A continent is a large landmass surrounded by seas and oceans. In tectonics, continents are characterized as sections of the lithosphere with a continental structure.
Mainland, continent or part of the world? What is the difference?
In geography, another term is often used, denoting the mainland - the continent. But the concepts of "mainland" and "continent" are not synonymous. Different countries have adopted different points of view on the number of continents, called continental models.
There are several such models:
- In China, India, as well as in the English-speaking countries of Europe, it is customary to consider that continents 7 - Europe and Asia, they consider separately;
- In Spanish-speaking European countries, as well as in the countries of South America, they mean the division into 6 parts of the world - with a united America;
- in Greece and some countries of Eastern Europe, a model with 5 continents is adopted - only those where people live, i.e. except for Antarctica;
- in Russia and the countries of Eurasia adjacent to it, they traditionally designate 4 - continents united into large groups.
(The figure clearly shows different representations of continental models on Earth, from 7 to 4)
Continents
There are 6 continents in total on Earth. We list them in descending order by area size:
- - the largest continent on our planet (54.6 million sq. km)
- (30.3 million sq. km)
- (24.4 million sq. km)
- (17.8 million sq. km)
- (14.1 million sq. km)
- (7.7 million sq. km)
All of them are separated by the waters of the seas and oceans. Four continents have a land border: Eurasia and Africa are separated by the Isthmus of Suez, North and South America - the Isthmus of Panama.
Continents
The difference is that the continents do not have a land border. Therefore, in this case, we can talk about 4 continents ( one of the continental models of the world), also in descending order by size:
- AfroEurasia
- America
Parts of the world
The terms "mainland" and "continent" have scientific significance, but the term "part of the world" divides the land on a historical and cultural basis. There are 6 parts of the world, only unlike the continents, Eurasia differs by Europe And Asia, but North and South America are defined together as one part of the world America:
- Europe
- Asia
- America(both North and South), or New World
- Australia and Oceania
Speaking of parts of the world, they mean the islands adjacent to them.
The difference between the mainland and the island
The definition of the mainland and the island is the same - a part of the land washed by the waters of the ocean or seas. But there are significant differences.
1. Size. Even the smallest continent, Australia, is much larger in area than the world's largest island, Greenland.
(Formation of the Earth's continents, a single continent of Pangea)
2. Education. All continents have a tiled origin. According to scientists, there was once a single continent - Pangea. Then, as a result of the split, 2 continents appeared - Gondwana and Laurasia, which later split into 6 more parts. The theory is confirmed both by geological surveys and by the shape of the continents. Many of them can be put together like a puzzle.
Islands are formed in many ways. There are those that, like the continents, are located on the fragments of the most ancient lithospheric plates. Others are formed from volcanic lava. Still others - as a result of the activity of polyps (coral islands).
3. Habitability. All continents are inhabited, even Antarctica, which is harsh in terms of climatic conditions. Many islands are still uninhabited.
Characteristics of the continents
- the largest continent, occupying 1/3 of the land. Two parts of the world are located here at once: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the line of the Ural Mountains, the Black and Azov Seas, as well as the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.
This is the only continent that is washed by all the oceans. The coastline is indented, it forms a large number of bays, peninsulas, islands. The mainland itself is located immediately on six tectonic platforms, and therefore the relief of Eurasia is incredibly diverse.
Here are the most extensive plains, the highest mountains (the Himalayas with Mount Everest), the deepest lake (Baikal). This is the only continent where all climatic zones (and, accordingly, all natural zones) are represented at once - from the arctic with its permafrost to the equatorial with its sultry deserts and jungles.
¾ of the world's population lives on the mainland, 108 states are located here, of which 94 have the status of independent.
- the hottest continent on Earth. Situated on ancient platform, therefore, most of the area is occupied by plains, mountains are formed along the edges of the mainland. Africa is home to the longest river in the world, the Nile, and the largest desert, the Sahara. Climate types presented on the mainland: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical.
Africa is usually divided into five regions: North, South, West, East and Central. There are 62 countries on the mainland.
It is washed by the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The result of the movement of tectonic plates was a heavily indented coastline of the mainland, with a huge number of bays, straits, bays and islands. The largest island is in the north (Greenland).
The Cordillera Mountains stretch along the western coast, and the Appalachians along the eastern coast. The central part is occupied by a vast plain.
All climatic zones are represented here, except for the equatorial one, which determines the diversity of natural zones. Most rivers and lakes are located in the northern part. The largest river is the Mississippi.
The indigenous people are Indians and Eskimos. Currently, 23 states are located here, of which only three (Canada, the United States and Mexico) are on the mainland itself, the rest are on the islands.
It is washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Along the west coast stretches the world's longest mountain system - the Andes, or South American Cordillera. The rest of the mainland is occupied by plateaus, plains and lowlands.
This is the rainiest continent, since most of it is located in the equator zone. Here is the largest and most abundant river in the world - the Amazon.
The indigenous people are the Indians. Currently, there are 12 independent states on the territory of the mainland.
- the only continent on the territory of which there is only 1 state - the Commonwealth of Australia. Most of the mainland is occupied by plains, mountains are located only along the coast.
Australia is a unique continent with the largest number of endemic animals and plants. The indigenous people are Australian Aborigines, or Bushmen.
- the southernmost continent, completely covered with ice. The average thickness of the ice cover is 1600 m, the largest is 4000 m. If the ice in Antarctica melted, the level of the world's oceans would immediately rise by 60 meters!
Most of the mainland is occupied by an icy desert, life is glimmering only on the coasts. Antarctica is also the coldest continent. In winter, temperatures can drop below -80 ºC (record -89.2 ºC), in summer - up to -20 ºC.
It is not enough just to know what a globe is. You need to learn how to read it correctly in order to learn a lot of new and interesting things. In this lesson, we will learn what the colors on the globe mean. Let's learn the names of oceans and continents, talk about their features and differences. Let's get acquainted with the amazing wonders of nature, flora and fauna.
Why is there the most blue and cyan on the globe? Most of the earth's surface is covered with water. In a photograph taken from space, all bodies of water appear blue. This color on the globe indicates the oceans and seas, rivers and lakes.
Rice. 2. Earth from space ()
But if you look closely, you can see that in different places the ocean is marked with different shades. This is done to show depth: the deeper the ocean, the darker the blue color, and the shallower the depth, the lighter the paint on the globe. - these are huge expanses of bitter-salty water that surround the continents and islands.
Pacific Ocean- the largest on earth.
Rice. 4. Physical map of the Pacific Ocean ()
This name was given to him by the navigator Ferdinand Magellan, because during his journey on sailing ships this ocean was calm. Although in reality the Pacific Ocean is not at all quiet, especially in its western part, where it raises and drives huge waves - tsunami bringing a lot of trouble to the inhabitants of the Japanese islands.
Mariana Trench- the deepest place in the world. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, its depth is eleven kilometers thirty-four meters.
Rice. 6. Mariana Trench ()
Previously, Europeans did not even suspect the existence of the Pacific Ocean. They knew only one ocean - Atlantic, which seemed limitless, so it was named after the strongest hero of Greek myths, Atlanta.
Rice. 7. Physical map of the Atlantic Ocean ()
In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is the second largest after the Pacific, the greatest depth of the ocean is 5 kilometers. In the Atlantic Ocean there are huge waves as high as a three-story house.
Indian Ocean especially restless in its southern part. It is warmer than others, even in the northern part of the Indian Ocean waters warm up to + 35 degrees.
Rice. 8. Physical map of the Indian Ocean ()
Arctic- the northernmost region, covered in a thick layer of ice and snow in winter and summer. At the North Pole is the fourth ocean, almost its entire surface is covered with thick hard ice, and around many meters of snowdrifts. That's why this ocean was named Arctic.
Rice. 9. Physical map of the Arctic Ocean
Relatively recently, scientific oceanographers began to distinguish the fifth, South ocean.
Rice. 10. Physical map of Antarctica ()
Previously, this ocean was considered as the southern parts of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. All the oceans together: Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Arctic and Southern - merge together into a single world Ocean, which washes the entire globe.
On the globe, green, yellow, brown and white colors depict large areas of land, which are called continents. On the ground six continents: Eurasia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, North America, South America.
Eurasia- the largest continent, within its limits lie two parts of the world: Europe and Asia.
Rice. 11. Physical map of Eurasia ()
It is the only continent on Earth washed by four oceans: the Arctic in the north, the Indian in the south, the Atlantic in the west and the Pacific in the east. On this continent is our homeland Russia.
Rice. 12. Russia on the map of Eurasia ()
The surface of the mainland is very diverse. Mountains and plains are the main forms of the earth's surface. Brown color indicates the location of the mountains, and green and yellow indicate the plains. The largest of them West Siberian(flat plain) Eastern European(hilly plain).
Rice. 13. West Siberian Plain ()
Rice. 14. Physical map of the East European Plain ()
Rough blue lines drawn along the surface of the continents indicate rivers on the globe. Rivers flow through the East European Plain Volga, Don, Dnieper, a river flows along the West Siberian Plain Ob. Mountains rise above the surface of the plains. The higher the mountains, the darker their color on the globe. Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world.
Rice. 15. Himalaya mountains ()
Jamalungma (Everest)- the highest mountain in the world (8 km 708 m).
Rice. 16. Mount Jamalungma ()
Located in Eurasia Baikal- deepest lake
Rice. 17. Lake Baikal ()
The largest lake
Rice. 18. Caspian Sea ()
the largest peninsula Arabian,
Rice. 19. Coast of the Arabian Peninsula ()
the lowest point on land in the world Dead Sea.
Rice. 20. Dead Sea ()
Rice. 21. Pole of cold Oymyakon ()
Africa- This is the second largest continent, which is located on both sides of the equator, washed by the Atlantic Ocean from the west and the Indian Ocean from the east and south.
Rice. 22. Physical map of Africa ()
Africa is known for the diversity of nature: impenetrable rainforests with orchids,
Rice. 23. Rainforest ()
grassy plains with baobabs (huge trees up to forty meters in circumference),
vast expanses of deserts.
Rice. 25. Desert in Africa ()
Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. Here it is Sahara Desert.
Rice. 26. Sahara Desert ()
This is the largest desert in the world and the hottest place on Earth (the maximum recorded temperature is +58 degrees). On this mainland flows Nile is the second longest river in the world.
Rice. 27. River Nile ()
Volcano kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa.
Rice. 28. Mount Kilimanjaro ()
Victoria, Tanganyika, Chad are the largest lakes on this continent.
Rice. 29. Lake Victoria ()
Rice. 30. Lake Tanganyika ()
Rice. 31. Lake Chad ()
In the Western Hemisphere are North America And South America, they are washed from the west by the Pacific Ocean, from the east by the Atlantic, and North America is also washed by the Arctic Ocean from the north.
Rice. 32. Physical map of North America
Rice. 33. Physical map of South America
North America also includes the largest island on Earth, it is called Greenland.
Rice. 34. Coast of Greenland ()
These continents are rich in both rivers and lakes. One of the world's greatest rivers flows through North America. Mississippi,
Rice. 35. Mississippi River ()
and in South America the river is located, the largest in the world in terms of fullness and length.
Rice. 36. Amazon ()
On the coast of North America is a bay fandi, which, in addition to its incredible beauty, is famous for the largest tides in the world, more than seventeen meters.
Rice. 37. Bay of Fundy ()
Just imagine, millions of tons of water come ashore in twelve hours and then move away from it. South America is home to the tallest waterfall in the world. Angel, its total height is 979 meters.
Rice. 38. Angel Falls ()
It seems as if it is shrouded in fog - it is a curtain of tiny particles of water that is sprayed, falling from such a great height. The most powerful waterfall in the world is located on the same mainland. Iguazu.
Rice. 39. Iguazu Falls ()
Although in fact it is a whole complex of 270 individual waterfalls, which has a width of about 2.7 km. The driest place in the world is located in South America - the desert Atacama.
Rice. 40. Atacama Desert ()
In some parts of this desert, rain falls once every few decades.
Australia- the fifth continent, which is smaller than all the others. The Pacific Ocean washes the northern and eastern coasts, the Indian Ocean - the western and southern.
Rice. 41. Physical map of Australia
Most of the mainland is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, there are very few rivers, which is why Australia is considered the driest continent on Earth. Common here screams(English creek - rivulet) - rivers that exist only during the rainy season and completely dry up for most of the year.
The surface of the Earth has an extremely uneven relief. Deep depressions are filled with water, the rest of the planet is represented by land. All this together - oceans and continents. They differ from each other in size, climate, shape, geographical location.
Interaction of oceans and continents
Despite the fact that the world's water and land have a number of distinctive properties, they are inextricably linked with each other. The map of continents and oceans is evidence of this (see below). Water continuously affects the processes taking place on land. In turn, the continents form the features of the oceans. In addition, interaction occurs in both the animal world and the plant world.
The geography of the continents and oceans demonstrates clear boundaries between water and land areas. Continents are placed on the surface of the planet unevenly. Most of them are located in. That is why the South is called hydrological in science. Continents and are also divided into two groups relative to the equator. Those that stand above the line belong to the northern half, the rest to the southern.
Each continent borders on the world's waters. So what oceans wash the continents? The Atlantic and Indian border on four continents, the Arctic - on three, the Pacific - on all except Africa. In total, there are 6 continents and 4 oceans on the planet. The boundaries between them are uneven, embossed.
Pacific Ocean
It has the largest water area among other pools. A map of the continents and oceans shows that it washes all continents except Africa. It includes dozens of large seas, the total area of which is about 180 million square meters. km. Through it connects with the Arctic Ocean. It shares a pool with the other two.
The maximum depth of the water area is the Mariana Trench - more than 11 km. The total volume of the basin is 724 million cubic meters. km. The seas occupy only 8% of the area of the Pacific Ocean. The study of the water area began in the 15th century by Chinese geographers.
Atlantic Ocean
It ranks second in size in the world basin. As is customary, each comes from an ancient term or deity. Atlantic is named after the famous Greek titan Atlas. The water area extends from Antarctica to subarctic latitudes. It borders on all other oceans, even the Pacific (through Cape Horn). One of the largest straits is the Hudson. They connect the Atlantic basin with the Arctic.
The seas make up about 16% of the total ocean area. The basin area is just over 91.5 million square meters. km. Most of the Atlantic seas are inland, and only a small part of them are coastal (up to 1%).
Arctic Ocean
It has the smallest water area on the planet. It is located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. Occupied territory - 14.75 million square meters. km. At the same time, the volume of the basin is about 18.1 million cubic meters. km of water. The deepest point is considered to be the depression of the Greenland Sea - 5527 m.
The relief of the bottom of the water area is represented by the margins of the continents and a large shelf. The Arctic Ocean is conditionally divided into the Arctic, Canadian and European basins. A distinctive feature of the water area is a thick ice cover, which can persist all 12 months of the year, constantly drifting. Due to the harsh cold climate, the ocean is not as rich in fauna and flora as the rest. Nevertheless, important trade shipping routes pass through it.
Indian Ocean
It occupies one fifth of the world's water surface. It is noteworthy that each name of the oceans has either a geographical or theological background. The only difference is the Indian Basin. Its name has more of a historical background. The ocean was named after the first Asian country that became known to the Old World - in honor of India.
The water area covers an area of 76.17 million square meters. km. Its volume is about 282.6 million cubic km. It washes 4 continents and borders the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It has the widest basin in the world's water spaces - more than 10 thousand kilometers.
Eurasian continent
It is the largest continent on the planet. Eurasia is located predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere. In terms of territory, the continent occupies almost half of the world's land. Its area is about 53.6 million square meters. km. The islands occupy only 5% of Eurasia - less than 3 million square meters. km.
All oceans and continents are interconnected. As for the Eurasian continent, it is washed by all 4 oceans. The border line is strongly indented, deep-water. The mainland is composed of 2 parts of the world: Asia and Europe. The border between them runs along the Ural Mountains, the rivers Manych, Ural, Kuma, Black, Caspian, Marmara, Mediterranean Seas and a number of straits.
South America
Oceans and continents in this part of the planet are located mainly in the Western Hemisphere. The continent is washed by the Atlantic and Pacific basins. It borders North America through the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus of Panama.
The mainland includes dozens of medium and small islands. Most of the inland water basin is represented by such rivers as the Orinoco, Amazon and Parana. Together they make up an area of 7 million square meters. km. The total area of South America is about 17.8 million square meters. km. There are few lakes on the continent, most of them are located near the Andes mountains, for example, Lake Titicaca.
It is worth noting that on the territory of the mainland there is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel.
North America
It is located in It is washed by all oceans except Indian. The coastal area includes the seas (Bering, Labrador, Caribbean, Beaufort, Greenland, Baffin) and St. Lawrence, Hudson, Mexican). North America shares a common border with South America along the Panama Canal.
The most significant island systems are the Canadian and Alexandrian archipelagos, Greenland and Vancouver. The continent covers an area of more than 24 million square meters. km, excluding islands - about 20 million square meters. km.
African mainland
In terms of territorial area, it ranks second after Eurasia, with which it borders in the northeast. It is washed only by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The largest coastal sea is the Mediterranean. It is noteworthy that Africa is both a continent and part of the world.
In this region of the planet, oceans and continents cross several climatic zones and the equator at once. In turn, Africa stretches from the northern to the southern subtropical belt. That is why the level of precipitation is extremely low here. Hence there are problems with fresh water and irrigation.
Mainland Antarctica
It is the coldest and most lifeless continent. It is located at the South Pole of the Earth. Antarctica, like Africa, is a continent and part of the world. All adjacent islands belong to the territorial possessions.
Antarctica is considered the highest continent in the world. Its average height fluctuates around 2040 meters. Most of the land is occupied by glaciers. There is no population on the mainland, only a few dozen stations with scientists. There are about 150 subglacial lakes within the continent.
Australian mainland
The continent is located in the Southern Hemisphere. The entire territory that it occupies belongs to the state of Australia. It is washed by such seas of the Pacific and Indian Ocean as Coral, Timor, Arafura and others. The largest adjacent islands are Tasmania and New Guinea.
The continent is part of the part of the world referred to as Australia and Oceania. Its area is about 7.7 million square meters. km.
Australia has 4 time zones. In the northeast of the mainland, the coast is represented by the world's largest coral reef.
3. Find five oceans of the Earth on the globe and write their names. Mark them with numbers on the globe drawings.
1. Arctic Ocean.
2. Atlantic Ocean.
3. Indian Ocean.
4. Pacific Ocean.
5. Southern Ocean.
4. Read the text. Determine with the help of a globe and write what oceans are in question.
1. The coast of Antarctica is washed by the Southern Ocean.
2. An ocean that is entirely in the Northern Hemisphere is Arctic.
3. Oceans through which the equator passes: Quiet, Atlantic, Indian.
5. Find the continents on the globe and write their names in the sentences.
1. The mainland on which our country is located - Russia, is called Eurasia.
2. The equator crosses the continents: South America, Africa.
6. Read the statements. Check their correctness with a globe. If the statement is correct, write yes.
The Arctic Ocean is located in the Northern Hemisphere. Yes
The South Pole is located on the mainland of South America. No
Continents and oceans on the globe
The planet we live on
It is not enough just to know what a globe is. You need to learn how to read it correctly in order to learn a lot of new and interesting things. In this lesson, we will learn what the colors on the globe mean. Let's learn the names of oceans and continents, talk about their features and differences. Let's get acquainted with the amazing wonders of nature, flora and fauna.
Look closely at the globe. There are many colors on it: blue, cyan, green, yellow, brown and white. This is done in order to tell us as much as possible about the Earth.
Why is there the most blue and cyan on the globe? Most of the earth's surface is covered with water. In a photograph taken from space, all bodies of water appear blue. This color on the globe indicates the oceans and seas, rivers and lakes.
Rice. 2. Earth from space ()
But if you look closely, you can see that in different places the ocean is marked with different shades. This is done to show depth: the deeper the ocean, the darker the blue color, and the shallower the depth, the lighter the paint on the globe. - these are huge expanses of bitter-salty water that surround the continents and islands.
Pacific Ocean- the largest on earth.
Rice. 4. Physical map of the Pacific Ocean ()
This name was given to him by the navigator Ferdinand Magellan, because during his journey on sailing ships this ocean was calm. Although in reality the Pacific Ocean is not at all quiet, especially in its western part, where it raises and drives huge waves - tsunami bringing a lot of trouble to the inhabitants of the Japanese islands.
Mariana Trench- the deepest place in the world. It is located in the Pacific Ocean, its depth is eleven kilometers thirty-four meters.
Rice. 6. Mariana Trench ()
Previously, Europeans did not even suspect the existence of the Pacific Ocean. They knew only one ocean - Atlantic, which seemed limitless, so it was named after the strongest hero of Greek myths, Atlanta.
Rice. 7. Physical map of the Atlantic Ocean ()
In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is the second largest after the Pacific, the greatest depth of the ocean is 5 kilometers. In the Atlantic Ocean there are huge waves as high as a three-story house.
Indian Ocean especially restless in its southern part. It is warmer than others, even in the northern part of the Indian Ocean waters warm up to + 35 degrees.
Rice. 8. Physical map of the Indian Ocean ()
Arctic- the northernmost region, covered in a thick layer of ice and snow in winter and summer. At the North Pole there is a fourth ocean, almost its entire surface is covered with thick strong ice, and many meters of snow drifts around. That's why this ocean was named Arctic.
Rice. 9. Physical map of the Arctic Ocean
Relatively recently, scientific oceanographers began to distinguish the fifth, South ocean.
Rice. 10. Physical map of Antarctica ()
Previously, this ocean was considered as the southern parts of the Indian, Atlantic and Pacific oceans. All the oceans together: Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Arctic and Southern - merge together into a single world Ocean, which washes the entire globe.
On the globe, green, yellow, brown and white colors depict large areas of land, which are called continents. On the ground six continents: Eurasia, Africa, Australia, Antarctica, North America, South America.
Eurasia- the largest continent, within its limits lie two parts of the world: Europe and Asia.
Rice. 11. Physical map of Eurasia ()
It is the only continent on Earth washed by four oceans: the Arctic in the north, the Indian in the south, the Atlantic in the west and the Pacific in the east. On this continent is our homeland Russia.
Rice. 12. Russia on the map of Eurasia ()
The surface of the mainland is very diverse. Mountains and plains are the main forms of the earth's surface. Brown color indicates the location of the mountains, and green and yellow indicate the plains. The largest of them West Siberian(flat plain) Eastern European(hilly plain).
Rice. 13. West Siberian Plain ()
Rice. 14. Physical map of the East European Plain ()
Rough blue lines drawn along the surface of the continents indicate rivers on the globe. Rivers flow through the East European Plain Volga, Don, Dnieper, a river flows along the West Siberian Plain Ob. Mountains rise above the surface of the plains. The higher the mountains, the darker their color on the globe. Himalayas are the highest mountains in the world.
Rice. 15. Himalaya mountains ()
Jamalungma (Everest)- the highest mountain in the world (8 km 708 m).
Rice. 16. Mount Jamalungma ()
Located in Eurasia Baikal- deepest lake
Rice. 17. Lake Baikal ()
The largest lake
Rice. 18. Caspian Sea ()
the largest peninsula Arabian,
Rice. 19. Coast of the Arabian Peninsula ()
the lowest point on land in the world Dead Sea.
Rice. 20. Dead Sea ()
Rice. 21. Pole of cold Oymyakon ()
Africa- This is the second largest continent, which is located on both sides of the equator, washed by the Atlantic Ocean from the west and the Indian Ocean from the east and south.
Rice. 22. Physical map of Africa ()
Africa is known for the diversity of nature: impenetrable rainforests with orchids,
Rice. 23. Rainforest ()
grassy plains with baobabs (huge trees up to forty meters in circumference),
vast expanses of deserts.
Rice. 25. Desert in Africa ()
Africa is the hottest continent on the planet. Here it is Sahara Desert.
Rice. 26. Sahara Desert ()
This is the largest desert in the world and the hottest place on Earth (the maximum recorded temperature is +58 degrees). On this mainland flows Nile is the second longest river in the world.
Rice. 27. River Nile ()
Volcano kilimanjaro is the highest point in Africa.
Rice. 28. Mount Kilimanjaro ()
Victoria, Tanganyika, Chad are the largest lakes on this continent.
Rice. 29. Lake Victoria ()
Rice. 30. Lake Tanganyika ()
Rice. 31. Lake Chad ()
In the Western Hemisphere are North America And South America, they are washed from the west by the Pacific Ocean, from the east by the Atlantic, and North America is also washed by the Arctic Ocean from the north.
Rice. 32. Physical map of North America
Rice. 33. Physical map of South America
North America also includes the largest island on Earth, it is called Greenland.
Rice. 34. Coast of Greenland ()
These continents are rich in both rivers and lakes. One of the world's greatest rivers flows through North America. Mississippi,
Rice. 35. Mississippi River ()
and in South America there is a river, the largest in the world in terms of fullness and length.
Rice. 36. Amazon ()
On the coast of North America is a bay fandi, which, in addition to its incredible beauty, is famous for the largest tides in the world, more than seventeen meters.
Rice. 37. Bay of Fundy ()
Just imagine, millions of tons of water come ashore in twelve hours and then move away from it. South America is home to the tallest waterfall in the world. Angel, its total height is 979 meters.
Rice. 38. Angel Falls ()
It seems as if it is shrouded in fog - it is a curtain of tiny particles of water that is sprayed, falling from such a great height. The most powerful waterfall in the world is located on the same mainland. Iguazu.
Rice. 39. Iguazu Falls ()
Although in fact it is a whole complex of 270 individual waterfalls, which has a width of about 2.7 km. The driest place in the world is located in South America - the desert Atacama.
Rice. 40. Atacama Desert ()
In some parts of this desert, rain falls once every few decades.
Australia- the fifth continent, which is smaller than all the others. The Pacific Ocean washes the northern and eastern coasts, the Indian Ocean - the western and southern.
Rice. 41. Physical map of Australia
Most of the mainland is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, there are very few rivers, which is why Australia is considered the driest continent on Earth. Common here screams(English creek - rivulet) - rivers that exist only during the rainy season and completely dry up for most of the year.
Rice. 42. Dry mouth of the river (
