Continent Eurasia brief description for children. Eurasia is the largest continent on earth Regions of Eurasia on the map

Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth, with an area of 53.893 million km², which is 36% of the land area. Population - more than 4.947 billion (2010), which is about 3/4 of the population of the entire planet.

Origin of the name of the continent

Initially given various names largest continent in the world. Alexander Humboldt used the name "Asia" for all of Eurasia. Carl Gustav Reuschle used the term "Doppelerdtheil Asien-Europa" in his book "Handbuch der Geographie" in 1858. The term "Eurasia" was first used by geologist Eduard Suess in the 1880s.

Geographical location of the mainland

The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere between approximately 9° W. Longitude and 169°W etc., while some of the islands of Eurasia are located in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of continental Eurasia lies in the Eastern Hemisphere, although the extreme western and eastern ends of the continent are in the Western Hemisphere.

Contains two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The border line between Europe and Asia is most often drawn along the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Emba River, the northwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Kuma River, the Kuma-Manych depression, the Manych River, the eastern coast of the Black Sea, the southern coast of the Black Sea, the strait Bosphorus, Sea of Marmara, Dardanelles, Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, Strait of Gibraltar. This division has developed historically. Naturally, there is no sharp border between Europe and Asia. The continent is united by the continuity of land, the current tectonic consolidation and the unity of numerous climatic processes.

Eurasia stretches from west to east for 16 thousand km, from north to south - for 8 thousand km, with an area of ≈ 54 million km². This is more than a third of the entire land area of the planet. The area of the Eurasian islands is approaching 2.75 million km².

Extreme points of Eurasia

Mainland points

Cape Chelyuskin (Russia), 77°43′ N. w. - extreme northern mainland point.
Cape Piai (Malaysia) 1°16′ N. w. - the southernmost continental point.
Cape Roca (Portugal), 9º31′ W. d. - the westernmost continental point.
Cape Dezhnev (Russia), 169°42′ W. d. - the extreme eastern continental point.

Island points

Cape Fligeli (Russia), 81°52′ N. w. - the northernmost point of the island (However, according to topographic map Rudolf Island, the latitudinal coastline west of Cape Fligeli lies several hundred meters north of the cape at coordinates 81°51′28.8″ N. w. 58°52′00″ E. d. (G) (O)).
South Island (Cocos Islands) 12°4′ S w. - the southernmost point of the island.
Rock of Monchique (Azores) 31º16′ W. d. - the westernmost point of the island.
Ratmanov Island (Russia) 169°0′ W. d. - the easternmost point of the island.

Largest peninsulas

Arabian Peninsula
Peninsula of Asia Minor
Balkan Peninsula
Apennine Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula
Scandinavian Peninsula
Taimyr Peninsula
Chukotka Peninsula
Kamchatka Peninsula
Indochina Peninsula
Hindustan Peninsula
Malacca Peninsula
Yamal Peninsula
Kola Peninsula
Peninsula Korea

Geological characteristics of the continent

Geological structure of Eurasia

The geological structure of Eurasia is qualitatively different from the structures of other continents. Eurasia is composed of several platforms and plates. The continent was formed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras and is the youngest in geological terms. This distinguishes it from other continents, which are hills of ancient platforms formed billions of years ago.

The northern part of Eurasia is a series of plates and platforms formed during the Archean, Proterozoic and Paleozoic periods: the East European platform with the Baltic and Ukrainian shields, the Siberian platform with the Aldan shield, the West Siberian plate. The eastern part of the continent includes two platforms (Chinese-Korean and South China), some plates and areas of Mesozoic and Alpine folding. The southeastern part of the continent represents areas of Mesozoic and Cenozoic folding. The southern regions of the continent are represented by the Indian and Arabian platforms, the Iranian plate, as well as areas of Alpine and Mesozoic folding, which prevail in southern Europe. The territory of Western Europe includes zones of predominantly Hercynian folding and plates of Paleozoic platforms. The central regions of the continent include zones of Paleozoic folding and plates of the Paleozoic platform.

In Eurasia there are many large faults and cracks, which are found in Siberia (Western and Lake Baikal), Tibet and some other areas.

Story

The period of formation of the continent covers a huge period of time and continues today. The process of formation of the ancient platforms that make up the continent of Eurasia began in the Precambrian era. Then three ancient platforms were formed: Chinese, Siberian and East European, separated by ancient seas and oceans. At the end of the Proterozoic and in the Paleozoic, processes of closing the oceans that separated the land masses took place. At this time, the process of land growth around these and other platforms and their grouping took place, which ultimately led to the formation of the supercontinent Pangea by the beginning of the Mesozoic era.

In the Proterozoic, the process of formation of the ancient platforms of Eurasia - Siberian, Chinese and East European - took place. At the end of the era, the land area south of the Siberian Platform increased. In the Silurian, extensive mountain building occurred as a result of the connection of the European and North American platforms, forming the large North Atlantic continent. In the east, the Siberian platform and a number of mountain systems united, forming new continent- Angarida. At this time, the process of formation of ore deposits took place.

During the Carboniferous period, a new tectonic cycle began. Intense movements led to the formation of mountainous areas connecting Siberia and Europe. Similar mountainous regions also formed in the southern regions of modern Eurasia. Before the start of the Triassic period, all the ancient platforms were grouped and formed the continent of Pangea. This cycle was long and divided into phases. IN initial phase Mountain building took place in the southern territories of what is now western Europe and in the regions of central Asia. During the Permian period, new major mountain-building processes took place, in parallel with the general uplift of the land. As a result, by the end of the period, the Eurasian part of Pangea was a region with major folding. At this time, the process of destruction of old mountains and the formation of thick sedimentary deposits took place. In the Triassic period, geological activity was weak, but during this period the Tethys Ocean gradually opened in the east of Pangea, which later in the Jurassic divided Pangea into two parts, Laurasia and Gondwana. In the Jurassic period, the process of orogenesis begins, the peak of which, however, occurred in the Cenozoic era.

The next stage in the formation of the continent began in the Cretaceous period, when the Atlantic Ocean began to open. The continent of Laurasia finally divided in the Cenozoic.

At the beginning of the Cenozoic era, northern Eurasia represented a huge landmass that made up ancient platforms connected by the Baikal, Hercynian and Caledonian folds. In the east and southeast, this massif is adjacent to areas of Mesozoic folding. In the west, Eurasia was already separated from North America by the narrow Atlantic Ocean. From the south, this huge massif was supported by the Tethys Ocean, which had shrunk in size. In the Cenozoic, there was a reduction in the area of the Tethys Ocean and intense mountain building in the south of the continent. By the end of the Tertiary period, the continent took on its modern shape.

Physical characteristics of the continent

Relief of Eurasia

The relief of Eurasia is extremely diverse; it contains some of the largest plains and mountain systems in the world, the East European Plain, the West Siberian Plain, and the Tibetan Plateau. Eurasia is the highest continent on Earth, its average height- about 830 meters (the average height of Antarctica is higher due to the ice sheet, but if its height is considered to be the height of the bedrock, then the continent will be the lowest). In Eurasia there are the highest mountains on Earth - the Himalayas (ind. Abode of Snows), and the Eurasian mountain systems of the Himalayas, Tibet, Hindu Kush, Pamir, Tien Shan, etc. form the largest mountain region on Earth.

The modern relief of the continent is caused by intense tectonic movements during the Neogene and Anthropocene periods. The East Asian and Alpine-Himalayan geosynclinal belts are characterized by the greatest mobility. A wide band of structures of different ages from Gissar-Alai to Chukotka is also characterized by powerful neotectonic movements. High seismicity is inherent in many areas of Middle, Central and East Asia and the Malay Archipelago. Active volcanoes in Eurasia are located in Kamchatka, the islands of East and Southeast Asia, Iceland and the Mediterranean.

The average height of the continent is 830 m, mountains and plateaus occupy about 65% of its territory.

The main mountain systems of Eurasia:

Himalayas
Alps
Hindu Kush
Karakoram
Tien Shan
Kunlun
Altai
Mountains of Southern Siberia
Mountains of the North Eastern Siberia
Western Asian highlands
Pamir-Alai
Tibetan plateau
Sayano-Tuva Plateau
Deccan plateau
Central Siberian Plateau
Carpathians
Ural Mountains

The main plains and lowlands of Eurasia

the East European Plain
West Siberian Plain
Turanian Lowland
Great Chinese Plain
Indo-Gangetic Plain

The relief of the northern and some mountainous regions of the continent was influenced by ancient glaciation. Modern glaciers remain on the Arctic islands, Iceland and in the highlands. About 11 million km² (mainly in Siberia) is occupied by permafrost.

Geographical records of the mainland

In Eurasia there is the highest mountain on Earth - Chomolungma (Everest), the largest lake - the Caspian Sea and the deepest - Baikal, the largest mountain system by area - Tibet, the largest peninsula - the Arabian, the largest geographical area - Siberia, the lowest point sushi - Dead Sea Depression. The cold pole of the northern hemisphere, Oymyakon, is also located on the continent. Eurasia also contains the largest natural region on Earth - Siberia.

Historical and geographical zoning

Eurasia is the birthplace ancient civilizations Sumerian and Chinese, and the place where almost all ancient civilizations of the Earth were formed. Eurasia is conventionally divided into two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. The latter, due to its size, is divided into smaller regions - Siberia, the Far East, the Amur region, Primorye, Manchuria, China, India, Tibet, Uighuria (East Turkestan, now Xinjiang within the People's Republic of China), middle Asia, Middle East, Caucasus, Persia, Indochina, Arabia and some others. Other, less well-known regions of Eurasia - Tarkhtaria (Tartaria), Hyperborea today are almost forgotten and not recognized.

Climate of continent Eurasia

All climatic zones and climatic zones are represented in Eurasia. In the north, polar and subpolar climate zones predominate, then a wide strip of Eurasia is crossed by the temperate zone, followed by the subtropical zone. The tropical belt in Eurasia is interrupted, stretching across the continent from the Mediterranean and Red Seas to India. The subequatorial belt projects northward, covering India and Indochina, as well as the extreme south of China, while the equatorial belt covers mainly the islands of southeast Asia. Maritime climate zones are found predominantly in the west of the continent in Europe, as well as on the islands. Monsoon climate zones predominate in the eastern and southern regions. As you move deeper into the land, the continental climate increases, this is especially noticeable in the temperate zone when moving from west to east. The most continental climate zones are located in Eastern Siberia (see Sharply continental climate).

Nature on the continent

Natural areas

All natural zones are represented in Eurasia. This is due to the large size of the continent and its length from north to south.

The northern islands and high mountains are partially covered by glaciers. The polar desert zone extends mainly along the northern coast and a large part of the Taimyr Peninsula. Next comes a wide belt of tundra and forest-tundra, occupying the most extensive areas in Eastern Siberia (Yakutia) and Far East.

Almost all of Siberia, a significant part of the Far East and Europe (northern and northeastern), is covered by coniferous forest - taiga. In the south of Western Siberia and on the Russian Plain (central and western parts), as well as in Scandinavia and Scotland, mixed forests are located. There are also areas of such forests in the Far East: in Manchuria, Primorye, Northern China, Korea and the Japanese Islands. Deciduous forests predominate mainly in the western part of Europe. Small areas of these forests are found in eastern Asia (China). In the southeast of Eurasia, there are tracts of moist equatorial forests.

The central and southwestern regions are occupied mainly by semi-deserts and deserts. In Hindustan and Southeast Asia there are areas of open forests and variable-humid and monsoon forests. Subtropical and tropical forests of the monsoon type also predominate in eastern China, and their temperate counterparts in Manchuria, the Amur region and Primorye. In the south of the western part of the continent (mainly the Mediterranean and Black Sea coast) there are zones of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs (Mediterranean-type forests). Large areas are occupied by steppes and forest-steppes, occupying the southern part of the Russian Plain and the south of Western Siberia. Steppes and forest-steppes are also found in Transbaikalia and the Amur region; there are vast areas of them in Mongolia and northern and northeastern China and Manchuria.

Areas of high altitude zones are widespread in Eurasia.

Fauna, animal world

The large, northern part of Eurasia belongs to the Holarctic zoogeographic region; the smaller, southern one - to the Indo-Malayan and Ethiopian regions. The Indo-Malayan region includes the Hindustan and Indochina peninsulas together with the adjacent part of the mainland, the islands of Taiwan, the Philippine and Sunda, the south of Arabia, together with most of Africa, is included in the Ethiopian region. Some southeastern islands of the Malay Archipelago are classified by most zoogeographers as belonging to the Australian zoogeographic region. This division reflects the peculiarities of the development of the Eurasian fauna in the process of changing natural conditions during the end of the Mesozoic and the entire Cenozoic, as well as connections with other continents. To characterize modern natural conditions, ancient extinct fauna known only in fossil form, fauna that disappeared in historical times as a result of human activity, and modern fauna are of interest.

At the end of the Mesozoic, a diverse fauna formed in Eurasia, consisting of monotremes and marsupial mammals, snakes, turtles, etc. With the advent of placental mammals, especially predators, lower mammals retreated south to Africa and Australia. They were replaced by proboscideans, camels, horses, and rhinoceroses, which inhabited most of Eurasia in the Cenozoic. The cooling of the climate at the end of the Cenozoic led to the extinction of many of them or their retreat to the south. Proboscideans, rhinoceroses, etc. in northern Eurasia are known only in fossil form, and now they live only in South and Southeast Asia. Camels and wild horses were until recently widespread in the arid interior of Eurasia.

The cooling of the climate led to the settlement of Eurasia by animals adapted to harsh climatic conditions (mammoth, aurochs, etc.). This northern fauna, the center of formation of which was located in the Bering Sea region and was common with North America, gradually pushed the thermophilic fauna to the south. Many of its representatives have become extinct, some have survived as part of the modern fauna of tundras and taiga forests. The drying up of the climate in the interior of the continent was accompanied by the spread of steppe and desert fauna, which survived mainly in the steppes and deserts of Asia, and partially became extinct in Europe.

In the eastern part of Asia, where climatic conditions did not undergo significant changes during the Cenozoic, many animals of pre-glacial times found refuge. In addition, through East Asia there was an exchange of animals between the Holarctic and Indo-Malayan regions. Within its borders, tropical forms such as the tiger, Japanese macaque, and others penetrate far to the north.

The distribution of modern wild fauna across the territory of Eurasia reflects both the history of its development, as well as the characteristics of natural conditions and the results of human activity.

On the northern islands and in the far north of the mainland, the composition of the fauna remains almost unchanged from west to east. Animal world tundra and taiga forests have minor internal differences. The further south you go, the differences in latitude within the Holarctic become more and more significant. The fauna of the extreme south of Eurasia is already so specific and so different from the tropical fauna of Africa and even Arabia that they are classified as different zoogeographic regions.

The tundra fauna is especially uniform throughout Eurasia (as well as North America).

The most common large mammal of the tundra is the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). It is almost never found in the wild in Europe; This is the most common and valuable domestic animal in the north of Eurasia. The tundra is characterized by arctic fox, lemming and mountain hare.

Eurasian countries

The list below includes not only states located on the Eurasian mainland, but also states located on islands classified as Europe or Asia (for example, Japan).

Abkhazia
Austria
Albania
Andorra
Afghanistan
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Brunei
Butane
Vatican
Great Britain
Hungary
East Timor
Vietnam
Germany
Greece
Georgia
Denmark
Egypt (partially)
Israel
India
Indonesia (partially)
Jordan
Ireland
Iceland
Spain
Italy
Yemen
Kazakhstan
Cambodia
Qatar
Kyrgyzstan
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Kuwait
Latvia
Lebanon
Lithuania
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Moldova
Monaco
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nepal
Netherlands
Norway
Pakistan
State
Palestine
Poland
Portugal
The Republic of Korea
Republic
Kosovo
Macedonia
Russia
Romania
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Singapore
Syria
Slovakia
Slovenia
Tajikistan
Thailand
Turkmenistan
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
Türkiye
Uzbekistan
Ukraine
Philippines
Finland
France
Croatia
Montenegro
Czech
Switzerland
Sweden
Sri Lanka
Estonia
South Ossetia
Japan

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The article contains information about the countries that are part of the densely populated continent. The material explains the origin of the term “Eurasia”. Tells who exactly and when this term, which is widespread today, was first used.

Eurasian countries

It is known that Eurasia is the largest continent in the world, and on its territories there are many states that differ in both specific and individual geographical features and the mentality of the people living there. The states and capitals of the mainland are able to amaze anyone with their attractiveness and local attractions.

There are 92 sovereign states in Eurasia, 44 in Europe and 48 in Asia.

Rice. 1. Europe and Asia on the map

The name “Eurasia” itself comes from a combination of the parts of the world Europe and Asia, which are geographically located within the borders of the continent.

This name for the continent was first used by the famous geographer Alexander Humboldt. He did this in the first half of the 19th century.

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Today, many countries in Eurasia are popular destinations for tourists. There are enough places on the mainland with beautiful architecture that have survived to this day.

There is also rapid economic growth in a number of countries in the Asian region. An example of the rapid development of economic orientation can be considered using the example of the Chinese capital.

Beijing is the second largest metropolis in the world by population. The main objects of national importance are located here.

Many significant transport routes and highways arise from the metropolis. Beijing is the political and cultural capital of the people of China.

Rice. 2. Beijing.

The ancient history of the city dates back approximately three thousand years. The city is famous for its beautiful parks, monumental palaces and religious buildings.

The Chinese call Beijing Beijing, which literally means “northern capital”. Today it's pretty modern city. This is easy to see if we take into account the fact that today China is a power with high level economic potential.

Countries in the Asian region experience the most high percent active use in Everyday life the latest digital technologies and developments made in this area over the past decade.

Today we are witnessing global integration. The states of Eurasia strive for mutually beneficial cooperation in all spheres of life and activity of mankind. Unions and commonwealths of states are formed on the territory of the mainland. An example would be the emergence of the European Union. Close socio-political relations between states make it possible to use the natural potential of Eurasia with the greatest efficiency.

Eurasia is a continent that contains dwarf states on its “body”. Such states include: Vatican City, Luxembourg, Andorra, Malta, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Monaco, Brunei, Singapore, Bahrain, Maldives. Some of which are island-type states.

Rice. 3. Singapore.

For comparison, it is worth noting that Russia occupies almost half of Eurasia.

The Principality of Monaco is located on the Mediterranean coast and occupies only 2 square kilometers around a cliff overlooking the open sea.

List of Eurasian countries and their capitals

Europe

Austria Vienna;
Albania – Tirana;
Andorra-Andorra-La Vella;
Belarus – Minsk;
Belgium - Brussels;
Bulgaria - Sofia;
Bosnia and Herzegovina - Sarajevo;
Vatican - Vatican;
Great Britain, London;
Hungary - Budapest;
Germany Berlin;
Greece - Athens;
Denmark – Copenhagen;
Ireland - Dublin;
Iceland – Reykjavik;
Spain Madrid;
Italy Rome;
Latvia, Riga;
Lithuania -Vilnius;
Liechtenstein – Vaduz;
Luxembourg - Luxembourg;
Malta – Valletta;
Macedonia – Skopje;
Moldova – Chisinau;
Monaco – Monte Carlo;
Netherlands – Amsterdam;
Norway – Oslo;
Poland Warsaw;
Portugal -Lisbon;
Russia Moscow;
Romania - Bucharest;
San Marino – San Marino;
Serbia - Belgrade;
Slovakia – Bratislava;
Slovenia – Ljubljana;
Ukraine, Kyiv;
Finland – Helsinki;
France Paris;
Croatia – Zagreb;
Montenegro – Podgorica;
Czech Republic, Prague;
Switzerland – Bern;
Sweden – Stockholm;
Estonia - Tallinn;

Asia

Azerbaijan, Baku;
Armenia – Yerevan;
Afghanistan - Kabul;
Bangladesh - Dhaka;
Bahrain – Manama;
Brunei - Bandar Seri Begawan;
Bhutan – Thimphu;
East Timor – Dili;
Vietnam – Hanoi;
Georgia, Tbilisi;
Egypt (partially) – Cairo;
India - New Delhi;
Indonesia – Jakarta;
Israel - Jerusalem;
Jordan – Amman;
Iraq - Baghdad;
Iran – Tehran;
Yemen - Sana'a;
Kazakhstan – Nur-Sultan;
Cambodia – Phnom Penh;
Qatar – Doha;
Cyprus – Nicosia;
Kyrgyzstan – Bishkek;
China - Beijing;
DPRK - Pyongyang;
Kuwait - Kuwait City;
Laos – Vietiane;
Lebanon – Beirut;
Malaysia – Kuala Lumpur;
Maldives - Male;
Mongolia - Ulaanbaatar;
Myanmar - Naypyitaw;
Nepal - Kathmandu;
UAE - Abu Dhabi;
Oman – Muscat;
Pakistan – Islamabad;
Saudi Arabia - Riyadh;
Syria - Damascus;
Singapore - Singapore;
Tajikistan - Dushanbe;
Thailand - Bangkok;
Turkmenistan – Ashgabat;
Türkiye - Ankara;
Uzbekistan – Tashkent;
Philippines - Manila;
Sri Lanka - Colombo;
Republic of Korea - Seoul;
Japan Tokyo.

Peninsula countries of Eurasia

The peninsular states located on the territory of Eurasia include:

Norway;
Denmark;
Spain;
Portugal;
Italy;
Greece;
India;
Saudi Arabia;
Malaysia;
Thailand;
Vietnam;
DPRK;
Republic of Korea;
Malta.

Translated from the ancient Phoenician dialect, the name Malta means refuge or harbor. The island received its name due to its location at the crossroads of trade routes from Asia to European countries. About half a million people now live in Malta.

What have we learned?

We found out who first called the continent by its generally accepted name. We got an idea of which continental countries are rapidly gaining momentum in the direction of economic growth and development. We received information about the island states of Eurasia. We learned for what purpose European states are striving for unification.

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A continent is a significant landmass washed by seas and oceans. In tectonics, continents are characterized as sections of the lithosphere that have a continental structure.

Continent, continent or part of the world? What is the difference?

In geography, another term is often used to designate a continent - a continent. But the concepts “mainland” and “continent” are not synonymous. IN different countries accepted various points view of 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 generally accepted that there are 7 continents - they consider Europe and Asia separately;
In Spanish speaking European countries, and also in the countries of South America they mean division into 6 parts of the world - with a united America;
in Greece and some countries of Eastern Europe, a model with 5 continents has been adopted - only those where people live, i.e. except Antarctica;
in Russia and the neighboring Eurasian countries they traditionally designate 4 continents, united in large groups.

(The figure clearly shows different representations of continental patterns 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 by 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 a scientific meaning, but the term “part of the world” divides the land according to historical and cultural criteria. There are 6 parts of the world, only unlike the continents, Eurasia differs in Europe And Asia, but North and South America are defined together as one part of the world America:

Europe
Asia
America(both Northern and Southern), or New World
Australia and Oceania

When we talk about parts of the world, we also mean the islands adjacent to them.

Difference between a mainland and an island

The definition of a continent and an island is the same - a part of land washed by the waters of the ocean or seas. But there are significant differences.

1. Size. Even the smallest continent, Australia, is significantly larger in area than the world's largest island, Greenland.

(Formation of the Earth's continents, a single continent Pangea)

2. Education. All continents are of tiled origin. According to scientists, there once existed 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 by both geological research and the shape of the continents. Many of them can be put together like a puzzle.

Islands are formed in different ways. There are those that, like continents, are located on the fragments of ancient lithospheric plates. Others are formed from volcanic lava. Still others are a result of the activity of polyps (coral islands).

3. Habitability. All continents are inhabited, even the harsh climatic conditions of Antarctica. Many islands still remain uninhabited.

Characteristics of the continents

- the largest continent, occupying 1/3 of the land. There are 2 parts of the world located here: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the line of the Ural Mountains, the Black and Sea of Azov, 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 continent itself is located on six tectonic platforms at once, 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.

The mainland is home to ¾ of the planet's population; there are 108 states, of which 94 have independent status.

- the hottest continent on Earth. It is located on an ancient platform, so most of the area is occupied by plains, mountains form along the edges of the continent. Africa is home to the longest river in the world, the Nile, and the largest desert, the Sahara. Climate types present 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 tectonic plates The coastline of the mainland became heavily indented, 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 the equatorial one, which determines the diversity natural areas. Most rivers and lakes are located in the northern part. The largest river is the Mississippi.

The indigenous population is Indians and Eskimos. Currently, there are 23 states here, of which only three (Canada, USA and Mexico) are on the mainland itself, the rest are on the islands.

It is washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Along the western coast stretches the longest mountain system in the world - the Andes, or South American Cordillera. The rest of the continent is occupied by plateaus, plains and lowlands.

This is the rainiest continent, since most of it is located in the equator. The largest and most abundant river in the world, the Amazon, is also located here.

The indigenous population are Indians. Currently, there are 12 independent states on the mainland.

- the only continent on whose territory there is only 1 state - the Commonwealth of Australia. Most of the continent 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 population is the Australian Aborigines, or Bushmen.

- the southernmost continent completely covered with ice. The average thickness of the ice cover is 1600 m, the greatest thickness is 4000 meters. If the ice in Antarctica melted, the level of the world's oceans would immediately rise by 60 meters!

Most of the continent occupies icy desert, life glimmers only on the coasts. Antarctica is also the coldest continent. In winter, temperatures can drop below -80 ºC (record -89.2 ºC), in summer - down to -20 ºC.

And also along the straits connecting Chernoye and. The name "Europa" comes from the legend that the Phoenician king Agenor had a daughter, Europa. Almighty Zeus fell in love with her, turned into a bull and kidnapped her. He took her to the island of Crete. There Europe first set foot on the land of that part of the world that has since bear its name. Asia - designation of one of the provinces east of, this is the name of the Scythian tribes to the Caspian Sea (Asians, Asians).

The coastline is very indented and forms a large number of peninsulas and bays. The largest are and. The continent is washed by the waters of the Atlantic, Arctic and. The seas they form are deepest in the east and south of the continent. Scientists and navigators from many countries took part in the exploration of the continent. The studies of P.P. Semenov-Tyan-Shansky and N.M. acquired particular importance. .

Eurasia- the most populated continent. More than 3/4 of all the world's inhabitants live here. The eastern and southern regions of the mainland are especially densely populated. In terms of the diversity of nationalities living on the mainland, Eurasia differs from other continents. Slavic peoples live in the north: Russians, Czechs, and others. South Asia inhabited by numerous Indian peoples and Chinese.

Eurasia is the cradle of ancient civilizations.

Geographical position: Northern hemisphere between 0°E. d. and 180° east. etc., some of the islands lie in the Southern Hemisphere.

Area of Eurasia: about 53.4 million km2

Extreme points of Eurasia:

The northernmost point of the island is Cape Fligeli, 81°51` N. sh.;
the extreme northern continental point is Cape Chelyuskin, 77°43` N. sh.;
The easternmost point of the island is Ratmanov Island, 169°0` W. d.;
the extreme eastern continental point is Cape Dezhnev, 169°40` W. d.;
The southernmost point of the island is South Island, 12°4` S. sh.;
the southernmost continental point is Cape Piai, 1°16` N. sh.;
The westernmost point of the island is the Monchique rock, 31°16` W. d.;
The westernmost continental point is Cape Roca, 9°30` W. d.

Climatic zones of Eurasia.

It is enormous in size, occupying about 1/3 of the land (54 thousand km 2). From north to south, the length of Eurasia is about 8 thousand km, from west to east it is approximately 16 thousand km. Like North America, Eurasia is widest in temperate latitudes.

The continent is most connected to North America in the northeast and Africa to the southwest. In these areas there was and is an active exchange of elements of the organic world. The Arabian Peninsula is part of Gondwana and natural conditions practically no different from the Sahara in North Africa.

Eurasia is washed by four oceans. The influence of the oceans affects the natural features of vast areas within the continent, despite its enormous size. Great importance To shape the nature of the continent, there are internal seas that extend deep into the land, and marginal seas off the northern and eastern coasts of the continent.

Unlike all the continents of the Earth, several Precambrian and Epipaleozoic platforms, connected by folded belts of different geological ages, take part in the structure of Eurasia.

The relief of Eurasia is distinguished by great diversity and contrast. The mainland has vast lowlands and large mountainous countries and highlands. Only in Eurasia there are mountains that rise above 7 and 8 km. The highest point on Earth is located in the Himalayas (Everest - 8848 m). The lowest point of land is located in Eurasia - the shore of the Dead Sea (395 m below ocean level).

The mountains on the continent stretch from west to east and from north to south, forming a kind of “lattice”, in the cells of which there are platform plains. As a result, there are many large and small basins in Eurasia. This relief structure is important in shaping the climate and water network of the continent.

The large extent from north to south and from west to east, the enormous size of the continent, and the “lattice” structure of the relief determine the exceptional diversity of climates within its borders. The mainland has almost all climate zones and regions.

The proximity of a huge landmass and the surrounding oceans forms special features of the circulation of air masses over Eurasia. A peculiar monsoon circulation prevails on the northern, eastern and southern edges of the continent. Only in the west of Eurasia, both in summer and winter, the westerly transport of air masses predominates and cyclones occur. In winter, over the basins of Central, South-West Asia, and Siberia, the Central Asian Maximum is formed, covering most of the continent. spreads from here towards all oceans except the Atlantic. Dry winter monsoons form on the eastern and southern edges of the continent, cold ones in the east, and hot ones in the south.

In most climatic zones, the climates of the western and eastern coasts and continental regions are distinguished.

The large area of Eurasia, the diversity of climates and topography determine the diversity of the continent’s internal waters. There are many very large rivers belonging to the basins of all the Earth's oceans. Numerous basins are often drainage areas. Most of them lie in arid regions, but there are exceptions, for example the upper and middle Volga basin. The rivers of the mainland belong to literally all types in terms of regime and power sources. There are many lakes of different origins in Eurasia. There are especially many of them in the area of ancient glaciation. Baikal has unique properties with the largest volume of fresh water of any body of water in the world. Eurasia is also home to one of the saltiest lakes on the planet - the Dead Sea.

The climatic features of Eurasia also determine the diversity of external forces shaping the continent's topography. Here the work of surface and underground waters and wind is manifested. Large areas are occupied by landforms created by ancient glaciation.

In Eurasia there are huge areas of permafrost. They occupy about 1/5 of the continent's area. These areas are characterized by a special cryogenic relief and vegetation adapted to environmental conditions.

The continent has almost all plant zones with their inherent soils - from arctic deserts and tundras to humid equatorial forests. The zonation structure differs in the oceanic sectors and in the central part of the continent. In the Atlantic Western Europe and Pacific East Asia, except for the northernmost regions occupied by tundra, forests dominate. Their composition is different in the west and east, both due to modern climatic conditions and as a result of different histories of formation. In the central part of the continent, due to the high degree of continental climate, treeless zones are widely represented: steppes, etc. Desert formations are also occupied large areas in the southwest of the mainland.

The natural resources of Eurasia are abundant and varied.

Eurasia is rich in mineral resources. On the ledges of the platform foundation there are deposits of various ores, gold, and diamonds. Huge reserves of coal and gas formed in the sedimentary cover. The world's largest oil deposits are known in the Persian Gulf region. Large reserves of tin, zinc, and tungsten ores have been found in the mountainous countries in the east of the continent. The mountains of Paleozoic folding are rich in a variety of minerals: the Ural Mountains in our country, the Rudny Mountains in Europe and many others.

The continent's water resources are distributed very unevenly. Many areas of Europe, South and East Asia are well supplied with water, but there are areas in Central and South-West Asia that experience severe water shortages. The mainland has good agroclimatic and land resources. Within its borders there are large areas of cultivated land. The forests of Eurasia, especially large tracts of coniferous forests, have large reserves of wood with high technical qualities.

The continent has been inhabited for a long time. Some of its areas have exceptionally high population densities. The nature of these territories has been greatly modified by man; sometimes it is difficult to understand what was here in its natural state. These are many areas of Western and Southern Europe, East and South Asia. However, there are areas where the population is very sparse or absent altogether (the Far North, arid regions of Asia, the Tibetan Plateau and other highlands). The continent is inhabited by representatives of all races, many peoples belong to transitional anthropological types.

In foreign Eurasia, a number of large natural regions are distinguished: Northern, Western and Central Europe, the Mediterranean, Southwestern, Central, Eastern, Southern and Southeast Asia.