The article tells about what continents are, how they formed, what they are now and what, according to scientists, were before.
Ancient times
Even in time immemorial, people were interested in the size of our world. Various travelers tried to discover new lands and lands, but due to the complexity of this process, only from the Middle Ages began the widespread development of new continents. Especially this process began to occupy people from the moment of the final confirmation that the planet is round, which means that, on the opposite side of the Earth, there may be other continents to which no one has yet reached. So what are continents? How many are there, how are they different, and have they always been like they are now? This we will understand.
Terminology
According to the official encyclopedic definition, a continent is an array of the earth's crust, most of which is located above sea level, the so-called land. In addition to it, islands can also be attributed to continents. This name is part of the earth, washed on all sides by water. But this is true only if they are on the periphery of the mainland. And by the way, the mainland and the continent are one and the same thing; it’s right to use both of these definitions. What are the continents we have made out, but what are they?
Eurasia
The largest continent of the planet. It is located in two hemispheres (northern and southern), but most of it falls on the southern. It is washed immediately by four oceans, conditionally divided into Asia and Europe. It is distinguished by the diversity of natural zones, the population and its culture.
North America
This continent is located in the northern part of the western hemisphere. It is washed by the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific. With its southern "neighbor" is divided by the Panama Canal. It also has a large number of natural areas, ranging from the Arctic (in Alaska) to hot deserts (in the south) and the tropics. Its widespread settlement began in 1492, although there is evidence that the Vikings were the first Europeans to be there.
South America
Located in the southern part of the western hemisphere. Surrounded by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the mainland also includes many islands that belong to certain countries. For example, the Caribbean. This mainland is characterized by a tropical climate closer to the south and arid to the north, and the largest Amazon river flows on it . The population consists mainly of descendants of the first colonialists and ethnic Indians.
Africa
Describing the continents of the world, one cannot fail to mention this continent, the second largest after Eurasia. It crosses the equator and the only one originates in the northern subtropical zone and ends in the southern subtropical. Due to the lack of mountain glaciers and the aquifer, the central part of it is largely arid and natural climate control is only near the coast. It is washed by the Mediterranean and the Red Seas, also by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. In the southern part there is one of the largest islands called Madagascar. Separated from the main continent millions of years ago, it is rich in its fauna, which still attracts scientists and naturalists.
Australia
The fifth continent, is located in the southern hemisphere (its eastern part). It is washed by the seas of the Pacific Ocean and the Indian. A part of the world called Oceania is also located next to this mainland.
Antarctica
The map of the continents also includes Antarctica - a cold and inhospitable mainland. His study began in the late XIX and early XX centuries. A distinctive feature is that it is located at the very south pole, which is why the whole is covered with a thick layer of ice, and the minimum recorded temperature was 89.2 degrees below zero Celsius. Officially, this area is considered non-residential, but there are a number of research stations around the world.
So now we know what continents are.