Question

What are the large landmasses on the earth are known as?

Answer 1

The large landmasses on planet Earth are known as the Continents. The continents are divided into different countries. There are a total of 7 continents which are listed below.

1. Asia
2. Europe
3. North America
4. South America
5. Africa
6. Australia
7. Antarctica

The top 10 largest countries in the world by area are given below:

1. Russia (Europe)
2. Canada (North America)
3. China (Asia)
4. USA (North America)
5. Brazil (South America)
6. Australia
7. India
8. Argentina
9. Kazakhstan
10. Algeria

Continents

Brief information about different continents is given below:

Asia

• It is the largest continent in the world.
• Asia covers about 30% of the world’s total land area.
• Approximately 60% of the world’s population lives in Asia.

Australia

• Australia is known as the island continent.
• Australia is completely surrounded by oceans on all sides.
• Australia completely lies in the Southern Hemisphere.
• Australia is the smallest continent.

North America

• It is the world’s 3rd largest continent in the world.
• North America is completely located in the Western and Northern Hemispheres of the globe.
• North America is surrounded by 3 different oceans – the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and the Arctic Ocean.

Europe

• Europe is the second smallest continent.
• Europe is bound by water bodies on three sides.
• The Arctic Circle passes through Europe.

Africa

• The Sahara desert, the world’s largest hot desert is located on the African continent.
• Africa is the 2nd largest continent in the world.
• The world’s longest river, the Nile, flows through the African continent.
• The zero-degree latitude or the equator runs through the middle of the continent.
• A major part of the African continent lies in the Northern Hemisphere.
• It holds a unique distinction in that it is the only continent through which the tropic of Capricorn, equator, and tropic of cancer pass through the continent.

South America

• A narrow strip of land named Isthmus of Panama separates the South American continent and North American continent.
• The world’s largest river, the Amazon, is in South America.
• The world’s longest mountain range, the Andes, is located in South America.

Antarctica

• Antarctica does not have any permanent human settlements.
• There are research stations in many countries in Antarctica.
• Dakshin Gangotri and Maitri are the research stations of India in Antarctica.
• The South Pole lies at the centre of Antarctica.
• Thick ice sheets permanently cover Antarctica.