Quck answer
There are seven continents on Earth: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and South America. The continents are large land masses that are separated by oceans. Each continent has its own unique geography, climate, and wildlife. The number of continents can vary depending on different definitions and perspectives. Some people consider Europe and Asia as separate continents, while others consider them as one continent called Eurasia. Similarly, some people consider North and South America as one continent called America. Overall, the concept of continents is a human-made division to understand and categorize the different parts of the Earth’s surface.
When it comes to navigating the world, we modern humans have many tools at our disposal. From globes and atlases to satellite imagery and GPS satellites, we have the means to precisely determine our location and find our way to our desired destination.
But have you ever wondered what it was like for early explorers? Imagine growing up in one part of the world and then embarking on a voyage to discover new places you never knew existed. The sight of an ocean for the first time must have been awe-inspiring.
As early explorations across the world’s oceans took place, the true nature of our planet began to emerge. Cartographers realized that most of the Earth’s surface was covered by oceans, with landmasses concentrated in a few large and continuous areas.
These large landmasses eventually came to be known as continents, a term derived from the Latin words meaning “land held together” or “connected land.” A continent is typically defined as a very large and continuous landmass, often separated from other continents by vast bodies of water.
However, there are no strict geological or geographical criteria that determine what constitutes a continent. Instead, continents have been defined in various ways throughout history, based on different conventions such as geographical, cultural, historical, political, anthropological, and even philosophical criteria.
The lack of a clear definition for a continent has led to different ways of dividing and numbering them. The most commonly accepted classification includes seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
If you have always believed that there are seven continents, you might be confused by the possibility of having fewer. Let’s explore some of the factors that have given rise to alternative ways of numbering the continents.
For instance, if you have ever looked at a map of Europe and Asia, you might have noticed that there is no large body of water separating them. In fact, Europe and Asia appear to be one continuous landmass, and they are! They even sit on the same tectonic plate. So why are they considered separate continents?
There is no definitive answer, but historians trace the division of Europe and Asia back to cultural biases held by Europeans against Mongol peoples who lived east of the Ural Mountains. Academics seeking to distinguish themselves from others created an imaginary continental barrier between Europe and Asia, a division that is largely disregarded today.
If we were to consider Europe and Asia as one continent (often referred to as Eurasia), then there would be six continents. Some people also consider North America and South America as a single continent (referred to simply as America), as they are separated only by the man-made Panama Canal. This would result in a model with five continents.
Going even further, some people propose a model with only four continents. In this model, Europe, Asia, and Africa are merged into one continent called Afro-Eurasia or Eurafrasia, as Africa is separated from Eurasia only by the man-made Suez Canal.
Try It Out
Did this Wonder of the Day help you get a better understanding of the world’s continents? Don’t forget to explore the following activities with a friend or family member:
Test your knowledge of the continents and oceans by playing the interactive game “World Continents and Oceans”. Follow the instructions to enter the first three letters of the highlighted continent or ocean. How many can you correctly identify?
If you have a world atlas at home or can borrow one from the library, challenge a friend or family member to a quiz game. Take turns selecting a country and ask the other person to identify which continent it belongs to. Who will be crowned the geography master?
For more information on continents, visit Interactive Continents for Kids online. Select a continent and explore its features. Compare different continents based on their land area, population, and other factors. Take note of at least five interesting facts you learn.
For additional resources, check out the following websites:
– http://www.worldatlas.com/aatlas/infopage/contnent.htm
– http://www.worldometers.info/geography/continents/
– https://www.britannica.com/science/continent
– http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2013/07/09/geography-in-the-news-eurasias-boundaries/
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