TOPIC 2.MAJOR FEATURES OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE
MAJOR FEATURES OF THE EARTH'S SURFACE
Continents
Meaning of a Continent
Explain
the meaning of a continent
The
land surface occupies 29% of the surface of the globe, and the remaining 71% is
covered by water. The land surface forms seven continents. A continent is a
major landmass rising from the ocean floor. It includes islands adjacent to the
continent. There are seven continents namely, Africa, Asia, South America,
North America, Europe, Australia and Antarctica. These continents are
surrounded by the following oceans: The Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the
Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean and the Southern ocean.
There is more land surface in the northern hemisphere than in
the southern hemisphere but there is more water surface in the southern
hemisphere than in the northern hemisphere. The continents are broader in the
northern hemisphere. The seven continents that make up the globe are explained
below:
1. Australia: Australia
is the smallest continent and it is about a quarter of the size of Africa. Its
size is about 8.5 million square kilometres. Australia is approximately 10°S
and 40°S and between 115°E and 150°E. The islands of New Zealand to the south
east of Australia are part of this continent. The continent is bordered to the
west and north by the Indian Ocean, to the east by the Pacific Ocean, and to
the south by the Southern Ocean.
2. Europe: Europe
is the sixth continent in size and it is about two-fifth the size of Africa.
The size of Europe is 9.8 million square kilometres. Most of Europe lies
between 40°N and the 1 Arctic circle, and between 10°W and 60°E. It lies to the
west of Asia, separated by the Ural Mountains. Europe is bordered to the north
by the Arctic Ocean, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the south by the
Mediterranean Sea.
3. Antarctica: Antarctica
is the fifth continent in size and it is about one-third the size of Africa.
Its area is about 11.4 million square kilometres. This is the southernmost
continent, forming a circle at the South Pole and extends south of 661⁄2°S. It
is surrounded by the southern ocean. The continent is mostly uninhabited.
4. North America: North
America is the fourth continent in size and it is slightly more than half the
size of Africa. Its size is about 17.9 million square kilometres. If extends
from 10°N to 65°N and from 60°W to 160°W. It is bordered to the west by the
Pacific Ocean, to the East by the Atlantic Ocean, and the North by the Arctic
Ocean.
5. South America: South
America is the third largest continent and it is about two-thirds the size of
Africa. Its size is about 24.3 million square kilometres. It lies between 10°N
and 50°S and between 35°W and 80°W. This continent is bordered to the east by
the Atlantic Ocean, to the West by the Pacific Ocean, and it is joined to North
America by the Isthmus of Panama.
6. Africa: Africa
is the second largest continent with an area of about 3.6 square kilometres.
Africa extends from 37°N to 35°S and from 50°W to 50°E and it is crossed by
Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Thus the greater part, about three quarters of
the whole area lies in the tropics. Africa is bordered to the north by the
Mediterranean Sea, to the west by the Atlantic Ocean, and to the East by the
Indian Ocean.
7. Asia: Asia is
the largest of all continents. It covers more than one third of the land
surface of the earth. It is approximately one and a half times the size of
Africa. Its total area is about 45.6 million square kilometres. Asia stretches
from 0° to 67°N and from 30°E to about 18°E. The Ural Mountains form the
boundary between Asia and Europe. This continent is attached to Africa by the
narrow Isthmus of Suez which has been dug to form the Suez Canal. The continent
is bordered to the North by the Arctic Ocean, to the East by the Pacific Ocean,
and to the South by the Indian Ocean.
