7 continents in the world
Continents are massive land masses found on Earth, which are further divided into countries. Every country has its government and laws. This Earth planet has seven such continents, which vary in population, culture, and size. The climates of each continent also differ a lot. The list of the 7 continents in the world, from largest to smallest, is as follows:
- Asia
- Africa
- North America
- South America
- Antarctica
- Europe
- Australia and Oceania
1. Asia
The world’s largest continent is Asia, with almost 48 countries. The largest continent makes up 60% of the world’s population. Additionally, almost one-third of the earth’s surface is covered by Asia. This continent also has the highest peak in the world, known as Mount Everest. Even the whole mountain range of this highest peak is the highest in the world.
Asia is also diverse in spoken languages; hundreds of languages are spoken here. One of its countries, India, alone has 30 official languages. Moreover, the Taj Mahal and the Great Wall of China are two of the seven natural wonders of the world that are found in Asia. These two locations receive the most tourists in Asia. This continent also shares borders with three other neighboring continents: Africa, Europe, and Oceania. Moreover, the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Indian Ocean surround Asia.
2. Africa
Africa is the second-largest and second-most populated continent. It occupies 20.4% of the world’s land. The cultural, biological, and geographical diversity of the African continent is the highest among the world’s seven continents. This one is occasionally referred to as the “mother continent” or “cradle continent” because it is the oldest continent on Earth to have been inhabited. This continent has 54 recognized countries, more than any other continent. 16 of these countries are completely landlocked.
Algeria is the largest country by area, and the smallest country by area is Seychelles. Its largest island, Madagascar, is the world’s fourth-largest island. It is also home to the world’s longest river, the Nile, which runs from south to north, and the largest desert, the Sahara desert, also located in Africa. This continent also has many wild animal species like lions, elephants, zebras, rhinos, and many more. Hippopotamuses in Africa attack humans more than any other animal in Africa. Africa is known as the hottest continent of all.
3. North America
North America makes up 16.5% of the earth’s total land area. Canada, the United States, and Mexico are the three largest countries, but there are 23 countries on this continent. The Mississippi River in the United States is the largest in North America and the fourth-largest worldwide. English, Spanish, and French are the most spoken languages on the continent. Canada has two official languages: English and French.
The Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Caribbean Sea lie on its east, west, north, and south, respectively. Greenland is the biggest island mass in the world that is not a continent. This Island is geographically part of North America, but it is a territory of the Kingdom of Denmark and is politically associated with Europe. North America has a land border with South America called the Isthmus of Panama. This is a narrow strip of land in Panama that is connecting North America and South America. These two continents are specifically separated by a human-made canal, the Panama Canal.
4. South America
The fourth-largest continent on Earth is South America. The Pacific Ocean lies on its western side, the Arctic Ocean on its eastern and northern sides, and the Southern and Arctic Oceans are found on its southern side. This continent has 23 countries and three dependencies. The most spoken language throughout the continent is Spanish, but in its biggest country, Brazil, people speak Portuguese. Many people also speak English as a second language. Quechua is a common language spoken by the indigenous people living in the different countries of the continent.
This continent has the Amazon River, the biggest river in the world by volume, which flows through Brazil, Peru, and Colombia. The highest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, is located in one of its countries, Venezuela. The Andes, the world’s longest mountain range, is also located here. In the beginning, it was a small tribe that grew into a huge, well-organized society. The natural versatility of the continent does not end here. The Amazon rainforest, the biggest rainforest in the world, is located in six South American countries and one French overseas territory. Being the largest rainforest, it is also endowed with a wide variety of wildlife.
5. Antarctica
Antarctica is also called the “white continent,” as it is almost entirely covered with ice; only 2% of its surface is not covered with ice. Its temperature can drop below -80 degrees Celsius. This cold continent is located at the south pole, which is the bottom of the earth. The only continent with no living humans is Antarctica, but there are various species of animals, like penguins, leopard seals, killer whales, fish, and krill. Humans use this continent just for research-related work and tourism. Its intense climate makes it too hard to live on.
The waters of the Southern Ocean have encircled the whole continent. Antarctica is also the world’s largest desert, and this desert is very cold; it is given the title “desert” because it sees very little rain every year. Some valleys in Antarctica have not had rain for more than 2 million years. These valleys are known to be the driest places on Earth….Read more
