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.
Animated, color-coded map showing the various continents.^ This page lists maps showing all or major parts of each continent.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Insets show the continent with physical coloration, and details of islands off the coast.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ In The Myth of Continents , Lewis and Wigen have written an entertaining and informative account of the way our maps show us the world that we want to see.
  • Amazon.com: The Myth of Continents: A Critique of Metageography (9780520207431): Martin W. Lewis, Kären E. Wigen: Books 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.amazon.com [Source type: General]

 Depending on the convention and model, some continents may be consolidated or subdivided: for example, Eurasia is often subdivided into Europe and Asia (red shades), while North and South America are sometimes recognized as one American continent (green shades).
Dymaxion map shows land masses with minimal distortion as nearly one continuous body.
A continent is one of several large landmasses on Earth. .They are generally identified by convention rather than any strict criteria, with seven regions commonly regarded as continents – they are (from largest in size to smallest): Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Human geography List of cities by population List of national capitals by population List of continents by population List of countries List of countries by population density List of countries by population in 1907 List of countries by population in 2005 List of countries by past and future population List of countries by refugee population Lists of countries in various regions by populations: Africa Americas Caribbean islands Latin America North America South America Arab states Asia East Asia and Southeast Asia Commonwealth of Nations Europe European Union member states Middle East Oceania List of regional organizations by population List of religious populations World population .

 ^ Each Master Grand Tourbillon in this series presents one of the three large continental ensembles: Asia and Australia, the Americas, and the entity composed of Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
  • Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tourbillon Continents | WatchTime.com 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.watchtime.com [Source type: General]

 [1][2]
Plate tectonics is the geological process and study of the movement, collision and division of continents, earlier known as continental drift.
.In the United Kingdom, the term the Continent refers to mainland Europe.^ The other school equates the word "continent" with a geographical region when referring to Europe, and use the term "region" to describe Asia in terms of physiography.
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 [3]

Contents

Definitions and application

Conventionally, "Continents are understood to be large, continuous, discrete masses of land, ideally separated by expanses of water."[4] .Many of the seven most commonly recognized continents identified by convention are not discrete landmasses separated by water.^ The [[United Nations]] and many countries do not recognize this claim, with most countries maintaining embassies in [[Tel Aviv]] instead.
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The United Nations and many countries do not recognize this claim, with most countries maintaining embassies in Tel Aviv instead.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • The Asia Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Interestingly, it seems that most times the identity or image that many from other parts of the world have of Africa is that technological advance is foreign to the continent.
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 .The criterion 'large' leads to arbitrary classification: Greenland, with a surface area of 2,166,086 square kilometres (836,330 sq mi) is considered the world's largest island, while Australia, at 7,617,930 square kilometres (2,941,300 sq mi) is deemed to be a continent.^ It covers 8.6% of the Earth 's total surface area (or 29.4% of its land area) and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population .

 ^ It covers 8.6% of the Earth 's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and with approximately 4 billion people, it takes up 60% of the world's current human population .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ In terms of nominal GDP, Japan has the largest economy on the continent and the second largest in the world.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • The Asia Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .Likewise, the ideal criterion that each be a continuous landmass is often disregarded by the inclusion of the continental shelf and oceanic islands, and contradicted by classifying North and South America and Asia, Europe and Africa as continents, with no natural separation by water.^ Medieval Europe Europeans considered Asia as a continent a distinct landmass.
  • The Asia Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ For example, Sir Barry Cunliffe, the emeritus professor of European archeology at Oxford, argues that Europe has been geographically and culturally merely “the western excrescence of the continent of Asia.” [ 6 ] Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .This anomaly reaches its extreme if the continuous land mass of Europe and Asia is considered to constitute two continents.^ Medieval Europe Europeans considered Asia as a continent a distinct landmass.
  • The Asia Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Georgia is often considered a transcontinental country in Western Asia and Eastern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .The Earth's major landmasses are washed upon by a single, continuous World Ocean, which is divided into a number of principal oceanic components by the continents and various geographic criteria.^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Geography Is Destiny - The Atlantic (December 2008) publisher=The Atlantic date=2008-12-01 accessdate=2009-04-20}} Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass or of Afro-Eurasia: geologically, Asia, Europe and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf.
  • The Asia Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .

 [5][6]

Extent of continents

.The narrowest meaning of continent is that of a continuous[7] area of land or mainland, with the coastline and any land boundaries forming the edge of the continent.^ Japan and South Korea continue to dominate in the area of multinational corporations , but increasingly mainland China, Taiwan, and India are making significant inroads.

 ^ Japan and South Korea continue to dominate in the area of multinational corporations , but increasingly mainland China , and India are making significant inroads.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .In this sense the term continental Europe is used to refer to mainland Europe, excluding islands such as Great Britain, Ireland, and Iceland, and the term continent of Australia may refer to the mainland of Australia, excluding Tasmania and New Guinea.^ The term is sometimes used more strictly in reference to the Asia-Pacific region, which does not include the Middle East or Russia, [ 10 ] but does include islands in the Pacific Ocean—a number of which may also be considered part of Australasia or Oceania , although Pacific Islanders are not considered Asian.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The other school equates the word "continent" with a geographical region when referring to Europe, and use the term "region" to describe Asia in terms of physiography.
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The term is sometimes used more strictly in reference to the [[Asia-Pacific]] region, which does not include the Middle East or Russia, BBC News 2006.
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .Similarly, the continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous United States in central North America and may include Alaska in the northwest of the continent (both separated by Canada), while excluding Hawaii in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.^ Some definitions exclude Turkey , the Middle East, Central Asia , and Russia while only considering the Far East, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent to compose Asia, [6] [7] especially in the United States after World War II. [8] The term is sometimes used more strictly in reference to the Asia-Pacific region, which does not include the Middle East or Russia, [9] but does include islands in the Pacific Ocean—a number of which may also be considered part of Australasia or Oceania , although Pacific Islanders are commonly not considered Asian.

 ^ Some definitions exclude Turkey , the Middle East, Central Asia , and Russia while only considering the Far East, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent to compose Asia, [7] [8] especially in the United States after World War II. [9] The term is sometimes used more strictly in reference to the Asia-Pacific region, which does not include the Middle East or Russia, [10] but does include islands in the Pacific Ocean—a number of which may also be considered part of Australasia or Oceania , although Pacific Islanders are commonly not considered Asian.
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Central America is geographically a portion of North America, but this map shows the region at larger scale.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]
.From the perspective of geology or physical geography, continent may be extended beyond the confines of continuous dry land to include the shallow, submerged adjacent area (the continental shelf)[8] and the islands on the shelf (continental islands), as they are structurally part of the continent.^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Color tints distinguish the continental shelf and deeper parts of the surrounding seas.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .

 [9] .From this perspective the edge of the continental shelf is the true edge of the continent, as shorelines vary with changes in sea level.^ Color tints distinguish the continental shelf and deeper parts of the surrounding seas.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ A lighter blue tint distinguishes the continental shelf from deeper parts of the surrounding seas.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 [10] .In this sense the islands of Great Britain and Ireland are part of Europe, and Australia and the island of New Guinea together form a continent (sometimes called Sahul or Australia-New Guinea).^ Not only is all of Asia shown, but also all of eastern and northern Europe and parts of Australia.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ An inset shows the island of Papua-New Guinea.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Europe as one of the most secularized part of the world.The second site, The Dark Continent: It’s still Dark, focuses on Africa as the dark continent still, but the gaze is from the eyes of a “White [...
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]
As a cultural construct, the concept of a continent may go beyond the continental shelf to include oceanic islands and continental fragments. .In this way, Iceland is considered part of Europe and Madagascar part of Africa.^ Europe as one of the most secularized part of the world.The second site, The Dark Continent: It’s still Dark, focuses on Africa as the dark continent still, but the gaze is from the eyes of a “White [...
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ (Geopolitics Geopolitically, Egypt's Sinai Peninsula east of the Suez Canal is often considered part of Africa, as well.
  • The Africa Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .Extrapolating the concept to its extreme, some geographers take Australia, New Zealand and all the islands of Oceania (or sometimes Australasia) to be equivalent to a continent, allowing the entire land surface of the Earth to be divided into continents or quasi-continents.^ It covers 8.6% of the Earth 's total surface area (or 29.4% of its land area) and, with over 4 billion people, it contains more than 60% of the world's current human population .

 ^ It covers 8.6% of the Earth 's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and with approximately 4 billion people, it takes up 60% of the world's current human population .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 [11]

Separation of continents

See also: Borders of the continents and Transcontinental country
.The ideal criterion that each continent be a discrete landmass is commonly disregarded in favor of more arbitrary, historical conventions.^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing [[subregion]]s within them for more detailed analysis.
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .Of the seven most commonly recognized continents, only Antarctica and Australia are distinctly separated from other continents.^ I'm the only human on the planet who has ever run all seven continents twice in one year.

 ^ I set a world record by running all seven continents TWICE in only 307 days.

 ^ Interestingly, it seems that most times the identity or image that many from other parts of the world have of Africa is that technological advance is foreign to the continent.
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]
.Several continents are defined not as absolutely distinct bodies but as "more or less discrete masses of land".[12] Asia and Africa are joined by the Isthmus of Suez, and North and South America by the Isthmus of Panama.^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Many companies from [[Europe]], North America, and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure .
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The demarcation between Asia and Africa (to the southwest) is the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .Both these isthmuses are very narrow in comparison with the bulk of the landmasses they join, and both are transected by artificial canals (the Suez Canal and Panama Canal, respectively) which effectively separate these landmasses.^ Separated from Europe by the Mediterranean Sea, it is joined to Asia at its northeast extremity by the Suez Canal Isthmus of Suez (transected by the Suez Canal), 163 km (101 miles) wide.
  • The Africa Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
.The division of the landmass of Eurasia into the continents of Asia and Europe is an anomaly, as no sea separates them.^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Chiefly in the eastern and northern hemispheres , Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasia —with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe —lying east of the Suez Canal , east of the Ural Mountains , and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas .
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 An alternative view, that Eurasia is a single continent, results in a six-continent view of the world. .This view is held by some geographers and is preferred in Russia (which spans Asia and Europe), East European countries and Japan.^ Georgia is often considered a transcontinental country in Western Asia and Eastern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ See also: Geography of Asia , Countries in both Asia and Europe , Geographic criteria for the definition of Europe File:Asia-map.png Physical map of Asia (excluding Southwest Asia ).
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Many companies from [[Europe]], North America, and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure .
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .The separation of Eurasia into Europe and Asia is viewed by some as a residue of Eurocentrism: "In physical, cultural and historical diversity, China and India are comparable to the entire European landmass, not to a single European country.^ For example, Sir Barry Cunliffe, the emeritus professor of European archeology at Oxford, argues that Europe has been geographically and culturally merely “the western excrescence of the continent of Asia.” [ 6 ] Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Physiographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern [[peninsula]] of the landmass – or of [[ Afro - Eurasia]]: geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common [[continental shelf]].
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ For example, Sir Barry Cunliffe, the emeritus professor of European archeology at Oxford, argue that Europe has been geographically and culturally merely “the western excrescence of the continent of Asia.” [6] Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 A better (if still imperfect) analogy would compare France, not to India as a whole, but to a single Indian state, such as Uttar Pradesh."[13] However, for historical and cultural reasons, the view of Europe as a separate continent continues in several categorizations.
.North America and South America are now treated as separate continents in India, China, and most English-speaking countries, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.^ Many companies from [[Europe]], North America, and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure .
  • Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC hewgill.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Let’s take a look at a news attention map, highlighting where the big news organizations are focusing (countries in deep red are experiencing the most attention).
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ However, in nominal (exchange value) terms, they rank as follows: Japan, China, India, South Korea, Saudi Arabia , Taiwan , Indonesia .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 [citation needed] Furthermore, the concept of two American continents is prevalent in much of Asia. .However, in earlier times they were viewed as a single continent known as America, with this viewpoint remaining common in the United States until World War II.[14] This remains the more common vision in Spain, Portugal and Latin American countries, where they are taught as a single continent.^ While this interpretation of tripartite continents (i.e., of Asia, Europe and Africa) remains common in modernity, discovery of the extent of Africa and Asia have made this definition somewhat anachronistic.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Prior to the decolonisation movements of the post-World War II era, White people Whites were represented in every part of Africa.
  • The Africa Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ In the United States , " Asian American " can mean East Asian Americans , due to the historical and cultural influences of China and Japan on the U.S. up to the 1960s and in preference to the terms " Oriental " and "Asiatic".

 This use is shown in names as the Organization of American States. .From the 19th century some people used the term "Americas" to avoid ambiguity with the United States of America.^ In the United States , " Asian American " can mean East Asian Americans , due to the historical and cultural influences of China and Japan on the U.S. up to the 1960s and in preference to the terms " Oriental " and "Asiatic".
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .The plurality of this last term suggests that even in the 19th century some considered the New World (the Americas) as two separate continents.^ Expand your understanding of the "Backbone of the World" with the latest news, tips and background guides from the Crown of the Continent Initiative at the University of Montana.
  • Crown of the Continent E-Notes, Issue 1 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC issuu.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ A romantic name for an unknown and underexplored region of the world to the Europeans of the 19th century.
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]
.When continents are defined as discrete landmasses, embracing all the contiguous land of a body, then Asia, Europe and Africa form a single continent known by various names such as Afro-Eurasia.^ For example, Sir Barry Cunliffe, the emeritus professor of European archeology at Oxford, argues that Europe has been geographically and culturally merely “the western excrescence of the continent of Asia.” [ 6 ] Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ For example, Sir Barry Cunliffe, the emeritus professor of European archeology at Oxford, argues that Europe has been geographically and culturally merely “the western excrescence of the continent of Asia.” [ 5 ] Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ For example, Sir Barry Cunliffe, the emeritus professor of European archeology at Oxford, argue that Europe has been geographically and culturally merely “the western excrescence of the continent of Asia.” [6] Geographically, Asia is the major eastern constituent of the continent of Eurasia – with Europe being a northwestern peninsula of the landmass – or of Afro-Eurasia : geologically, Asia, Europe, and Africa comprise a single continuous landmass (save the Suez Canal) and share a common continental shelf .
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 This produces a four-continent model consisting of Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica and Australia.
.When sea levels were lower during the Pleistocene ice age, greater areas of continental shelf were exposed as dry land, forming land bridges.^ Color tints distinguish the continental shelf and deeper parts of the surrounding seas.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 ^ A lighter blue tint distinguishes the continental shelf from deeper parts of the surrounding seas.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 .At this time Australia-New Guinea was a single, continuous continent.^ Though retired, he continues to teach part-time and is involved with this Crown of the Continent Initiative.
  • Crown of the Continent E-Notes, Issue 1 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC issuu.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 Likewise the Americas and Afro-Eurasia were joined by the Bering land bridge. .Other islands such as Great Britain were joined to the mainlands of their continents.^ File:Massospondylus BW.jpg thumb right 150px The African prosauropod ''Massospondylus'' At the beginning of the Mesozoic Era, Africa was joined with Earth's other continents in Pangaea.
  • The Africa Town Guide - Local Community, Tourist Guide & Travel Channel 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.thetownguide.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 At that time there were just three discrete continents: Afro-Eurasia-America, Antarctica, and Australia-New Guinea.

Number of continents

There are numerous ways of distinguishing the continents;
Models
Continents vide couleurs.png
Color-coded map showing the various continents. Similar shades exhibit areas that may be consolidated or subdivided.
7 continents
[2][15][16][17][18][19]
    North America
    South America
    Antarctica
    Africa
    Europe
    Asia
    Australia
6 continents
[16][20]
    North America
    South America
    Antarctica
    Africa
       Eurasia
    Australia
6 continents
[21][22]
       America
    Antarctica
    Africa
    Europe
    Asia
    Australia
5 continents
[20][21][22]
       America
    Antarctica
    Africa
       Eurasia
    Australia
4 continents
[20][21][22]
       America
    Antarctica
          Afro-Eurasia
    Australia
The seven-continent model is usually taught in China and most English-speaking countries. .The six-continent combined-Eurasia model is preferred by the geographic community, Russia, the former states of the USSR, and Japan.^ In the United States , " Asian American " can mean East Asian Americans , due to the historical and cultural influences of China and Japan on the U.S. up to the 1960s and in preference to the terms " Oriental " and "Asiatic".
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Blood, retired Geology instructor, flathead Valley Community College & steve thompson, Project Coordinator, national Geographic Crown of the Continent Geotourism Mapguide.
  • Crown of the Continent E-Notes, Issue 1 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC issuu.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .The six-continent combined-America model is taught in Latin America, and most parts of Europe including Germany[citation needed], Greece[citation needed], Italy[citation needed], Portugal and Spain.^ Interestingly, it seems that most times the identity or image that many from other parts of the world have of Africa is that technological advance is foreign to the continent.
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Main article: Economy of Asia Asia has the third largest nominal GDP of all continents, after North America and Europe, but the largest when measured in PPP .
  • Asia - SAS Asian History Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC sasasianhistory.wetpaint.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • absolutelychina - About Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC absolutelychina.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • BetterAsia - Government Wiki 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC government.wikia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Europe as one of the most secularized part of the world.The second site, The Dark Continent: It’s still Dark, focuses on Africa as the dark continent still, but the gaze is from the eyes of a “White [...
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 This model may be taught to include only the five inhabited continents (excluding Antarctica)[21][22] — as depicted in the Olympic logo.[23]
The names Oceania or Australasia are sometimes used in place of Australia. For example, the Atlas of Canada names Oceania,[15] as does the model taught in Latin America and Iberia.[24][25]

Area and population

.The following table summarises the area and population of each continent using the seven continent model, sorted by decreasing area.^ This will then be used to model future vegetation shifts, and predict reservoir storage and energy output for seven major streams in Montana.
  • Crown of the Continent E-Notes, Issue 1 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC issuu.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Continent Area (km²) Area (mi²) Percent of
total landmass		 Approx. population
2008		 Percent of
total population		 Density
People per
km²		 Density
People per
mi²
Asia 43,820,000 16,920,000 29.5% 3,879,000,000 60% 86.70 224.6
Africa 30,370,000 11,730,000 20.4% 922,011,000 14% 29.30 75.9
America 42,330,000 16,340,000 28.5% 910,720,588 14% 21.0 54
North America 24,490,000 9,460,000 16.5% 528,720,588 8% 21.0 54
South America 17,840,000 6,890,000 12.0% 382,000,000 6% 20.8 54
Antarctica 13,720,000 5,300,000 9.2% 1,000 0.00002% 0.00007 0.00018
Europe 10,180,000 3,930,000 6.8% 731,000,000 11% 69.7 181
Oceania 9,008,500 3,478,200 5.9% 32,000,000 0.5% 3.6 9.3
.The total land area of all continents is 148,647,000 square kilometres (57,393,000 sq mi), or 29.1% of earth's surface (510,065,600 square kilometres / 196,937,400 square miles).^ It covers 8.6% of the Earth 's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and with approximately 4 billion people, it takes up 60% of the world's current human population .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ It covers 8.6% of the earth 's total surface area (or 29.9% of its land area) and with approximately 4 billion people, it provides 60% of the world's current human population .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ In total, it serves more than 128,000 acres of land.
  • Crown of the Continent E-Notes, Issue 1 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC issuu.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Comparison of area and population

Highest and lowest points

See also: Seven Summits
The following table lists the seven continents with their highest and lowest points on land, sorted in decreasing highest points.
Continent Highest point Height (m) Height (ft) Country or territory containing highest point Lowest point Height (m) Height (ft) Country or territory containing lowest point
Asia Mount Everest 8,848 29,029  Nepal, China Dead Sea -422 −1,384.5  Israel,  Palestine,  Jordan
South America Aconcagua 6,960 22,830  Argentina Laguna del Carbón -105 −344.5  Argentina
North America Mount McKinley 6,198 20,335  United States Trough beneath Jakobshavn Isbræ † -1,512 −4,960.6[26]  Greenland
Africa Mount Kilimanjaro 5,895 19,341  Tanzania Lake Assal -155 −508.5  Djibouti
Europe Mount Elbrus 5,633 18,481  Russia Caspian Sea -28 −91.9  Azerbaijan,  Kazakhstan,  Russia (+  Iran,  Turkmenistan)
Antarctica Vinson Massif 4,892 16,050  Antarctica Bentley Subglacial Trench † -2,540 −8,333.3  Antarctica
Australia Puncak Jaya 4,884 16,024  Indonesia Lake Eyre -15 −49.2  Australia
† The lowest non-submarine bedrock elevations are given for North America and Antarctica. These are covered by kilometres of ice. The lowest exposed points in North America and Antarctica are in Death Valley (-86 m) and on the shore of Deep Lake in the Vestfold Hills (-50 m).
.Some sources list the Kuma-Manych Depression (a remnant of the Paratethys) as the geological border between Europe and Asia.^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .This would place Caucasus outside of Europe, thus making Mont Blanc (elevation 4810 m) in the Graian Alps the highest point in Europe - the lowest point would still be the shore of the Caspian Sea.^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasia —with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe —lying east of the Suez Canal , east of the Ural Mountains , and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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Other divisions

Aside from the conventionally known continents, the scope and meaning of the term 'continent' may vary. .Supercontinents, largely in evidence earlier in the geological record, are landmasses which comprise more than one craton or continental core.^ Most Asian countries have more than one language that is natively spoken.
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 .These have included Laurasia, Gondwana, Vaalbara, Kenorland, Columbia, Rodinia, and Pangaea; arguably, Eurasia is a contemporary supercontinent.^ Geological supercontinents Gondwana · Laurasia · Pangaea · Pannotia · Rodinia · Columbia · Kenorland · Ur · Vaalbara .
  • Mixed Martials Arts | Subfighter Mixed Martial Arts Social Network 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.subfighter.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Geological supercontinents Gondwana · Laurasia · Pangaea · Pannotia Rodinia · Columbia · Kenorland · Ur · Vaalbara .
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Certain parts of continents are recognized as subcontinents, particularly those on different tectonic plates to the rest of the continent. The most notable examples are the Indian subcontinent and the Arabian Peninsula. Greenland, generally reckoned as the world's largest island on the northeastern periphery of the North American Plate, is sometimes referred to as a subcontinent. .Where the Americas are viewed as a single continent (America), it is divided into two subcontinents (North America and South America)[27][28][29] or various regions.^ Main article: Economy of Asia See also: List of regions by past GDP (PPP) Asia has the third largest nominal GDP of all continents, after North America and Europe, but the largest when measured in PPP .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 ^ North ( Northern • Middle • Central • Caribbean ) · South America ( Southern Cone ) · Anglo · Latin .
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 ^ See also: Economy of the world - Economy of Africa - Economy of Asia - Economy of Europe - Economy of North America - Economy of Oceania - Economy of South America .
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 [30]
.Some areas of continental crust are largely covered by the sea and may be considered submerged continents.^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 .Notable examples are Zealandia, emerging from the sea primarily in New Zealand and New Caledonia, and the almost completely submerged Kerguelen continent in the southern Indian Ocean.^ Submerged continents Kerguelen Plateau · Zealandia .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
Some islands lie on sections of continental crust that have rifted and drifted apart from a main continental landmass. While not considered continents because of their relatively small size, they may be considered microcontinents. Madagascar, the largest example, is usually considered an island of Africa but has been referred to as "the eighth continent".
.In addition, a number of mythical continents exist: perhaps the most notable is Atlantis, and also Hyperborea, Thule, and Lemuria.^ Mythical and theorized continents Atlantis · Lemuria · Meropis · Mu · Terra Australis .
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History of the concept

Early concepts of the Old World continents

The Ancient Greek geographer Strabo holding a globe showing Europa and Asia
Medieval T and O map showing the three continents as domains of the sons of Noah – Sem (Shem), Iafeth (Japheth) and Cham (Ham)
.The first distinction between continents was made by ancient Greek mariners who gave the names Europe and Asia to the lands on either side of the waterways of the Aegean Sea, the Dardanelles strait, the Sea of Marmara, the Bosporus strait and the Black Sea.^ However, this etymology is considered doubtful, because it does not explain how the term "Asia" first came to be associated with Anatolia, which is west of the Semitic-speaking areas, unless they refer to the viewpoint of a Phoenician sailor sailing through the straits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 ^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 [31] The names were first applied just to lands near the coast and only later extended to include the hinterlands.[32] But the division was only carried through to the end of navigable waterways and "... beyond that point the Hellenic geographers never succeeded in laying their finger on any inland feature in the physical landscape that could offer any convincing line for partitioning an indivisible Eurasia ..."[31]
.Ancient Greek thinkers subsequently debated whether Africa (then called Libya) should be considered part of Asia or a third part of the world.^ In terms of Purchasing Power Parity however, the People's Republic of China has the largest economy in Asia and the second largest in the world followed by India as the world's third largest economy respectively.
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ See also: Economy of the world - Economy of Africa - Economy of Asia - Economy of Europe - Economy of North America - Economy of Oceania - Economy of South America .
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 Division into three parts eventually came to predominate.[33] .From the Greek viewpoint, the Aegean Sea was the center of the world; Asia lay to the east, Europe to the west and north and Africa to the south.^ Human geography List of cities by population List of national capitals by population List of continents by population List of countries List of countries by population density List of countries by population in 1907 List of countries by population in 2005 List of countries by past and future population List of countries by refugee population Lists of countries in various regions by populations: Africa Americas Caribbean islands Latin America North America South America Arab states Asia East Asia and Southeast Asia Commonwealth of Nations Europe European Union member states Middle East Oceania List of regional organizations by population List of religious populations World population .
  • List Of Countries By Population | Credit Shakedown 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.creditshakedown.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The demarcation between Asia and Africa (to the southwest) is the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea .
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  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasia —with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe —lying east of the Suez Canal , east of the Ural Mountains , and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 [34] The boundaries between the continents were not fixed. .Early on, the Europe–Asia boundary was taken to run from the Black Sea along the Rioni River (known then as the Phasis) in Georgia.^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
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 ^ Georgia is often considered a transcontinental country in Western Asia and Eastern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
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 ^ Asia is traditionally defined as part of the landmass of Eurasia —with the western portion of the latter occupied by Europe —lying east of the Suez Canal , east of the Ural Mountains , and south of the Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian and Black Seas .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 .Later it was viewed as running from the Black Sea through Kerch Strait, the Sea of Azov and along the Don River (known then as the Tanais) in Russia.^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
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 [35] .The boundary between Asia and Africa was generally taken to be the Nile River.^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 ^ The demarcation between Asia and Africa (to the southwest) is the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
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 .Herodotus[36] in the fifth century BC, however, objected to the unity of Egypt being split into Asia and Africa ("Libya") and took the boundary to lie along the western border of Egypt, regarding Egypt as part of Asia.^ During the 20th century, in the two most populous countries of Asia, two dramatically different political philosophies took shape.
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 ^ The word Asia originated from the Greek word "Ἀσία", first attributed to Herodotus (about 440 BC) in reference to Anatolia or, for the purposes of describing the Persian Wars, to the Persian Empire, in contrast to Greece and Egypt .
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 ^ The Greek language term may be derived from Assuwa , a 14th century BC confederation of states in Western Anatolia .
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 He also questioned the division into three of what is really a single landmass,[37] a debate that continues nearly two and a half millennia later.
.Eratosthenes, in the third century BC, noted that some geographers divided the continents by rivers (the Nile and the Don), thus considering them "islands". Others divided the continents by isthmuses, calling the continents "peninsulas". These latter geographers set the border between Europe and Asia at the isthmus between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, and the border between Asia and Africa at the isthmus between the Red Sea and the mouth of Lake Bardawil on the Mediterranean Sea.^ The demarcation between Asia and Africa (to the southwest) is the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea .
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 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 ^ However, this etymology is considered doubtful, because it does not explain how the term "Asia" first came to be associated with Anatolia, which is west of the Semitic-speaking areas, unless they refer to the viewpoint of a Phoenician sailor sailing through the straits between the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea.
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 [38]
.Through the Roman period and the Middle Ages, a few writers took the Isthmus of Suez as the boundary between Asia and Africa, but most writers continued to take it to be the Nile or the western border of Egypt (Gibbon).^ The demarcation between Asia and Africa (to the southwest) is the Isthmus of Suez and the Red Sea .
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 ^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
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 ^ During the 20th century, in the two most populous countries of Asia, two dramatically different political philosophies took shape.
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 .In the Middle Ages the world was usually portrayed on T and O maps, with the T representing the waters dividing the three continents.^ The European concept of the three continents in the Old World goes back to Classical Antiquity , but during the Middle Ages was notably due to Isidore of Sevilla (see T and O map ).
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 ^ Asia is the largest continent in the world by a considerable margin, and it is rich in natural resources, such as petroleum , forests , fish, water, rice, copper, and silver.
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 By the middle of the eighteenth century, "the fashion of dividing Asia and Africa at the Nile, or at the Great Catabathmus [the boundary between Egypt and Libya] farther west, had even then scarcely passed away".[39]

European arrival in the Americas

Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic Ocean to the West Indies in 1492, sparking a period of European exploration of the Americas. But despite four voyages to the Americas, Columbus never believed he had reached a new continent – he always thought it was part of Asia.
.In 1501, Amerigo Vespucci and Gonçalo Coelho attempted to sail around what they considered to be the southern end of the Asian mainland into the Indian Ocean, passing through the Matsackson Islands.^ Excludes Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands ( Australian external territories in the Indian Ocean southwest of Indonesia ).
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 ^ Turkey is generally considered a transcontinental country in Western Asia and Southern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only, excluding all of Istanbul .
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 ^ Akrotiri and Dhekelia British Indian Ocean Territory Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands .
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 .After reaching the coast of Brazil, they sailed a long way further south along the coast of South America, confirming that this was a land of continental proportions and that it also extended much further south than Asia was known to.^ See also: Economy of the world - Economy of Africa - Economy of Asia - Economy of Europe - Economy of North America - Economy of Oceania - Economy of South America .
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 [40] On return to Europe, an account of the voyage, called Mundus Novus ("New World"), was published under Vespucci’s name in 1502 or 1503,[41] although it seems that it had additions or alterations by another writer.[42] .Regardless of who penned the words, Mundus Novus attributed Vespucci with saying, "I have discovered a continent in those southern regions that is inhabited by more numerous people and animals than our Europe, or Asia or Africa",[43] the first known explicit identification of part of the Americas as a continent like the other three.^ Human geography List of cities by population List of continents by population List of countries by population density List of countries by population in 1907 List of countries by population in 2005 Lists of countries in various regions by populations: Africa Americas Caribbean islands Latin America North America South America Arab states Asia East Asia East Asia and Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Commonwealth of Nations Europe European Union member states Middle East Oceania List of regional organizations by population List of religious populations World population .
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 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
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 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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Universalis Cosmographia, Waldseemüller's 1507 world map which was the first to show the Americas separate from Asia
.Within a few years the name "New World" began appearing as a name for South America on world maps, such as the Oliveriana (Pesaro) map of around 1504–1505. Maps of this time though still showed North America connected to Asia and showed South America as a separate land.^ Asia is the largest continent in the world by a considerable margin, and it is rich in natural resources, such as petroleum , forests , fish, water, rice, copper, and silver.
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 ^ Many companies from Europe, North America, South Korea and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure.
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 ^ As of 2007, the largest national economy within Asia, in terms of gross domestic product (GDP), is that of China followed by that of India , Japan , South Korea and Indonesia .
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 [42]
.In 1507 Martin Waldseemüller published a world map, Universalis Cosmographia, which was the first to show North and South America as separate from Asia and surrounded by water.^ Asia is the largest continent in the world by a considerable margin, and it is rich in natural resources, such as petroleum , forests , fish, water, rice, copper, and silver.
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 ^ Many companies from Europe, North America, South Korea and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure.
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 ^ Asia is bounded on the south by the Indian Ocean (specifically, from west to east, the Gulf of Aden , Arabian Sea , and Bay of Bengal ); on the east by the waters of the Pacific Ocean (including, counterclockwise, the South China Sea , East China Sea , Yellow Sea , Sea of Japan , Sea of Okhotsk , and Bering Sea ); and on the north by the Arctic Ocean .
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 .A small inset map above the main map explicitly showed for the first time the Americas being east of Asia and separated from Asia by an ocean, as opposed to just placing the Americas on the left end of the map and Asia on the right end.^ Main article: History of Asia Map of Asia in 1890 Map of Asia, 1892 The history of Asia can be seen as the distinct histories of several peripheral coastal regions: East Asia , South Asia , Southeast Asia and the Middle East , linked by the interior mass of the Central Asian steppes .
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 ^ Main article: History of Asia Map of Asia, 1892 The history of Asia can be seen as the distinct histories of several peripheral coastal regions: East Asia , South Asia , Southeast Asia and the Middle East , linked by the interior mass of the Central Asian steppes .
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 ^ In the far northeast of Asia, Siberia is separated from North America by the Bering Strait .
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 .In the accompanying book Cosmographiae Introductio, Waldseemüller noted that the earth is divided into four parts, Europe, Asia, Africa and the fourth part which he named "America" after Amerigo Vespucci's first name.^ While this interpretation of tripartite continents (i.e., of Asia, Europe, and Africa) remains common in modernity, discovery of the extent of Africa and Asia have made this definition somewhat anachronistic.
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 ^ Depending on definitions, various territories cited below (notes 6, 11-13, 15, 17-19, 21-23) may be in one or both of Asia and Europe, Africa, or Oceania .
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 ^ See also: Economy of the world - Economy of Africa - Economy of Asia - Economy of Europe - Economy of North America - Economy of Oceania - Economy of South America .
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 [44] On the map, the word "America" was placed on part of South America.

The word continent

From the 1500s the English noun continent was derived from the term continent land, meaning continuous or connected land[45] and translated from the Latin terra continens.[46] The noun was used to mean "a connected or continuous tract of land" or mainland.[45] It was not applied only to very large areas of land — in the 1600s, references were made to the continents (or mainlands) of Isle of Man, Ireland and Wales and in 1745 to Sumatra.[45] .The word continent was used in translating Greek and Latin writings about the three "parts" of the world, although in the original languages no word of exactly the same meaning as continent was used.^ The word Asia originated from the Greek word "Ἀσία", first attributed to Herodotus (about 440 BC) in reference to Anatolia or, for the purposes of describing the Persian Wars, to the Persian Empire, in contrast to Greece and Egypt .
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 ^ The other school equates the word "continent" with a geographical region when referring to Europe, and use the term "region" to describe Asia in terms of physiography.
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 [47]
.While continent was used on the one hand for relatively small areas of continuous land, on the other hand geographers again raised Herodotus’s query about why a single large landmass should be divided into separate continents.^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 ^ The other school equates the word "continent" with a geographical region when referring to Europe, and use the term "region" to describe Asia in terms of physiography.
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 In the mid 1600s Peter Heylin wrote in his Cosmographie that "A Continent is a great quantity of Land, not separated by any Sea from the rest of the World, as the whole Continent of Europe, Asia, Africa." In 1727 Ephraim Chambers wrote in his Cyclopædia, "The world is ordinarily divided into two grand continents: the old and the new." And in his 1752 atlas, Emanuel Bowen defined a continent as "a large space of dry land comprehending many countries all joined together, without any separation by water. .Thus Europe, Asia, and Africa is one great continent, as America is another."^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
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 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 ^ Main article: Economy of Asia See also: List of regions by past GDP (PPP) Asia has the third largest nominal GDP of all continents, after North America and Europe, but the largest when measured in PPP .
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 [48] .However, the old idea of Europe, Asia and Africa as "parts" of the world ultimately persisted with these being regarded as separate continents.^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
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 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 ^ While this interpretation of tripartite continents (i.e., of Asia, Europe, and Africa) remains common in modernity, discovery of the extent of Africa and Asia have made this definition somewhat anachronistic.
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Beyond four continents

.From the late 18th century some geographers started to regard North America and South America as two parts of the world, making five parts in total.^ North ( Northern • Middle • Central • Caribbean ) · South America ( Southern Cone ) · Anglo · Latin .
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 ^ See also: Economy of the world - Economy of Africa - Economy of Asia - Economy of Europe - Economy of North America - Economy of Oceania - Economy of South America .
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 Overall though the fourfold division prevailed well into the 19th century.[49]
Europeans discovered Australia in 1606 but for some time it was taken as part of Asia. .By the late 18th century some geographers considered it a continent in its own right, making it the sixth (or fifth for those still taking America as a single continent).^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 [49] .In 1813 Samuel Butler wrote of Australia as "New Holland, an immense island, which some geographers dignify with the appellation of another continent" and the Oxford English Dictionary was just as equivocal some decades later.^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 [50]
Antarctica was sighted in 1820 and described as a continent by Charles Wilkes on the United States Exploring Expedition in 1838, the last continent to be identified, although a great "Antarctic" (antipodean) landmass had been anticipated for millennia. An 1849 atlas labelled Antarctica as a continent but few atlases did so until after World War II.[51]
.From the mid-19th century, United States atlases more commonly treated North and South America as separate continents, while atlases published in Europe usually considered them one continent.^ Human geography List of cities by population List of continents by population List of countries by population density List of countries by population in 1907 List of countries by population in 2005 Lists of countries in various regions by populations: Africa Americas Caribbean islands Latin America North America South America Arab states Asia East Asia East Asia and Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Commonwealth of Nations Europe European Union member states Middle East Oceania List of regional organizations by population List of religious populations World population .
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 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
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 ^ Russia is considered a transcontinental country in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia; population and area figures are for the entire state.
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 .However, it was still not uncommon for United States atlases to treat them as one continent up until World War II.[52] The Olympic flag, devised in 1913, has five rings representing the five inhabited, participating continents, with America being treated as one continent and Antarctica not included.^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
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 ^ Some definitions exclude Turkey , the Middle East, Central Asia , and Russia while only considering the Far East, Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent to compose Asia, [ 6 ] [ 7 ] especially in the United States after World War II .
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 ^ In the United States , " Asian American " can mean East Asian Americans , due to the historical and cultural influences of China and Japan on the U.S. up to the 1960s and in preference to the terms " Oriental " and "Asiatic".
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 [23]
From the 1950s, most United States geographers divided America in two[52] – consistent with modern understanding of geology and plate tectonics. With the addition of Antarctica, this made the seven-continent model. However, this division of America never appealed to Latin America, which saw itself spanning an America that was a single landmass, and there the conception of six continents remains, as it does in scattered other countries.
.In recent years there has been a push for Europe and Asia together to be considered a single continent, dubbed "Eurasia". In this model, the world is divided into six continents (if North America and South America are considered separate continents).^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 ^ Georgia is often considered a transcontinental country in Western Asia and Eastern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
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 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
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Geology

Further information: Continental crust, Plate tectonics
.Geologists use the term continent in a different manner than geographers, where a continent is defined by continental crust: a platform of metamorphic and igneous rock, largely of granitic composition.^ The other school equates the word "continent" with a geographical region when referring to Europe, and use the term "region" to describe Asia in terms of physiography.
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 Some geologists restrict the term 'continent' to portions of the crust built around stable Precambrian "shield", typically 1.5 to 3.8 billion years old, called a craton. The craton itself is an accretionary complex of ancient mobile belts (mountain belts) from earlier cycles of subduction, continental collision and break-up from plate tectonic activity. An outward-thickening veneer of younger, minimally deformed sedimentary rock covers much of the craton. The margins of geologic continents are characterized by currently-active or relatively recently active mobile belts and deep troughs of accumulated marine or deltaic sediments. Beyond the margin, there is either a continental shelf and drop off to the basaltic ocean basin or the margin of another continent, depending on the current plate-tectonic setting of the continent. A continental boundary does not have to be a body of water. Over geologic time, continents are periodically submerged under large epicontinental seas, and continental collisions result in a continent becoming attached to another continent. The current geologic era is relatively anomalous in that so much of the continental areas are "high and dry" compared to much of geologic history.
The tectonic plates underlying the continents and oceans
Some argue that continents are accretionary crustal "rafts" which, unlike the denser basaltic crust of the ocean basins, are not subjected to destruction through the plate tectonic process of subduction. This accounts for the great age of the rocks comprising the continental cratons. By this definition, Eastern Europe, India and some other regions could be regarded as continental masses distinct from the rest of Eurasia because they have separate ancient shield areas (i.e. East European craton and Indian craton). .Younger mobile belts (such as the Ural Mountains and Himalayas) mark the boundaries between these regions and the rest of Eurasia.^ The boundary between Asia and Europe is conventionally considered to run through the Dardanelles , the Sea of Marmara , the Bosporus , the Black Sea, the Caucasus Mountains, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River to its source, and the Ural Mountains to the Kara Sea near Kara, Russia.
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There are many microcontinents that are built of continental crust but do not contain a craton. .Some of these are fragments of Gondwana or other ancient cratonic continents: Zealandia, which includes New Zealand and New Caledonia; Madagascar; the northern Mascarene Plateau, which includes the Seychelles; etc. Other islands, such as several in the Caribbean Sea, are composed largely of granitic rock as well, but all continents contain both granitic and basaltic crust, and there is no clear boundary as to which islands would be considered microcontinents under such a definition.^ Submerged continents Kerguelen Plateau · Zealandia .
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 ^ See also: Geography of Asia , Countries in both Asia and Europe , Geographic criteria for the definition of Europe Physical map of Asia, excluding Southwest Asia Two-point equidistant projection of Asia Medieval Europeans considered Asia as a continent – a distinct landmass.
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 ^ Some geographers do not consider Asia and Europe to be separate continents, [ 4 ] as there is no logical physical separation between them.
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 The Kerguelen Plateau, for example, is largely volcanic, but is associated with the breakup of Gondwanaland and is considered to be a microcontinent,[53][54] whereas volcanic Iceland and Hawaii are not. The British Isles, Sri Lanka, Borneo, and Newfoundland are margins of the Laurasian continent which are only separated by inland seas flooding its margins.
Plate tectonics offers yet another way of defining continents. .Today, Europe and most of Asia comprise the unified Eurasian Plate which is approximately coincident with the geographic Eurasian continent excluding India, Arabia, and far eastern Russia.^ Georgia is often considered a transcontinental country in Western Asia and Eastern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ One school follows historical convention and treats Europe and Asia as different continents, categorizing subregions within them for more detailed analysis.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Kazakhstan is sometimes considered a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe; population and area figures are for Asian portion only.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 India contains a central shield, and the geologically recent Himalaya mobile belt forms its northern margin. .North America and South America are separate continents, the connecting isthmus being largely the result of volcanism from relatively recent subduction tectonics.^ Many companies from Europe, North America, South Korea and Japan have operations in Asia's developing countries to take advantage of its abundant supply of cheap labour and relatively developed infrastructure.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ In the far northeast of Asia, Siberia is separated from North America by the Bering Strait .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ North ( Northern • Middle • Central • Caribbean ) · South America ( Southern Cone ) · Anglo · Latin .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .North American continental rocks extend to Greenland (a portion of the Canadian Shield), and in terms of plate boundaries, the North American plate includes the easternmost portion of the Asian land mass.^ Almost all of Europe and most of Asia sit atop the Eurasian Plate , adjoined on the south by the Arabian and Indian Plates , and with the easternmost part of Siberia (east of the Cherskiy Range ) on the North American Plate .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ However, the term is increasingly taken to include Southeast Asian Americans and South Asian Americans , due to the increasing numbers of immigrants from these regions.
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 .Geologists do not use these facts to suggest that eastern Asia is part of the North American continent, even though the plate boundary extends there; the word continent is usually used in its geographic sense and additional definitions ("continental rocks," "plate boundaries") are used as appropriate.^ Other religions of Asia include Zoroastrianism and Shamanism practiced in Iran and Siberia respectively, Shintoism practiced in Japan (usually with Buddhism ) and Animism practiced in the eastern parts of the Indian subcontinent and in Southeast Asia .
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ See also: Geography of Asia , Countries in both Asia and Europe , Geographic criteria for the definition of Europe Physical map of Asia, excluding Southwest Asia Two-point equidistant projection of Asia Medieval Europeans considered Asia as a continent – a distinct landmass.
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ Almost all of Europe and most of Asia sit atop the Eurasian Plate , adjoined on the south by the Arabian and Indian Plates , and with the easternmost part of Siberia (east of the Cherskiy Range ) on the North American Plate .
  • Top 20 Asia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.top20asia.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
  • Asia | Navify — Multimedia Encyclopedia 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.picturesurf.org [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

See also

Environment portal
Ecology portal
Geography portal
Weather portal

References and notes

  1. ^ Continent (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  2. ^ a b "Continents: What is a Continent?". National Geographic. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/continents/. Retrieved 2009-08-22.  "Most people recognize seven continents—Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia, from largest to smallest—although sometimes Europe and Asia are considered a single continent, Eurasia."
  3. ^ "Encarta World English Dictionary". Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.. 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwRKDyZ6. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
  4. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 21. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  5. ^ "Ocean". The Columbia Encyclopedia (2006). New York: Columbia University Press. Retrieved 20 February 2007.
  6. ^ "Distribution of land and water on the planet." UN Atlas of the Oceans (2004). Retrieved 20 February 2007.
  7. ^ "continent n. 5. a." (1989) Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press ; "continent1 n." (2006) The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th edition revised. (Ed.) Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press; "continent1 n." (2005) The New Oxford American Dictionary, 2nd edition. (Ed.) Erin McKean. Oxford University Press; "continent [2, n] 4 a" (1996) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. ProQuest Information and Learning ; "continent" (2007) Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 14 January 2007, from Encyclopædia Britannica Online.
  8. ^ "continent [2, n] 6" (1996) Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. ProQuest Information and Learning. "a large segment of the earth's outer shell including a terrestrial continent and the adjacent continental shelf"
  9. ^ Monkhouse, F. J.; John Small (1978). A Dictionary of the Natural Environment. London: Edward Arnold. pp. 67–68. "structurally it includes shallowly submerged adjacent areas (continental shelf) and neighbouring islands" 
  10. ^ Ollier, Cliff D. (1996). Planet Earth. In Ian Douglas (Ed.), Companion Encyclopedia of Geography: The Environment and Humankind. London: Routledge, p. 30. "Ocean waters extend onto continental rocks at continental shelves, and the true edges of the continents are the steeper continental slopes. The actual shorelines are rather accidental, depending on the height of sea-level on the sloping shelves."
  11. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 40. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. "The joining of Australia with various Pacific islands to form the quasi continent of Oceania ..." 
  12. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 35. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  13. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. ?. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  14. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). "1". The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. "While it might seem surprising to find North and South America still joined into a single continent in a book published in the United States in 1937, such a notion remained fairly common until World War II. [...] By the 1950s, however, virtually all American geographers had come to insist that the visually distinct landmasses of North and South America deserved separate designations." 
  15. ^ a b The World - Continents, Atlas of Canada
  16. ^ a b "Continent". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2006. Chicago: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
  17. ^ The New Oxford Dictionary of English. 2001. New York: Oxford University Press.
  18. ^ "Continent". MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006.. Archived 2009-10-31.
  19. ^ "Continent". McArthur, Tom, ed. 1992. The Oxford Companion to the English Language. New York: Oxford University Press; p. 260.
  20. ^ a b c "Continent". The Columbia Encyclopedia. 2001. New York: Columbia University Press - Bartleby.
  21. ^ a b c d Océano Uno, Diccionario Enciclopédico y Atlas Mundial, "Continente", page 392, 1730. ISBN 84-494-0188-7
  22. ^ a b c d Los Cinco Continentes (The Five Continents), Planeta-De Agostini Editions, 1997. ISBN 84-395-6054-0
  23. ^ a b The Olympic symbols. International Olympic Committee. 2002. Lausanne: Olympic Museum and Studies Centre. The five rings of the Olympic logo represent the five inhabited, participating continents (Africa, America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania); thus, Antarctica is excluded from the flag. Also see Association of National Olympic Committees: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
  24. ^ "Continente" Portuguese Wikipedia
  25. ^ "Continente". Spanish Wikipedia
  26. ^ Plummer, Joel. Jakobshavn Bed Elevation, Center for the Remote Sensing of the Ice Sheets, Dept of Geography, University of Kansas.
  27. ^ English map of 1770 by Jonghe
  28. ^ DPD: América
  29. ^ Dicionário da língua portuguesa: Contiente
  30. ^ In Ibero-America, North America usually designates a region (subcontinente in Spanish) of the Americas containing Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, and often Greenland, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, and Bermuda; the land bridge of Central America is generally considered a subregion of North America.Norteamérica (Mexican version)/(Spaniard version). Encarta Online Encyclopedia.. Archived 2009-10-31.
  31. ^ a b Toynbee, Arnold J. (1954). A Study of History. London: Oxford University Press, v. 8, pp. 711-12.
  32. ^ Tozer, H. F. (1897). A History of Ancient Geography. Cambridge: University Press. pp. 69. 
  33. ^ Tozer, H. F. (1897). A History of Ancient Geography. Cambridge: University Press. pp. 67. 
  34. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 21–22. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  35. ^ Tozer, H. F. (1897). A History of Ancient Geography. Cambridge: University Press. pp. 68. 
  36. ^ Herodotus. Translated by George Rawlinson (2000). The Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus [6]. Ames, Iowa: Omphaloskepsis, book 2, p. 18.
  37. ^ Herodotus. Translated by George Rawlinson (2000). The Histories of Herodotus of Halicarnassus [7]. Ames, Iowa: Omphaloskepsis, book 4, p. 38. "I cannot conceive why three names ... should ever have been given to a tract which is in reality one"
  38. ^ Strabo. Translated by Horace Leonard Jones (1917). Geography.[8] Harvard University Press, book 1, ch. 4.[9]
  39. ^ Goddard, Farley Brewer (1884). "Researches in the Cyrenaica". The American Journal of Philology, 5 (1) p. 38.
  40. ^ O'Gorman, Edmundo (1961). The Invention of America. Indiana University Press. pp. 106–112. 
  41. ^ Formisano, Luciano (Ed.) (1992). Letters from a New World: Amerigo Vespucci's Discovery of America. New York: Marsilio, pp. xx-xxi. ISBN 0-941419-62-2.
  42. ^ a b Zerubavel, Eviatar (2003). Terra Cognita: The Mental Discovery of America. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, pp. 77–79. ISBN 0-7658-0987-7.
  43. ^ Formisano, Luciano (Ed.) (1992). Letters from a New World: Amerigo Vespucci's Discovery of America. New York: Marsilio, p. 45. ISBN 0-941419-62-2.
  44. ^ Zerubavel, Eviatar (2003). Terra Cognita: The Mental Discovery of America. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers, pp. 80–82. ISBN 0-7658-0987-7.
  45. ^ a b c "continent n." (1989) Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press.
  46. ^ "continent1 n." (2006) The Concise Oxford English Dictionary, 11th edition revised. (Ed.) Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson. Oxford University Press.
  47. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 29. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  48. ^ Bowen, Emanuel. (1752). A Complete Atlas, or Distinct View of the Known World. London, p. 3.
  49. ^ a b Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 30. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  50. ^ "continent n. 5. a." (1989) Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition. Oxford University Press. "the great island of Australia is sometimes reckoned as another [continent]"
  51. ^ Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-2074 220. 
  52. ^ a b Lewis, Martin W.; Kären E. Wigen (1997). The Myth of Continents: a Critique of Metageography. Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 32. ISBN 0-520-20742-4, ISBN 0-520-20743-2. 
  53. ^ UT Austin scientist plays major rule in study of underwater "micro-continent". Retrieved on 2007-07-03
  54. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/353277.stm Retrieved on 2007-07-03

External links

The Dynamic Earth
Continents
Oceans
Dynamic Earth
Natural Environment
Related Articles
Category · Portal
Continents of the world
See also Regions of the world
Regions of the world
See also Continents of the world

1911 encyclopedia

Up to date as of January 14, 2010

From LoveToKnow 1911

CONTINENT (from Lat. .continere, " to hold together"; hence "connected," "continuous"), a word used in physical geography of the larger continuous masses of land in contrast to the great oceans, and as distinct from the submerged tracts where only the higher parts appear above the sea, and from islands generally.^ The map is one of the best land mass geography visualization tools ever, too.
  • Center of Population « xkcd 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC blag.xkcd.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ The tourbillon regulator appears at 6 o’clock, at the heart of land or sea depending on the model.
  • Jaeger-LeCoultre Master Grand Tourbillon Continents | WatchTime.com 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.watchtime.com [Source type: General]

 ^ The connection between Atlantis and the Sargasso Sea is likewise absurd, as this sea is indeed very deep, and never held any continent or large island in its vast expanse.
  • Frequently Asked Questions 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC www.atlan.org [Source type: Original source]
.On looking at a map of the world, continents appear generally as wedge-shaped tracts pointing southward, while the oceans have a polygonal shape.^ On the world continent map, this continent is mostly shown in a distorted form as it is difficult to project its shape when we are plotting other continents in the same map.

 ^ In The Myth of Continents , Lewis and Wigen have written an entertaining and informative account of the way our maps show us the world that we want to see.
  • Amazon.com: The Myth of Continents: A Critique of Metageography (9780520207431): Martin W. Lewis, Kären E. Wigen: Books 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.amazon.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Looking at the above maps, one can see that Africa is still dark infrastructurally, technologically and on top of that, the world just doesn’t care.
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 .Eurasia is in some sense an exception, but all the southern terminations of the continents advance into the sea in the form of a wedge - South America, South Africa, Arabia, India, Malaysia and Australia connected by a submarine platform with Tasmania.^ South Africa is no exception.
  • Africa, Clear Continent 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC www.cs.cmu.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ All of the above operate in South Africa.
  • Africa, Clear Continent 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC www.cs.cmu.edu [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ During the past ten thousand years raising sea levels flooded the then lowlands and separated the continent into today's low-laying .

 It is difficult not to believe that these remarkable characters have some relation to the structure of the great globe-mass, and according to T. C. Chamberlin and R. D. Salisbury, in their Geology (1906), "the true conception is perhaps that the ocean basins and continental platforms are but the surface forms of great segments of the lithosphere, all of which crowd towards the centre, the stronger and heavier - the ocean basins - taking precedence and squeezing the weaker and lighter ones - the continents - between them." "The area of the most depressed, or master segments, is almost exactly twice that of the protruding or squeezed ones. This estimate includes in the latter about io,000,000 sq. m. now covered with shallow water. .The volume of the hydrosphere is a little too great for the true basins, and it runs over, covering the borders of the continents" (see Continental Shelf).^ Their continent was formed by the coalescence of many islands and peninsulas which were upheaved in the ordinary course of time and became ultimately the true home of the great Race known as the Atlanteans .
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Submerged Continents Submerged continents are some of the areas of continental crust, which are mostly covered by the sea.

 .Several theories have been advanced to account for the roughly triangular shape of the continents, but that presenting the least difficulty is the one expressed above, "since in a spherical surface divided into larger and smaller segments the major part should be polygonal,while the minor residual segments are more likely to be triangular."^ You would find the shape of the northernmost part of this continent elongated.

 ^ It is true that Blavatsky speaks of Lemuria 'separating into smaller continents' (SD 2:324), and there are also references to the 'shifting' of continents and oceans (e.g.
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ This page lists maps showing all or major parts of each continent.
  • Maps of Continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.mindbird.com [Source type: General]

 .As bearing on this geological idea, it is interesting to notice in this connexion that the areas of volcanic activity are mostly where continent and ocean meet; and that around the continents there is an almost continuous "deep" from Ioo to 300 m.^ Q: Are there vestiges of a sunken island or continent in the Atlantic Ocean?
  • Frequently Asked Questions 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC www.atlan.org [Source type: Original source]

 ^ It is true that Blavatsky speaks of Lemuria 'separating into smaller continents' (SD 2:324), and there are also references to the 'shifting' of continents and oceans (e.g.
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ While reading an article on blackpoliticalthought.blogspot.com I noticed someone wrote in a comment: “It does amaze me that scientists can predict this sort of geological activity.
  • Countries/Continents « Our World and Everything in It 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.blogsmonroe.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 broad, of which the Challenger Deep (11,400 ft.) and the great Tuscarora Deep are fragments. .If on a map of the world a broad inked brush be swept seawards round Africa, passing into the Mediterranean, round North and South America, round India, then continuously south of Java and round Australia south of Tasmania and northward to the tropic, this broad band will represent the encircling ribbon-like "deep," which gives strength to the suggestion that the continents in their main features are permanent forms and that their structural connexion with the oceans is not temporary and accidental.^ The authors show the origin of the idea of the continent in ancient Greece and show its continued use throughout the centuries even as the addition of the Americas and Australia to the world map caused more and more incongruities with the original Greek and medieval world system.
  • Amazon.com: The Myth of Continents: A Critique of Metageography (9780520207431): Martin W. Lewis, Kären E. Wigen: Books 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.amazon.com [Source type: General]

 ^ (SD 2:333-4)     The similar geological structure of parts of the opposing Atlantic coastlines and the fossil similarities in certain periods show that 'there has been, in distant pre-historic ages, a continent which extended from the coast of Venezuela, across the Atlantic Ocean, to the Canarese Islands and North Africa, and from Newfoundland nearly to the coast of France' (SD 2:791).
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Human geography List of cities by population List of continents by population List of countries by population density List of countries by population in 1907 List of countries by population in 2005 Lists of countries in various regions by populations: Africa Americas Caribbean islands Latin America North America South America Arab states Asia East Asia East Asia and Southeast Asia Southeast Asia Commonwealth of Nations Europe European Union member states Middle East Oceania List of regional organizations by population List of religious populations World population .
  • List of countries by population - Robert Mugabe 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC www.w2.freedom.edu.pl [Source type: Academic]

 .The great protruding or "squeezed" segments are the Eurasian (with an area roughly of twenty-four, reckoning in millions of square miles), strongly ridged on the south and east, and relatively flat on the north-west; the African (twelve), rather strongly ridged on the east, less abruptly on the west and north; the North American (ten), strongly ridged on the west, more gently on the east, and relatively flat on the north and in the interior; the South American (nine), strongly ridged on the west and somewhat on the north-east and south-east, leaving ten for the smaller blocks.^ Even the North Pole is loved more then south Americans .
  • Earth At Night - Continents | TheContaminated - Cool Pictures, Weird Pictures, Funny Pictures 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC thecontaminated.com [Source type: General]

 ^ Ishtar 05.17.07 at 3:24 pm I get your point, and I’m also one of those “white Africans” (more than twenty years in North- and West Africa), but where I come from, computers for 100 dollars won’t do much for the kids growing up in a sea of sand, with their whole family living off less than a dollar per day.
  • The Dark Continent: It’s Still Dark — WhiteAfrican 19 January 2010 8:49 UTC whiteafrican.com [Source type: Original source]

 ^ There, an area of 750,000 square miles has been uplifted from approximately sea level to a mean elevation of roughly three miles, and the Himalayan mountain chain bordering this region has floated upward some five miles, and rather late in geologic time, probably within the last 20,000,000 years.
  • In the Beginning: Compelling Evidence for Creation and the Flood - Ice Age.  An ice age implies extreme snowfall which, in turn, requires cold temperatures and heavy precipitation. Heavy precipitation can occur only if oceans are warm enough to produce equally heavy evaporation. How could warm oceans exist with cold atmospheric temperatures? 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.creationscience.com [Source type: Original source]

 .The sum of these will represent one-third of the earth's surface, while the remaining two-thirds is covered by the ocean.^ As one researcher said: “These increases in jellyfish should be a warning sign that our oceans are stressed and unhealthy.” Do ya think?
  • Countries/Continents « Our World and Everything in It 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.blogsmonroe.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ In any case, with two circles you’d have a line through the earth and a third circle would give you a nice warm point somewhere near the middle.
  • Center of Population « xkcd 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC blag.xkcd.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]

 ^ We want to minimize Sum m_i (x_i-x_0)^2 with the constraint that x_0 lies on the surface of the earth.
  • Center of Population « xkcd 20 September 2009 7:24 UTC blag.xkcd.com [Source type: FILTERED WITH BAYES]
The foundation structure of the continents is everywhere similar. .Their resulting rocks and soils are due to differential minor movements in the past, by which deposits of varying character were produced.^ Landslide Downslope movement of rock, soil, and mud.

 .These movements, taking place periodically and followed by long periods of rest, produce continued stability for the development and migration of forms of life, the grading of rivers, the development of varied characteristic land forms, the migration and settlement of human beings, the facility or difficulty of intelligent intercourse between races and communities, with finally the commercial interchange of those commodities produced by varying climatic conditions upon different parts of the continental surface; in short, for those geographical factors which form the chief product of past and present human history.^ Theosophy teaches that a series of seven root-races or humanities will evolve on earth during the present fourth round, each living on its own 'continent'.
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ Geological and climatic changes then led to a series of migrations to the newly risen lands (SOP 16-25, 137).
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 ^ After all, all the major continents are known to have very ancient nuclei or shield areas that have remained stable and largely above water for very long periods.
  • Theosophy & the 7 continents 30 January 2010 1:47 UTC www.davidpratt.info [Source type: Original source]

 (See GEOGRAPHY.)


Wiktionary

Up to date as of January 14, 2010

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

See also continent

English

Proper noun

Singular
the Continent
Plural
-
the Continent
  1. Mainland Europe.

External links


Simple English

File:Continents vide
A map showing the continents:
    North America
    South America
    Antarctica
    Africa
    Europe
    Asia
    Oceania

A continent is a large area of the land on Earth that is joined together. In general it is agreed there are seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and South America.[1][2]

Most sources say that Australia is one of the seven continents[3]. Others believe that Australia is part of another continent called Oceania. They believe that Oceania is a region which includes Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.[4]

Some say that North America and South America are one continent. Some say that Europe and Asia are only parts of a continent called Eurasia. Some even say that Eurasia and Africa are one continent called Eurafrasia.

When British people talk about "the Continent" (or "Continental") they mean the European mainland.[5] This meaning is not used as much as it used to be, but is still seen in phrases like "Continental breakfast" (rolls with cheese, jam etc as distinct from an "English breakfast" which is a cooked breakfast).

Continents not only move but also sometimes crash into each other. The Indian subcontinent has been colliding with the Eurasian continent. As these continents push against each other, they buckle and bend. Because of this, the Himalaya Mountains, where Mount Everest is, are still being made today.[6]

Other pages

References

  1. ↑ Continent (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  2. ↑ "Continents: What is a Continent?". National Geographic. http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/places/continents/. Retrieved 2009-08-22.  "Most people recognize seven continents—Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia, from largest to smallest—although sometimes Europe and Asia are considered a single continent, Eurasia."
  3. ↑ World fact book - Australia
  4. ↑ Worldatlas.com - Australia
  5. ↑ "Encarta World English Dictionary". Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.. 2007. Archived from the original on 2009-10-31. http://www.webcitation.org/5kwRKDyZ6. Retrieved 2008-08-05. 
  6. ↑ Earth Science. United States of America: Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 2001. pp. 211. ISBN 0-03-055667-8. 
krc:Континент


frr:Wrååldiile

Retrieved from "http://yak.rapint.com/wiki/Continent"

Citable sentences

Up to date as of December 04, 2010

Here are sentences from other pages on Continent, which are similar to those in the above article.








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