Our planet is called blue because a largepart of the surface is occupied by the aquatic environment: oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. In general, the land of the planet Earth occupies only one third of its surface. But at the same time, the name “Green Planet” can be heard, because only here (as far as is known at this stage of space exploration) there are conditions for life as we know it, and different types of trees, shrubs and herbs paint the Earth in green shades. .
Thirty percent of landplanets have their own characteristics, according to the specifics of the location, as well as associated with the movement of tectonic plates. The mountainous terrain, which is present at this stage of the existence of the planet Earth, formed many hundreds, thousands and even millions of years ago at the collision of tectonic plates, and now occupies over a third of the land.
Deserts characteristic of the temperate zone and characterized by elevated temperatures, occupy a segment of twenty percent.
Also the land of the planet is covered with dense forests,woodlands and savannas, which can be placed on the highlands. In total, there are about 50 percent of the land where there are green areas, for example, tropical forests. A small (relatively) area falls on glaciers: 10% - Antarctica, the northern parts of Eurasia and North America.
Сейчас суша планеты разделена на шесть больших continents. The largest of them is Eurasia (55 million sq. Km), followed by Africa (30 million sq. Km), North America (20 million sq. Km), South America (18 million sq. Km), Antarctica (14 million sq. km. and Australia (8.5 million sq. km.). All figures are presented in rounded form and taking into account the area of the adjacent islands. The map of the continents will allow you to see and understand where a continent is located.
Interestingly, there is a theory about one super-continent. According to her, the current continents were previously one.
This continent was called Pangea, and washed itone huge ocean, which scientists called Pantalassa. As proof of this theory, it appears that the edges of the continents can be combined, and they will coincide without errors, as well as the fact that the movement of continents and islands is still fixed. It is negligible on a planetary scale: only some ten centimeters per year, but still such a phenomenon is present.
Eurasia - a continent washed by all oceansof the world. In consideration of its area is the third largest island of Kalimantan. Because of its vast territory on the mainland, you can meet any weather and natural conditions that the land of the planet is capable of - from the harsh winter to the desert. It is noteworthy that this continent is divided into two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. European is the lowest in sea level among the rest of the world - 300 m (on average). In Asia, namely in its southwestern part, the Arabian Peninsula, the largest in the world, is located, and the territory of Eurasia includes the largest archipelago, the Great Sunda Islands.
Africa is a mainland with a neighbor Madagascarthe fourth largest island in the world. Everyone is known for the greatest desert in the world, called the Sahara. This continent is washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian. In the south of the mainland is the Mediterranean Sea, which separates Europe and Africa. It is noteworthy that Africa, as part of the world, is a place where more than 70% of the population is below the poverty line.
Северная и Южная Америка - два континента, which together make up one part of the world - America. They are located entirely in the Western Hemisphere and are connected by the Isthmus of Panama. North America is the largest island in the world - Greenland, as well as the fifth largest - Baffin Land. It is washed by three oceans - the Atlantic, the Arctic and the Pacific. South America - Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Antarctica is the highest (2,400 meters above sea level on average) and the coldest (average temperatures are -70 aboutC) the continent on Earth, located entirely in the Southhemisphere. On its territory, besides the eternal ice, there is the South Pole, which practically coincides with the center of the continent. This land is washed by the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans.
Australia is the smallest mainland, with locations inSouthern hemisphere, the Southern Tropic passes through it almost in the middle. In this regard, it is the driest continent, on which there is still room for small tropical forests and snow-capped peaks. Entire Australia is occupied by one country, which bears the name of the continent, for which there is no analogue in our world. The territory of the mainland adjoins the second most rated island in the world - New Guinea.
