Continents, Oceans, and World Maps

The Seven Continents#

Earth is divided into large land masses called continents. There are seven continents on Earth. Let us meet each one!

The Seven Continents#

1. Asia

• The largest continent by both size and population
• Home to more than 4.5 billion people — over half the world's population
• Contains the world's highest mountain (Mount Everest) and largest country (Russia partially, but Kazakhstan, China, India are major Asian nations)
• Includes countries like China, India, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia

2. Africa

• The second largest continent
• 54 countries — more than any other continent
• Contains the world's largest hot desert (the Sahara) and longest river (the Nile)
• Includes countries like Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt

3. North America

• Includes Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central American countries
• Contains the world's largest freshwater lake system (the Great Lakes)
• Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Atlantic to the east

4. South America

• Contains the Amazon Rainforest — the world's largest tropical rainforest
• The Andes Mountains run along the entire western coast
• Includes Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia

5. Antarctica

• The coldest continent and the least explored
• Covered entirely by ice — contains 70% of Earth's fresh water
• No permanent human population, but scientists live there in research stations

6. Europe

• Relatively small but historically very inflüntial
• Includes the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and about 44 other countries

7. Australia (Oceania)

• The smallest continent
• Also called Oceania when including the Pacific island nations
• Country of Australia takes up most of the continent

Memory Trick for the Continents:#

Some people remember them with the phrase: "Eat An Apple As A Nice Snack" — Europe, Antarctica, Asia, Africa, Australia, North America, South America