There are seven continents on earth. These are Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Below is a discussion of the location and familiarity of the continents:
01 Asia
Asia is the world’s largest continent by area. The area of this continent is 4 crore 50 lakh 36 thousand 492 square kilometers. About one-third of the Earth’s land area belongs to the Asian continent.
This continent extends from 10° south latitude to 80° north latitude and from 25° east longitude to 170° west longitude (10° longitude beyond 180° east longitude).
90° East longitude crosses almost the middle of the Asian continent. The highest point on this continent is Mount Everest (8,850 meters).
The continent is bordered by the North Ocean to the north, the Indian Ocean to the south, the Pacific Ocean to the east, the Red Sea and the African continent to the southwest, and the Mediterranean Sea and the European continent to the west.
The Ural Mountains lie between the continents of Asia and Europe. The archipelago consists of Japan, the Philippines, and Indonesia located on the continent. These are also called fragmented states. Japan, included in this continent, is called the land of the rising sun.
There are 50 countries of varying sizes in the Asian continent. Among these, China is the largest in the area (95,61,000 sq km) and Maldives is the smallest (298 sq km). The longest river in Asia is the Yangtze River (5,980 km).
The continent has a total population of 4,437 million (Population Reference Bureau-PRB, 2016).
02 Africa
Africa is the second-largest continent by area. Its area is 3 crore 3 lakh 43 thousand 578 square kilometers. It extends from 37°N to about 35°S and from 17°W to 51°E.
Africa crosses the Equator almost through the middle of the continent. The continent is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west.
The highest point of the continent is Kilimanjaro (5,963 meters). The largest country in Africa by area is Sudan (25,05,813 sq km) and the smallest is Michelis (308 sq km).
The longest river on this continent is Niland (6,669 km). The total population living in this continent is 1,203 million (PRB, 2016).
03 North America
North America is the third largest mainland in the world. It looks triangular. With an area of 2 crores 50 lakh 80 thousand 331 square kilometers, the continent extends from 83°N to 8°N in the south and from 52°W in the east to about 170°W in the west.
The continent is bordered by the North Ocean to the north, South America to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.
Columbus discovered North America in 1492. The highest point of this continent is McKinley (6,194 meters).
The Panama Canal separates North America from South America. There are many small and big islands on this continent. Greenland, Newfoundland is one of them.
The continent’s vast plains from Central America to the Mississippi basin are known as the ‘bread basket of the world’ for producing large quantities of wheat. The Mississippi-Missouri is the continent’s longest river (5,970 km).
North America consists of 23 countries. The largest country by area in Canada (99,36,140 sq km) and the smallest is Barbados (430 sq km). The total population of this continent is 360 million (PRB, 2016).
04 South America
South America is the fourth largest continent by area. This continent looks triangular. Its area is 1 crore 78 lakh 15 thousand 420 square kilometers.
It extends from 13°N latitude in the north to 56°S longitude in the south and 34°W longitude in the east to 82°W longitude in the west.
The continent is bordered by the North Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean to the north, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The highest point of this continent is Aconcagua (6,959 meters).
The continent of South America consists of 14 countries. Among them, the largest in the area is Brazil (85,15,770 sq km) and the smallest is Suriname (5,128 sq km).
There are many islands on this continent. One of them is Falkland. Amazon is the longest river in South America and the widest river in the world (6,275 km). Ecuador, which belongs to this continent, is called the land of eternal spring.
The equator crosses over the country. The total population living in the continent is 419 million (PRB, 2016).
05 Antarctica
Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent in the world. Its total area is 1 crore 33 lakh 40 thousand square kilometers. It extends from 90° south latitude to 60° south latitude.
The continent is located at the southern tip of the Earth and is roughly circular around the South Pole. This continent is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. The continent is uninhabitable as it is covered in ice all year round. No country on this continent is the coldest.
Notable animals here are albatross, penguins, seals, etc. In addition, moss and algae plants grow on this continent.
06 Europe
Europe is the sixth largest mainland in the world. Its area is 99 lakh 28 thousand 599 square kilometers. It extends from 35 ° N to 71 ° N and from 25 ° W to 66 °E.
Europe is bounded by the Northern Ocean to the north, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea to the south, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River and the Ural Mountains to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. The loftiest point of this mainland is Mount Elburz(,633 measures).
Mainland of Europe consists of 45 countries. Among them, the largest in the area is Russia( sq km) and the lowest is the Vatican(0.44 sq km). Although Russia is located in both Asia and the European mainland, it belongs to the European mainland.
The longest swash of this mainland is Volga(,687 km). The UK is the most stylish artificial country in Europe. The population living on this mainland is 740 million( PRB, 2016). The mainlands of Asia and Europe together are called Eurasia.
07 Australia
Australia is the lowest mainland in the world. It’s spread over an area of about 85 lakh 4 thousand 241 square kilometers. The mainland extends from about 114 ° E longitude in the west to 120 ° W longitude in the east and from 28 ° N to 47 ° S. The loftiest point of this mainland is Pusak Jaya(,884 measures).
According to the indigenous position, mainland of Australia can be divided into 4 regions. videlicet Australasia, Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Oceania consists of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. Mainland of Australia consists of 22 countries. Among them, the largest in the area is Australia( square kilometers) and the lowest is Nauru(21.3 square kilometers). T
he longest swash in Australia is the Murray Darling(,490 km). The total population of this mainland is 40 million( PRB, 2016). scholars, this assignment discusses the mainlands of the world.
Final Word
There are seven mainlands in the world, Asia is the largest mainland.