How many continents and parts of the light on planet Earth: their names, map. How many continents, continents and oceans on Earth and what do they call?

Our native planet Earth consists of continents washed by oceans. Scientists believe that our planet was formed 4.5 billion years ago, and life, 600 million years after the formation of the planet. Since then, it is constantly changing.

Content

The entire surface of our planet consists of water and land. Water takes more 2/3 the surfaces of the earth, and on the hard part there is only 29%. The land consists of continents and islands. The water part of the surface is divided into oceans, seas, lakes and rivers.

How many continents are on Earth and what are they called?

The continent is part of the solid surface of our planet, which is washed from all sides with water. Sometimes these parts of the Earth are called continents. The continents are bold quite evenly. There are six of them. They are called Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica.

Important: not so long ago, scientists doubted that there are only six continents. Recent studies show that their number today can be replenished with another continent.

EURASIA. The largest mainland on Earth is Eurasia. Its area occupies 36% the entire solid surface is about 55 million square kilometers. Ural mountains The continent is divided into two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The largest part of Eurasia is Russia.

Initially, the mainland was called Asia. This term was introduced by a German encyclopedist scientist Alexander Humboldt At the end of the XVIII century. Term "Eurasia" appeared in the scientific literature in 1880 with the filing of the Austrian geologist Eduard Zyuss.

The mainland was formed after the split of the protocontinent Lauria In two parts: North America and Eurasia.

Eurasia is several facts:

Tibet - the highest point in the world
Dead Sea cavity - the lowest point in the world
Oymyakon - the coldest point in the world
Bosphorus - the narrowest strait in the world
Eurasia - the birthplace of large civilizations
In Eurasia, all climatic zones are located
The population of Eurasia - 4.5 million human ( 75% the population of our planet)

AFRICA. The second largest mainland on Earth is Africa. The area of \u200b\u200bthis continent - 30 million square kilometers ( 6% sushi). Most scientists agree that Africa is the cradle of our civilization.

Term "Afri" The inhabitants of Ancient Carthage introduced. They called them people who lived near their city. Most likely the term came from the Phoenician word "Afar" — dust. The Romans, who broke the Carthage, called Africa their new province. After that, the nearby lands began to be called Africa, and later the entire continent.

Interesting: some scientists believe that the name Africa could appear from the Latin word "Aprica" (solar). Historian Leo African believed that the term could form from the Greek word «φρίκη» (cold). Letter «α-» added at the beginning of this term translates as "without" — « without cold". Russian writer-fantast and scientist-paleontologist Ivan Efremov believed that the word "Africa" came from the ancient language Ta-kem (Dr.-Segipt. "Afros" — foamy country).

Africa occupied the future mainland in supercontinent Gondwana central place. When the plates of this continent dispersed, Africa acquired modern outlines.

The most unique place of Africa is indisputably desert Sahara. In the area, she occupies 9 million square kilometers (more US area) and covers ten countries. At the same time, every year the territory of the desert is growing. Most of the desert does not occupy sand, but stones and pebbles.

Sugar the hottest desert in the world (its surface may warm up to 80 degrees), but under it is a huge underground lake ( 375 square kilometers). Thanks to which oases can be found in sugar.

Africa is a few facts:

There are places in Africa where a person’s leg has not yet stepped
On this continent there are tribes with the highest and lowest inhabitants of the Earth
Healthcare in African countries is at the lowest level. Because of this, the average life expectancy on this continent 48-50 years
In Africa they talk to 2000 languages. The most popular of them is the Arabic
On this continent, large reserves of gold and diamonds. Half of all gold is mined in Africa
Before 80% African GDP falls on agriculture. The most popular cultures grown are cocoa, coffee, dates, peanuts and rubber trees

NORTH AMERICA. In the northern part of the Western hemisphere is North America. The area of \u200b\u200bthis continent occupies 20 million kilometers2. Moreover, almost the entire territory of the mainland is divided between Canada and the USA. Although the mainland consists of territories 24 countries. The continent was opened in 1502 year.

It is believed that the Italian traveler opened America America Vespucci. In honor of him, the mainland was named. German cartographers proposed to do this Martin Waldzemuller and Matias Ringman. The first map of the world in which this mainland was designated as America appeared in 1507 year.

Interesting: there is evidence that Vespucci was not the discoverer of this continent. A long before him, this was done by the Scandinavian Vikings, led by their legendary leader Eric is red. AT 986 For a year they reached the shores of America. But, it is believed that the Vikings knew where to swim in advance. So, they learned about the new lands from someone else.

Like all other continents, North America was formed after the split of the slabs of supercontinents. Initially, parts of the plates forming modern North America were part of the supercontinent Pengea. Then I broke away from him Lauria And already from this protocontinent North America and Eurasia formed.

North America several facts:

This mainland includes the largest island on our planet - Greenland
Hawaiian mountain Mauna-kaand it is considered the highest in the world. Its height is higher than Jomolungma by 2000 meters
The largest administrative building in the world is considered Pentagon
The American state of Iowo works the largest Popcorne factory in the world
The average resident of the continent conducts 90% their free time in the room

SOUTH AMERICA. The continent, which is mainly located in the western and southern hemispheres of our planet. The mainland occupies about 18 million square kilometers. It lives from above 400 million human.

In the Cretaceous period there was a split of the supercontinet Pangea. I broke away from him Gondwana. This protomateric then broke up at Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America.

Part of South America discovered Columbus. It was he who was the first of the Europeans to suggest the presence of a large mainland.

South America several facts:

The largest country in South America is Brazil
Through this continent, the largest river in the world flows - Amazon
In South America there is the largest waterfall in the world - Angel
The capital of Bolivia is a city La-Pass It is considered the highest capital capital of the world
AT Chile there is a desert of the attack in which there is never precipitation
AT Paraguay Duel is still allowed
The largest beetles in the world live in South America-ribbons, the largest butterflies-agrippins, the smallest monkeys-bundles and the most poisonous frogs-a red-headed poisonous frog

AUSTRALIA. The continent in the eastern and southern hemispheres of our planet. The entire territory is occupied by one country. Which has the same name - Australia.

The mainland was opened by Dutch sailors in the 17th century. V. Yanszon In 1606 he found the presence of a new land in The Coral Sea. It was a peninsula, which was subsequently called Cape York. Sailors determined that this land plot is only its small part. And they called her Unknown southern land (Terra australis incognita). When legendary James Cook fully examined these lands, their name was reduced to "Australia".

The area of \u200b\u200bthis continent is 8 million kilometers. Or 5% From the total area of \u200b\u200bsushi. A third of the mainland is a desert.

Australia is several facts:

The continent has a very low population density. Because of this, it is indicated not by the number of people per square kilometer, as in other continents, but among square kilometers per person
The longest road in the world has been built in Australia. Its length is 145 km and it passes through the desert Nallarbor
Dingo's fence is the longest fence in the world. Its length (5400 km) is twice the great Chinese wall

ANTARCTICA. Name "Antarctica" formed from the word «ἀνταρκτική» (Greek. opposite the Arctic). The term appeared in the book for the first time Aristotle "Meteorology". The mainland was opened by Russian sailors F.F. Bellingshausen and M.P. Lazarev in 1820 year. In 1890, the continent was given the official name "Antarctica". This was done by the Scottish cartographer John Bartholomew.

Antarctica several facts:

The mainland, according to the 1959 Antarctic Convention, does not belong to any of the countries. Only scientific activity is allowed here
Scientists have found traces of tropical life in the Continent glaciers. The remnants of palm trees, araukarii, macadamy, baobab and other thermophilic plants
Over 35 thousand tourists visit Antarctica annually. They observe colonies of seals, whales and penguins, engage in underwater swimming and visiting scientific centers
Two large marathons are held on this mainland: Antarctic ice and Mc-Merdo

Seventh mainland. Periodically, the media inform that the scientists have “discovered” the new, seventh in a row the mainland. Most often, this education includes New Zealand, Caledonia and nearby islands. They are located on the same stove, which was once part of a supercontinent Gondwana. The area of \u200b\u200bthe plate is 4.9 million square kilometers, and it is completely suitable for the requirements of the continent.

How many parts of the light are on Earth and what are they called?

Parts of the world are the prevailing historical and cultural formations, which, along with the continents, include islands and other parts of sushi. At the same time, two continents - America can enter one part of the world. But, also in one mainland can be included in two parts of the world. On the mainland Eurasia are such parts of the world as Europe and Asia.

Today it is customary to highlight six parts of the world:

Europe
Asia
America
Africa
Antarctica
Australia and Oceania

But, in addition to such conditional division, our planet is divided into "New World" and "Old light". “Old Light” includes Europe, Asia and Africa. That is, those parts of the world that were known to the ancient Greeks. During the great geographical discoveries, America, Australia and other parts of land appeared on the map of the world. Which were opened after 1500. They are attributed to the "New Light".

How many continents are on Earth and what are they called?

Very often, people are confused at the mention of the word mainland and continent. Is there a difference between these concepts? Today, these terms are considered synonyms. And continents and continents are huge arrays of land, which are washed with water from all sides. Therefore, it is customary to allocate six continents. The very ones we talked about in the first section of this article. Namely:

Africa
Eurasia
North America
South America
Antarctica
Australia

Interesting: the above model is used by Russian geographers. In India, China, Western Europe and some English -speaking countries, seven continents. They attribute Europe and Asia to different continents. In the Spanish -speaking countries, Greece and Eastern Europe, North and South America is united into a single continent. In addition, some scientists use the model of the Earth consisting of four continents: Afroseland, America, Antarctica and Australia.

How many oceans are on planet Earth and what are they called?

Oceans are the largest water bodies on our planet. They wash the continents and make up about 2/3 the surface of the planet ( 360 Million square kilometers). As in the case of continents, there are several options for dividing the oceans.

The ancient Romans called the word "Oceanus" All the "large" water washing the territory they knew. At the same time, they highlighted:
Oceanus germanicus or Oceanus Septentrionalis - North Sea
Oceanus britannicus - strait of the English Channel

Today, scientists are dividing the world ocean into four parts:

QUIET. The largest and most deep ocean. We occupy about 50% the entire surface of our planet. Name "Quiet" Gave the ocean Fernan Magellan. He crossed it in four months and at the same time did not encounter any obstacles.

The Pacific Ocean is several facts:

The deepest point of the surface of the earth - The abyss of the Challenger
In the Pacific Ocean there is the largest form of relief - Great Barrier Reef
Tour Heyerdal crossed the Pacific Ocean on a primitive raft, proving the possibility of traveling by ancient people over long distances
More than half of all aquatic biomass is located in the Pacific Ocean
In the northern part of the ocean there is a "large garbage spot." This accumulation of waste products of human life is in area from 700 thousand to 115 Mill. km²

ATLANTIC. The second most area is the Atlantic Ocean. From 92 million square kilometers of its surface more 16% It falls on the seas, bays and straits. For the first time this ocean called the Atlantic Herodotus. The Greeks believed that in Mediterranean Sea, which belongs to this ocean, stood Atlant and held the sky on his shoulders.

Atlantic ocean several facts:

In the center atoll of Belizsky There is a huge submarine hole. This picturesque place seems bottomless. But, in fact, her depth 120 meters
The ocean passes through all the climatic zones of our planet
In the Atlantic Ocean there is a zone with the most complex navigation. It is called "Bermuda triangle". Thanks to adventure literature and cinema, it was endowed with mythical force
Through this ocean passes Gulf Stream - The warm current that warms up European countries

INDIAN. It occupies a fifth of the oceans. The western part of the Indian Ocean, the ancient Greeks called Erytrey Sea. But, later, this part of the oceans began to be called the Indian Sea. The final name to the Indian Ocean "Oceanus indicus" gave Pliny Senior In the 1st century, a new era.

Indian ocean interesting facts:

This ocean is considered the first of the officially open
It is believed that in this ocean the lowest catch of fish
The island states of the Maldives, Seychels and Sri Lanka washed by the waters of this ocean, many call many a perfect place to relax
It is considered the warmest ocean on our planet

ARCTIC. The smallest and less deep ocean on Earth. Its area does not reach and 14 Million square kilometers. Was allocated to a separate ocean in 1650 year by geographer Varenius And named Hyperborean (Dr.-Greek. Βορέας - The mythical god of the north wind). In most countries it is named Arctic.

Northern Arctic Ocean interesting facts:

All the resources of the ocean are divided between Russia, the USA, Canada, Denmark and Norway
More than 25% of oil reserves falls on the water area of \u200b\u200bthis ocean
The main business card of this ocean is the icebergs

Interesting: in some literature you can find the name of another - fifth ocean. He is called South And place around Antarctica. But, neither specialists nor sailors consider part of the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean the real ocean. The last attempt to introduce the South Ocean to the geographical maps of the world in the world 2000 year. The International Hydrographic Organization did not ratify the resolution on the allocation of this part of the oceans into an independent subject.