Continents

We explain what the continents are and what are their main characteristics. In addition, the origin of their land names and limits.

What is a continent?

A continent is a large extent of emerged land, separated from others by oceans or by a significant geographical accident.

With the exception of Antarctica (which maintains a cold weather all year and has no stable population), each continent presents in its territory a wide variety of geographical accidents, climates, languages ​​and cultures.

There are several models to determine how many continents exist:

• 4 continents. America, Antarctica, Eufrasia (Europe, Africa and Asia) and Oceania.
• 6 geological continents. Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Eurasia (Asia and Europe) and Oceania.
• 6 continents. Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Europe and Oceania. This is the traditional model and the one used in this text.

Geological formation of the continents

In 1915 the German meteorologist Alfred Wegener published his book “The origin of the continents and the oceans.” In that book Wegener postulates his theory that the continents had not always been separated as they are today, but at some point in the geological past They were united and formed a single supercontinent.

Wegener named this supercontinent “Pangea” and estimated that he began to separate approximately 200 million years ago. This meant for Wegener that the continents could move and that for that They had separated from Pangea until you reach the location that are currently.

Throughout the twentieth century other theories appeared that confirmed Wegener’s idea, so today there is some consensus on the geological formation of the continents. Today it is known that The earth’s crust is divided into tectonic platesand that under the cortex is the mantle, composed mainly of semi -dialy material called “magma.”

The magma, due to pressure and temperature differences inside the earth, moves. The tectonic plates, as supported by magma, also move and that is why they derived from Pangea to the current location.

The movement of tectonic plates produced important modifications on the surface of the Earth. For example, the Atlantic Ocean was formed, which did not exist during Pangea, and formed, as a consequence of the clash between tectonic plates, many volcanoes of volcanoes and mountains.

Africa

Africa is a continent completely surrounded by seas and oceans, since it is between the Atlantic Ocean (which limits it to the west) the Indian Ocean (which limits it to the east) and the Mediterranean Sea (which limits it to the north and separates it from Europe). In addition, it is separated from Asia by the Red Sea and the isthmus of Suez.

The total area of ​​Africa is 30,272,922 square kilometers and its population is more than 1320 million inhabitants. In its territory there are 54 countries. Although its relief is predominantly of plain, there are also mountainous chains such as Atlas and East Africa, where Mount Kilimanjaro is located, the highest from the continent with 5890 meters high.

Due to the rainy weather and its predominantly flat relief, the African continent is characterized by the presence of long and caudalous rivers. The most extensive are the Nile River (the second largest in the world with 6650 kilometers long), Congo and the Niger.

America

This continent is completely surrounded by oceans: the Arctic Ocean to the north, the Pacific Ocean to the west, the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the confluence of the Atlantic and Pacific to the south.

Its relief is characterized by the presence of an extensive mountain range which crosses the continent from north to south by the end west. This mountain range is known as “rock mountains” in North America and “Andes Cordillera” in South America.

America is also characterized by the presence of extensive and caudalous rivers of plain. The longest on the continent are the Amazon (the largest in the world), the Mississippi and the Paraná.

Its surface of 42,500,000 square kilometers is divided into three subcontinents:

• North America. With a huge area of ​​24,700,000 km2, it is made up of Canada, Mexico, the United States and Greenland. Its population is approximately 500 million inhabitants.
• Central America. It is the region with the lowest surface of America, with 800,000 km2, and approximately 105 million inhabitants. It is made up of 20 independent countries. It is an area of ​​great volcanic and seismic activity. Because of its location near Ecuador, it is characterized by a warm and humid climate.
• South America. With an area of ​​17,800,000 km2, it houses more than 423 million inhabitants distributed in 12 countries. Here is the Aconcagua, the highest peak in America.

Antarctica

Antarctica is a continental mass and a set of islands located around the South Pole. The whole continent is covered with iceand is only inhabited by organisms adapted to extreme climatic conditions.

Antarctica, with more than 14 million square kilometers of extension, is the only continent that has no permanent population, and only has temporary inhabitants whose number varies between 1,000 and 4,000 according to the time of the year. Most of these people belong to scientific expeditions sent by countries that manage some sector of the Antarctic continent, such as Russia, Chile, the United States, Argentina or Australia.

Asia

It is the continent with the greatest surface: 44,541,138 km2. Also It is the continent with the greatest populationwith 45 billion inhabitants. It limits with the North Arctic Glacier Ocean, the South Indian Ocean, the Pacific Ocean to the West and the Urales to the East Montes.

It is composed of 48 countries, and although in its relief, plateaus and plains predominate, high mountain systems can also be found to the center and west, such as the Himalayas mountain range where Mount Everest is located, the highest on the planet, with 8848 meters high.

His great extension and the wet of most of his climates also determines the presence of Large river basins and long rivers. The most extensive are the Yagntsé river, yellow and mekong.

Europe

Europe is located in the northern hemisphere. Is the second smallest continent with an area of ​​10,530,751 square kilometers. Its population is 740 million inhabitants, with a population density of 70 inhabitants per square kilometer.

It is composed of 47 countries and other states such as Monaco or the Vatican, which are territories with special status. In its relief, Mount Elbrús stands out, with a height of 5,633 meters above sea level, in the Caucasus region.

As a result of the wide variety of reliefs and the type of climate that predominates, the European continent has a large number of rivers of different flow and extension. The longest in Europe are Volga, Danube and Ural.

Oceania

Oceania is the smallest continent, with an extension of 8,700,000 km² and an approximate population of 42 million inhabitants. It is composed of a central continental platform (Australia) and the islands of New Guinea, New Zealand, Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia.

Australia represents 89 % of the continent. Its relief consists of a large plateau, a group of plains and a large dividing mountain range. Most of the islands that make up the continent are mountainous and volcanic, and famous for its paradisiacal landscapes.

For the geological and climatic characteristics of the continent, There are no big rivers. The most extensive is the Murray River, in Australia, with 2500 kilometers of extension.

Why are they called that?

In most cases there is no agreement on the origin of the names of the continents and there are several ways to explain their etymology.

• Africa. Some historians argue that it was named by the Romans, who found the Afri people there, and therefore “Africus” would be the land of Afri. Others claim that it comes from the Greek and means “where the sea makes foam.” It is also believed that it has its origin in the term of Latin Africuswhich means “southern wind.”
• Antarctica. His name comes from the Greek word Antarkikoswhich means “the opposite to the north.”
• America. He bears that name in honor of Américo Vespucio, who was the first to suggest that this mass of land to which the European expeditions had reached was a new continent and not a non -discovered portion of Asia.
• Asia. It is believed that the name was used by Herodotus for the first time to refer to the Persian Empire, and that it was then widespread throughout the continent. Another theory suggests that it could come from the name of a Nymph of Greek mythology called “Asia.” It is also believed that it could come from the term Akkhey Asuwhich means “this.”
• Europe. Some historians argue that the name comes from the Phoenician term erebwhich means “west” or “west”, in reference to the western location of the continent with respect to Phenicia. Another theory argues that the name could be related to a Greek goddess called “Europe.”
• Oceania. It is believed that your name can come from the Greek term Okeanos What does ocean mean. “

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References

• García Barcala, J. (2017). Where did the names of the continents come from? Historical science
• Merino, A. (2022). How many continents are in the world? ELORDENMUNDIAL
• Valverde, S. and others (2010). A geography of the world to think. Kapelusz.