What is a planet?How many continents in the world?This is best seen when viewed from space.However, not everyone has the opportunity, therefore, confine ourselves to a model of the planet - globe.If you look at him closely, we see that only a third of the Earth is covered with land, and all the rest - water.Area of land is divided into several areas which are called continents or the continents.Previously it was thought that there are only five: America, Australia, Africa, Europe, Asia.
But today, scientists have a different opinion.Firstly, the construction of the Panama Canal, America was divided into two continents - North and South parts.Secondly, Antarctica.Previously it was thought that the area around the South Pole - is just huge chunks of ice, but now it is known that it is - another continent.However, it only live penguins, but that he never ceases to be land.Here we have the answer to the question of how the continents on Earth.It turns out that there are seven.
What are they?
Looking at a map or globe, we can see all the continents that exist on our planet.Let's talk about what they represent.Find out how many continents in the world, to clarify - what is it?Continents - a huge tracts of land, washed by the oceans and seas.
If scientifically, the continent (continens) - a large array of the earth's crust, most of which is above the world's oceans and is called land, and the smaller is below a designated level and called peripheral.This concept refers and islands, is located on the shelf zone of the continent.
About how many continents in the world, opinions diverge so far.Their numbers in the different interpretations of their own.For example, Europe and Asia - sometimes they are combined into one and called the Eurasian continent.As for America, it is the opposite: many consider it one continent despite the fact that it is divided channel into North and South.Proceeding from this, it turns out that everyone has his own approach.That is why scientists have never decided how many continents in the world - six or seven.
Now consider what each of them.Asia - is the largest continent in the world.It has an area of 43 million square kilometers.Follow him vast tracts of land - this is America, and Africa.Their space - respectively - 42 and 30 million square meters.km.
But the continent of Australia - the smallest on the planet.It takes only 8 million square kilometers.
Antarctica called the land is also very difficult because it is under an icy armor.However, in spite of everything, it is the highest continent on the planet, its height - 2040 meters above sea level.Although Antarctica has no permanent population, but always present more than 40 research stations of various states engaged in its study.
According to legend, in ancient times there was another continent - Atlantis.However, to prove it, scientists have been unable to.It is believed that she was between America and Europe, but sank as a result of a powerful earthquake.That's how the continents on the planet, and each one has its own climate, flora and fauna and, of course, people.
