Greenland.
(Formation of the Earth's continents, a single continent Pangea)
2. Education. All continents are of tiled origin. According to scientists, there once existed a single continent - Pangea. Then, as a result of the split, 2 continents appeared - Gondwana and Laurasia, which later split into 6 more parts. The theory is confirmed by both geological research and the shape of the continents. Many of them can be put together like a puzzle.
Islands are formed different ways. There are those that, like the continents, are located on the ruins of ancient lithospheric plates. Others are formed from volcanic lava. Still others are a result of the activity of polyps (coral islands).
3. Habitability. All continents are inhabited, even the harshest climatic conditions Antarctica. Many islands still remain uninhabited.
Characteristics of the continents
- the largest continent, occupying 1/3 of the land. There are 2 parts of the world located here: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the line of the Ural Mountains, the Black and Sea of Azov, as well as the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean seas.
This is the only continent that is washed by all the oceans. The coastline is indented; it forms a large number of bays, peninsulas, and islands. The continent itself is located on six tectonic platforms, and therefore the relief of Eurasia is incredibly diverse.
Here are the most extensive plains, the highest mountains (the Himalayas with Mount Everest), the deepest lake (Baikal). This is the only continent where everything is represented at once climatic zones(and, accordingly, all natural zones) - from the Arctic with its permafrost to the equatorial with its sultry deserts and jungles.
The mainland is home to ¾ of the planet's population; there are 108 states, of which 94 have independent status.
- the hottest continent on Earth. Situated on the oldest platform, therefore, most of the area is occupied by plains, mountains are formed along the edges of the continent. Africa has the most long river in the world - the Nile and the most extensive desert - the Sahara. Climate types present on the mainland: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical.
Africa is usually divided into five regions: North, South, West, East and Central. There are 62 countries on the mainland.
Washed by the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. The result of the movement tectonic plates became very jagged coastline mainland, with a huge number of bays, straits, bays and islands. Most large island- in the north (Greenland).
Along west coast The Cordillera mountains stretch along the eastern side - the Appalachians. Central part occupies a vast plain.
All climatic zones are represented here, except the equatorial one, which determines the diversity natural areas. Most rivers and lakes are located in the northern part. Largest river- Mississippi.
Indigenous people- Indians and Eskimos. Currently, there are 23 states here, of which only three (Canada, USA and Mexico) are on the mainland itself, the rest are on the islands.
Washed by the Quiet and Atlantic Oceans. The world's longest river stretches along the west coast mountain system- Andes, or South American Cordillera. The rest of the continent is occupied by plateaus, plains and lowlands.
This is the rainiest continent, since most of it is located in the equator. The largest and most abundant river in the world, the Amazon, is also located here.
The indigenous population are Indians. Currently, there are 12 independent states on the mainland.
- the only continent on whose territory there is only 1 state - the Commonwealth of Australia. Most The mainland is occupied by plains, mountains are located only along the coast.
Australia is a unique continent with the largest number of endemic animals and plants. Indigenous people - Australian aborigines, or Bushmen.
- most southern mainland completely covered with ice. The average thickness of the ice cover is 1600 m, the greatest thickness is 4000 meters. If the ice in Antarctica melted, the level of the world's oceans would immediately rise by 60 meters!
Most of the continent is occupied by an icy desert; life glimmers only on the coasts. Antarctica is also the most cold continent. In winter, temperatures can drop below -80 ºC (record -89.2 ºC), in summer - down to -20 ºC.
The continents of the Earth are huge areas of land where people live and flora and fauna develop. They have the same structure from a geological point of view, but in all other respects they are fundamentally different from each other. It is thanks to these parts of the world that our planet got its name - Earth.
Classification
We can say with complete confidence that the continents of the Earth are a haven for all living things (with the exception of fish and sea animals). They are huge areas of land that are surrounded on all sides by the waters of the World Ocean. These can be bays, seas, as well as the oceans themselves. The territory of the continents contains reservoirs of another kind, which are filled fresh water. These are rivers, lakes, swamps, etc. All continents have different climates, natural features, including the fauna and flora, as well as the population, constituting the unity and individuality of each part of the world. Among the continents today there are six: Eurasia, Africa, Northern Australia and Antarctica. Eurasia is divided into Europe and Asia - these are two parts of the world.
Origin and history
The word “continent” itself comes from the Latin continere, which means “to stick together.” This strange name for land areas, separated friend hundreds of miles from each other, it was chosen for a reason. Geologists have found that in prehistoric periods (which could last billions of years, replacing each other), all the land of the Earth was one. There were no divisions into continents; water washed one large part of the world. The first continents of the Earth were formed as a result global disasters, which humanity has not seen in its lifetime. Also in the world of scientists, there are frequent disputes that the location of the continents in ancient times and in the Middle Ages was different from today. This is associated with maps that were compiled by travelers of that time. However, this fact is not properly confirmed, since it is believed that people could have made a mistake due to the fact that they did not have the opportunity to see the structure of the planet from space.
America and its features
South and North America are distinguished as two different continents. The inhabitants of this region themselves unite them into one whole. This may be due to the fact that large areas of land that are located in were discovered and developed by Europeans at the same time. Therefore, America is a multicultural, diverse and very interesting continent. In the west of our planet there is both a very cold climate and an extremely hot one. In the north of Canada there are eternal glaciers, and in the areas of Colombia and Brazil no one has ever seen snow. Almost all of America is a haven for tourists and travel lovers. There's a ton interesting places, entertainment and much more.
More details about the west of our planet
Represented by two countries: Canada and the United States of America. Both are characterized continental climate, which only in the south becomes subtropical. Most of the continent is covered with greenery: in the north there are coniferous reserves, in the south there are deciduous trees and palm trees. People constantly come to these countries both as tourists and permanent place residence. There are many beautiful cities and natural assets.
South America is more colorful in its own way cultural heritage and to the population. The vast majority of countries are Spanish-speaking, less common are Portuguese, Creole, French languages. The continent is part of the ethnic Latin America, which also includes the states of the central part of the mainland. All of America is washed from the east, the Pacific Ocean from the west and the Caribbean Sea, located near the equator.
The mystery of our planet - Antarctica
The sixth part of the world was discovered in 1820, after many hypotheses began to repeat about its existence. From then until the present day, these lands have been uninhabited. There are no cities or countries, not even rivers or plants, since the entire continent is covered with a thick layer eternal ice. Thanks to ice, Antarctica is the most... high continent Earth, whose altitude is 2000 meters above sea level. However, these measurements were made taking into account glaciers, but in fact the land that lies beneath them is below sea level. Due to the fact that these places have long been uninhabited, scientists constantly conduct their experiments here. Features of the Antarctic are being explored local climate, study the relief, and also build new hypotheses about lands that are located at an inaccessible depth.
Australia is small and remote
If you look at the continents of the Earth on the map, you will undoubtedly see Australia, which is located between Indian and Pacific Oceans, among the islands and straits. To the north of it is Eurasia, to the south is Antarctica. Australia itself, as well as the islands that are surrounded by it, are united in Commonwealth of Australia and are very developed and progressive states. Today, these territories are inhabited by both descendants of local aborigines and migrants from Northern Europe. In Australia everyone speaks English, here it is common to European man culture and customs. Local nature and the relief is sometimes breathtaking. Due to the fact that volcanoes have erupted here for a long time, there are many desert fields, canyons and mountains.
Europe and Asia - the center of the world
The largest landmass in the world is Eurasia. Most of this huge continent is occupied by Russia, with other states to the south, west and east of it. Part of the world is located between four oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic. Many different Mongoloid, Semitic and others live here. The climate and natural features are also varied. Eurasia has many resorts, museum cities, recreation and entertainment areas for every taste. Every country deserves special attention and is characterized by its history, traditions and characteristics.