World Map and Overview How the Continents Formed -The surface of the planet is about 29% land. There are seven continents: Africa, -The continents haven’t Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. always looked as they do -A continent is a massive area of land that now – they are always is separated from other areas of land by moving (although very water or natural features. slowly!) -Five of the continents are connected to at -This is called ‘continental least one other continent by land, whilst drift.’ It happens because Antarctica and Australia are cut off from the tectonic plates under others by the oceans. the earth’s surface move. -Each continent has a wide range of land -Around 250 million years types, climates and animal life. ago, all of the land on earth was in one giant super-continent called Pangaea. The Five Oceans Asia Africa -Asia is the largest continent in the world. -Africa is the 2nd largest continent. Top Ten Facts! -It is mainly located in the Eastern and Northern -The continent straddles the Equator, with more of hemispheres. its landmass in the northern hemisphere. 1. The equator passes through the 6. Russia, the world’s largest country, is continents of South America, Africa in both Europe and Asia. -It contains countries like Russia, China and India. -It contains countries like Egypt, Nigeria and Chad. and Asia. North America Europe 7. The smallest country, the Vatican -North America is the 3rd largest continent. -Europe is the 2nd smallest continent. 2. Until 1840, Antarctica was known as City, is in Europe. ‘Terra Australis Incognita’ (‘Unknown -It is mainly located in the western hemisphere. -It is located in the northern hemisphere. Southern Land’). 8. The highest mountain system, the Himalyas, is in Asia. -It contains countries such as the United States, -It contains countries such as the United Kingdom, 3. Asia has 1/3 of the land on earth. Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean countries. France, Germany, Italy and Spain. South America Australia Antarctica 9. North America has every type of 4. Australia is sometimes known as an climate – Tropical, Dry, Continental, -South America is the -Australia is the -Antarctica is the ‘island continent.’ Moderate and Polar. 4th largest continent. smallest continent in the world. world’s southernmost continent. 5. Europe is the only continent without 10. The largest rainforest, the Amazon, is -It is located in the western -It is sometimes called Oceania -It is the location of the South any deserts. in South America. hemisphere. It contains countries or Australasia. It contains Pole. There are no countries. It is like Brazil, Argentina and Chile. Australia and New Zealand. the coldest continent. Continents by Size Largest Populations 8.6 million km² 10.2 million km² 14.2 million km² 17.8 million km² 24.7 million km² 30.3 million km² 44.5millionkm² Antarctica: 2,000 Australia: 40 million S.America: 420 million N.America: 580 million Europe - 743 million Africa: 1.2 billion Asia: 4.5 billion .