Biography of the continents

Speaking of parts of the world, they also mean the islands adjacent to them. The difference between the mainland from the island is the definition of the mainland and the island is the same - part of the land washed by the waters of the ocean or seas. But there are significant differences. Even the smallest mainland, Australia, is much larger in area than the largest island in the world - Greenland.

All continents are of tile origin. According to the assumptions of scientists, there was once a single mainland - Pangea. Then, as a result of the split, 2 continents appeared - Gondwan and Laurasia, which later split into 6 more parts. The theory is confirmed by both geological research and the form of the continents. Many of them can be folded into a single whole, like a puzzle.

The islands are formed in different ways. There are those that, like the continents, are located on the wreckage of the oldest lithospheric plates.

Others are formed from volcanic lava. The third - as a result of the activities of polyps, coral islands. All continents are inhabited, even harsh according to the climatic conditions of Antarctica. Many islands still remain uninhabited. There are 2 parts of the world at once: Europe and Asia. The border between them passes along the line of the Ural Mountains, the Black and Azov Sea, as well as the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

This is the only mainland that is washed by all oceans. The coastline is cut, 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 of the Himalaye with the city of Everest, the deepest lake of Baikal.

This is the only mainland where all climatic zones are presented at once and, accordingly, all natural zones from the Arctic with its eternal permafrost to the equatorial with its sultry deserts and jungle. Does it live on the mainland? Africa Africa is the hottest continent on earth. It is located on the oldest platform, so the plains occupy most of the area, the mountains are formed at the edges of the mainland.

In Africa there are the longest river in the world - the Nile and the most extensive desert - sugar. Climate types presented on the mainland: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical. On the territory of the mainland there are 62 countries. The result of the movement of tectonic plates was the strongly cut coastal line of the mainland, with a huge number of bays, straits, bays and islands.

The largest island is in the north of Greenland. Along the western coast, mountains of the Cordillera stretch, along the eastern - Appalachi. The central part is occupied by an extensive plain. All climatic zones are represented here, except equatorial, which causes a variety of natural zones. Most rivers and lakes are located in the northern part. The largest river is Mississippi.

The indigenous population is Indians and Eskimos. Currently, there are 23 states, of which there are only three Canada, the USA and Mexico on the mainland itself, the rest are on the islands. Along the western coast, the longest mountain system in the world - Andes, or South American Cordillers, stretches. The remaining area of ​​the mainland is occupied by a plateau, plains and lowlands.

This is the most rainy mainland, since most of it is located in the equator zone. Here is the largest and most large -water river in the world - the Amazon. The indigenous population is the Indians. Currently, 12 independent states are located on the territory of the mainland. Australia Australia is the only mainland in which only 1 state is located - the Australian Union.

Most of the mainland is occupied by the plains, the mountains are located only along the coast. Australia is a unique mainland that has the largest number of animals and plants - endemic. The indigenous population is Australian Aborigines, or Bushmen. Antarctica Antarctica is the southern main mainland, completely covered in ice. The average thickness of the ice cover is m, the largest is meters.

If the ice in Antarctica melted, the level of the ocean would immediately rise 60 meters! Most of the mainland is occupied by an ice desert, life is warm only on the coasts. Antarctica is also the coldest mainland. In winter, the temperature can drop below –80? C record –89.2? C, in the summer - up to –20?