The surface of the Earth has an extremely uneven relief. Deep depressions are filled with water, the rest of the planet is land. All this together - oceans and continents. They differ in size, climate, shape, geographic location.
Despite the fact that the world's water and land have a number of distinctive properties, they are inextricably linked. The map of continents and oceans is evidence of this (see below). Water continuously influences the processes taking place on land. In turn, the continents shape the features of the world's oceans. In addition, interaction takes place both in the animal world and in the plant world.
The geography of continents and oceans demonstrates clear boundaries between water and land areas. The continents are unevenly distributed on the planet's surface. Most of them are located in That is why the South in science is called hydrological. Continents and are also divided into two groups relative to the equator. Those above the line belong to the northern half, the rest to the southern.
Each continent borders on the world's water area. So which oceans wash the continents? The Atlantic and Indian are bordered by four continents, the Arctic - with three, the Pacific - with all except Africa. In total, there are 6 continents and 4 oceans on the planet. The boundaries between them are uneven, embossed.
Has the largest water area among other pools. The map of 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 connects with the Arctic Ocean. Has a common swimming 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. Seas occupy only 8% of the Pacific Ocean. The study of the water area began in the 15th century by Chinese geographers.
It is the second largest in the world basin. As is customary, each derives from an ancient term or deity. Atlantic is named after the famous Greek titan Atlas. The water area stretches from Antarctica to subarctic latitudes. It borders on all other oceans, even on the Pacific Ocean (via Cape Horn). One of the largest straits is the Hudson. It connects the Atlantic basin with the Arctic.
Seas make up about 16% of the total ocean area. The pool area is just over 91.5 million sq. km. Most of the Atlantic seas are inland, and only a small part of them are coastal (up to 1%).
It has the smallest water area on the planet. Located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. Occupied area - 14.75 million sq. 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 bottom relief of the water area is represented by the outskirts of the continents and a large shelf. The Arctic Ocean is conventionally 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.
Occupies a fifth of the world's entire water surface. It is noteworthy that each name for the oceans has either a geographic or a theological background. The only difference is the Indian Basin. Its name has rather a historical background. The ocean was named after the first Asian country that became known to the Old World - after India.
The water area covers an area of 76.17 million square meters. km. Its volume is about 282.6 million cubic kilometers. It washes 4 continents and borders the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It has the widest pool in the world's water spaces - more than 10 thousand kilometers.
It is the largest continent on the planet. Eurasia is found primarily in the Northern Hemisphere. In terms of territory, the continent occupies almost half of the world's land mass. 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 heavily indented, deep-water. The mainland has 2 parts of the world: Asia and Europe. The border between them runs along the Ural Mountains, the Manych, Ural, Kuma rivers, the Black, Caspian, Marmara, Mediterranean seas and a number of straits.
The 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. Borders North America across 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 rivers such 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 mainland there is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel.
Located in Washed by all oceans except the Indian. The coastal water area includes the seas (Bering, Labrador, Caribbean, Beaufort, Greenland, Baffin) and St. Lawrence, Hudson, Mexican). North America shares borders with South America along the Panama Canal.
The most significant island systems are the Canadian and Alexandria archipelagos, Greenland and Vancouver. The continent covers an area of more than 24 million square meters. km, excluding islands - about 20 million sq. km.
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 a part of the world at the same time.
In this area of the planet, the 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 problems arise with fresh water and irrigation.
It is the coldest and most lifeless continent. Located at the South Pole of the Earth. Antarctica, like Africa, is a continent and part of the world. All adjacent islands belong to territorial possessions.
Antarctica is considered the tallest 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.
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, Arafur 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.
There are 4 time zones across Australia. In the northeast of the mainland, the coast is represented by the world's largest coral reef.
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 the oceans and continents, talk about their features and differences. Let's get acquainted with the amazing wonders of nature, flora and fauna.
Why are there the most blue and cyan colors 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 oceans and seas, rivers and lakes.
Rice. 2. Earth from space ()
But if you look closely, you will notice that in different places the ocean is indicated by different shades. This is done to show depth: the deeper the ocean, the darker the blue, and the shallower, the lighter the paint on the globe. are huge expanses of bitter-salty water that surround 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 Fernand Magellan, because during his voyage 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 and thirty-four meters.
Rice. 6. Mariana Trench ()
Previously, Europeans did not even know about the existence of the Pacific Ocean. They knew only one ocean - Atlantic, which seemed boundless, so it was named after the most powerful hero of the Greek myths Atlas.
Rice. 7. Physical map of the Atlantic Ocean ()
In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is the second largest after the Pacific, the deepest ocean is 5 kilometers. In the Atlantic Ocean, there are huge waves as high as a three-story building.
Indian Ocean especially restless in its southern part. It is warmer than others, even in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, it warms up to + 35 degrees.
Rice. 8. Physical map of the Indian Ocean ()
Arctic- the northernmost region, in winter and summer covered with a thick layer of ice and snow. At the North Pole, there is the fourth ocean, almost all of its surface is covered with thick strong ice, and around many meters of snow drifts. That's why this ocean was named Arctic.
Rice. 9. Physical map of the Arctic Ocean
Relatively recently, learned 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 oceans together: Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Arctic and South - merge together into a single world Ocean, which washes the entire globe.
On the globe, large areas of land, which are called continents, are depicted in green, yellow, brown and white colors. 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. Our homeland is on this mainland 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 indicates the location of the mountains, while green and yellow indicate the location of 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 ()
Rivers are marked on the globe by jagged blue lines drawn along the surface of the continents. Rivers flow across the East European Plain Volga, Don, Dnieper, a river flows across 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. Mountains Himalayas ()
Jamalungma (Everest)- the highest mountain in the world (8 km 708 m).
Rice. 16. Mount Jamalungma ()
Located in Eurasia Baikal- the 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 of land in the world - depression 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 its 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 ()
It is the largest desert in the world and the hottest place on Earth (maximum recorded temperature is +58 degrees). On this mainland flows Nile- the second longest river in the world.
Rice. 27. River Nile ()
Volcano Kilimanjaro- the highest point in Africa.
Rice. 28. Kilimanjaro Volcano ()
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 Ocean, and North America 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. Greenland Coast ()
These continents are rich in rivers and lakes. North America has one of the greatest rivers in the world Mississippi,
Rice. 35. Mississippi River ()
and South America has the largest river in the world in terms of depth and length.
Rice. 36. Amazon ()
There is a bay on the coast of North America Fundy, 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 in twelve hours come to the shore, and then move away from it. South America has the world's tallest waterfall - Angel, its total height is 979 meters.
Rice. 38. Angel Falls ()
It seems as if it is shrouded in fog - this is a curtain of tiny particles of water, which is sprayed, falling from such a huge height. The most powerful waterfall in the world is located on the same mainland. Iguazu.
Rice. 39. Iguazu Falls ()
Although in fact this is a whole complex of 270 individual waterfalls, which is about 2.7 km wide. South America has the driest place in the world - the desert Atacama.
Rice. 40. Atacama Desert ()
In some places of this desert, rain falls once every several decades.
Australia- the fifth continent, which is the smallest of all the others. The Pacific Ocean is washed by the northern and eastern coasts, the Indian Ocean is washed by the western and southern ones.
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. Here are common screams(English creek - rivulet) - rivers that exist only during the rainy season and dry up completely for most of the year.
Our home planet Earth consists of continents, which are washed by oceans. Scientists believe that our planet was formed 4.5 billion years ago, and life, 600 million years after the formation of the planet. Since then, it has been constantly changing.
The entire surface of our planet is composed of water and land. Water takes more 2/3 the surface of the Earth, and only 29% ... The land is made up of continents and islands. The water part of the surface is divided into oceans, seas, lakes and rivers.
The mainland is a part of the solid surface of our planet, which is washed on all sides by water. Sometimes these parts of the Earth are called continents. The continents are distributed fairly evenly. There are six of them. They are called Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica.
IMPORTANT: Not so long ago, scientists doubted that there are only six continents. Recent studies show that their number today may be replenished by another continent.
EURASIA. The largest continent on Earth is Eurasia. Its area is 36% the entire hard surface and is about 55 million square kilometers. Ural mountains divide the continent into two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The largest part of Eurasia is occupied by Russia.
The mainland was originally called Asia... This term was coined by a German encyclopedic scientist Alexander Humboldt at the end of the 18th century. The term appeared in scientific literature in the 1880s with the filing of an Austrian geologist Eduard Suess.
The mainland was formed after the split of the protocontinent Laurasia into two parts: North America and Eurasia.
Eurasia several facts:
AFRICA... Africa is the second largest continent on Earth. The area of this continent is 30 million square kilometers ( 6% sushi). Most scientists agree that Africa is the cradle of our civilization.
Term "Afri" introduced by the inhabitants of ancient Carthage. They called them people who lived near their city. Most likely the term originated from the Phoenician word "Afar" — dust... The Romans who defeated Carthage named their new province Africa. After that, the neighboring lands began to be called Africa, and later the entire continent.
INTERESTING: Some scholars believe that the name Africa may have originated from the Latin word "Aprica" (solar). Historian African lion believed that the term could be formed from the Greek word «φρίκη» (cold). Letter «α-» added at the beginning of this term translates as "without" — « no cold". Russian science fiction writer and paleontologist Ivan Efremov believed that the word came from an ancient language Ta-Kem(ancient egypt. "Afros" - foam country).
The future continent of Africa occupied the supercontinent Gondwana central location. When the plates of this continent parted, Africa took on its modern shape.
The most unique place in Africa is undoubtedly the desert. Sahara... By area, it occupies 9 million square kilometers (more than the area of the United States) and covers ten countries. At the same time, the territory of the desert is growing every year. Most of the desert is not sand, but stones and pebbles.
Sahara is the hottest desert in the world (its surface can warm up to 80 degrees), but under it is a huge underground lake ( 375 square kilometers). Thanks to which oases can be found in the Sahara.
Africa several facts:
NORTH AMERICA ... North America is located in the northern part of the Western Hemisphere. The area of this continent is 20 million kilometers2. Moreover, almost the entire territory of the mainland is divided between Canada and the United States. Although the mainland consists of territories 24 countries. The continent was opened in 1502 year.
It is believed that America was discovered by an Italian traveler Amerigo Vespucci... The mainland was named after him. This was suggested by German cartographers. Martin Waldseemüller and Matthias Ringman... The first map of the world in which this continent was designated as America appeared in 1507 year.
North America INTERESTING: There is evidence that Vespucci was not the discoverer of this continent. Long before him, this was done by the Scandinavian Vikings, led by their legendary leader. Eric Red... V 986 year they reached the shores of America. But it is believed that the Vikings knew in advance where to sail. This means that they knew about the new lands from someone else.
Like all other continents, North America was formed after the splitting of the supercontinent plates. Initially, parts of the plates that form modern North America were part of the supercontinent Pengea... Then it broke away from him Laurasia and already from this protocontinent North America and Eurasia were formed.
North America a few facts:
SOUTH AMERICA ... The continent, which is mainly located in the Western and Southern Hemispheres of our planet. The mainland is about 18 million square kilometers. Above lives on it 400 million Human.
The supercontinent split in the Cretaceous Pangea... Broken away from him Gondwana... This prototype then disintegrated into Africa, Australia, Antarctica and South America.
Part of South America discovered Columbus... It was he who was the first of the Europeans to suggest the existence of a large continent.
South America South America a few facts:
AUSTRALIA... Continent located in the Eastern and Southern Hemispheres of our planet. Its entire territory is occupied by one country. Which has the same name - Australia.
The mainland was discovered by Dutch sailors in the 17th century. V. Yanszon in 1606 discovered the presence of new land in Coral sea... It was a peninsula that was later named Cape york... Mariners determined that this land area is only a small part of it. And they named her Unknown Southern Land (Terra Australis Incognita). When legendary James Cook completely explored these lands, their name was shortened to "Australia".
The area of this continent is 8 million kilometers. Or 5% from the total land area. A third of the mainland is occupied by desert.
Australia few facts:
ANTARCTICA... Name "Antarctica" formed from the word «ἀνταρκτική» (Greek. opposite the Arctic). The term first appeared in the book Aristotle "Meteorology"... The mainland was discovered by Russian sailors F. F. Bellingshausen and M. P. Lazarev v 1820 year. In 1890 the continent was given the official name "Antarctica". It was done by a Scottish cartographer John Bartholomew.
Antarctica a few facts:
SEVENTH MOTHER ... Periodically, the media inform that scientists have "discovered" a new, seventh continent. Most often this education includes New Zealand, Caledonia and nearby islands. They sit on a single slab that was once part of the supercontinent. Gondwana... The slab area is 4.9 million square kilometers, and it fully meets the requirements of the continent.
Parts of the world are established historical and cultural formations, which, along with continents, include islands and other parts of the land. At the same time, one part of the world can include two continents - America. But, also in one continent it can enter two parts of the world. On the mainland Eurasia are located such parts of the world as Europe and Asia.
Today it is customary to distinguish six parts of the world:
But, in addition to such a conventional division, our planet is divided into "New World" and "Old world"... The "Old World" includes Europe, Asia and Africa. That is, those parts of the world that were known to the ancient Greeks. During the Great Geographical Discoveries, America, Australia and other parts of the land appeared on the world map. Which were opened after 1500. They are referred to as the "New World".
Very often, people get confused when they mention the word mainland and continent. Is there a difference between these concepts? Today these terms are considered synonymous. Both continents and continents are huge land masses that are washed by water from all sides. Therefore, it is customary to distinguish six continents. The ones that we talked about in the first section of this article. Namely:
INTERESTING: The above model is used by Russian geographers. India, China, Western Europe and some English-speaking countries distinguish seven continents... They assign Europe and Asia to different continents. In Hispanic countries, Greece and Eastern Europe, North and South America are united into a single continent. In addition, some scientists use a model of the earth that consists of four continents: Afro-Eurasia, America, Antarctica and Australia.
The oceans are the largest bodies of water on our planet. They wash the continents and make up about 2/3 planet surface ( 360 million square kilometers). As in the case of continents, there are several options for dividing the World Ocean.
Scientists today divide the world's oceans into four parts:
QUIET... The largest and deepest ocean. We occupy about 50% the entire surface of our planet. Name "Quiet" gave the ocean Fernand Magellan... He crossed it in four months without encountering any obstacles.
Pacific Ocean Few Facts:
ATLANTIC ... The second largest is the Atlantic Ocean. From 92 million square kilometers of its surface is more than 16% falls on the seas, bays and straits. For the first time this ocean was called Atlantic Herodotus... The Greeks believed that in Mediterranean sea, which belongs to this ocean, Atlas stood and held the sky on his shoulders.
Atlantic Ocean Few Facts:
INDIAN... Occupies a fifth of the World Ocean. The western part of the Indian Ocean was called by the ancient Greeks Eritrean Sea... But, later this part of the World Ocean was called the Indian Sea. Final name for the Indian Ocean Oceanus Indicus gave Pliny the Elder in the 1st century AD.
Indian Ocean Interesting Facts:
ARCTIC ... The smallest and shallowest ocean on Earth. Its area does not reach and 14 million square kilometers. Was singled out as a separate ocean in 1650 year as a geographer Varenius and named Hyperborean(Old Greek. Βορέας - the mythical god of the north wind). In most countries it is named Arctic.
Arctic Ocean interesting facts:
INTERESTING: In some literature you can find the name of another - the fifth ocean. He is called Southern and is placed around Antarctica. But, neither experts nor navigators consider part of the waters of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans to be a real ocean. The last attempt to enter the Southern Ocean on the geographical maps of the world failed in 20 00 year. The International Hydrographic Organization has not ratified the decree on the allocation of this part of the World Ocean as an independent entity.
The geographic map of the world is an overview map of the relief of the earth's surface. The geographic map of the world has a coordinate grid. On this geographical map of the world, individual states and countries are not displayed to generalize and simplify the display of the surface relief above sea level (the darker the color, the higher the surface). The geographic map of the world clearly and concisely shows information about the main continents, seas and oceans and allows you to quickly create an image of the relief of the whole world.
Geographic map of the world depicting all continents... Reduced view of the geographical map of the world:
Geography lessons at school often require an outline map of the world:
Geographic map of the world with continents:
2008 - 2018 © Maps-of-World.ru - detailed maps of the countries of the world in Russian with cities.
Continents and oceans alternate on the surface of the Earth. They are different in geographic location, size and shape, which affects the peculiarities of their nature.
Continents are unevenly located on the surface of the Earth.
In the Northern Hemisphere, they occupy 39% of the surface, and in the Southern - only 19%. For this reason, the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth is called continental, and the Southern Hemisphere is called oceanic.
According to the position relative to the equator, the continents are divided into a group of southern and a group of northern continents.
Since the continents are located at different latitudes, they receive unequal amounts of light and heat coming from the Sun.
In the formation of the nature of the continent, its area plays an important role: the larger the continent, the more territories it has that are far from the oceans and do not experience their impact.
The relative position of the continents is of great geographical importance.
Continents
Continents and parts of the world
Formation of oceans and continents
Origin of continents and oceans
The oceans dividing the continents differ from each other in size, properties of waters, systems of currents, and features of the organic world.
The Pacific and Atlantic oceans have a similar geographical position: they stretch from the Arctic Circle to Antarctica.
The Indian Ocean is almost entirely in the Southern Hemisphere. The Arctic Ocean has a special geographical position - it is located around the North Pole within the Arctic Circle, covered with sea ice and isolated from other oceans.
The border of the continents with the oceans runs along the coastline. It can be straight or cut, that is, it has many protrusions.
Rugged coastlines have many seas and bays. Plunging deep into the land, they have a significant impact on the nature of the continents.
The land and waters of the World Ocean have different properties, while they are constantly in close interaction.
The oceans strongly influence the natural processes on the continents, but the continents also take part in the formation of the peculiarities of the nature of the oceans.
Continents and oceans on the surface of the Earth wikipedia
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Scientists believe that the Earth has been around for 4.5 billion years. At the same time, life on it began to emerge about 4.2 billion years ago. The formation of the Earth's ozone layer and its magnetic field helped protect and preserve the developing life on the planet to this day.
Our planet is located third (after Mercury and Venus) in order from the Sun, which helps it maintain the necessary conditions for life on the planet.
The distance from the Earth to the Sun is about 150 million kilometers, or this distance is also called 1 astronomical unit. The air temperature on the planet in the coldest place reaches - 85 degrees Celsius in Antarctica and + 70 degrees Celsius in the hottest part of the planet - the Sahara Desert.
Planet Earth rotates around its own axis and makes one revolution around the axis in 24 Earth hours, which are called days.
During the day we manage to see the sunrise, its gradual approach to the horizon, the sunset and the absence of the Sun in the sky, which is again replaced by the sunrise on the horizon. Also, the Earth revolves around the Sun, and it makes one revolution around the Sun in 365 days or 1 calendar year as it is commonly believed. For 1 year on the planet, the seasons change on the continents, and in different parts of the planet changes occur in different ways.
The Moon has been and remains the only natural satellite of the Earth throughout its history of existence.
The moon always faces the Earth with one of its sides, and the other always looks into space. Today, more than 8000 artificial satellites revolve around the Earth, which were sent into space by people.
In its shape, the planet Earth is similar to an oblate ellipsoid.
The planet has a diameter of 12,742 km and a circumference of 40,000 km. For its size, the Earth's surface is covered by 70.8% of water and only about 29.2% of the planet's surface is dry land. The highest point of land on our planet is Mount Everest (8.848 km above sea level). And the deepest point on our planet goes 10,994 km below sea level and is called the Mariana Trench.
6 continents (Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica) and 6 parts of the world (Australia, Asia, America, Antarctica, Africa and Europe), which differ in their borders from each other ... All continents and parts of the world are washed by 5 oceans of the planet: the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
In the center of the planet is the core, which is 7000 km wide.
The average radius of the core is 3500 km, of which the inner part of the core is solid (1300 km), consists mainly of metal and nickel, and the outer part of the core (2200 km) is in a liquid state. It is the movement of the outer part of the core that forms the Earth's magnetic field, which protects all living things from cosmic radiation.
The mantle follows the core (it goes deep into the Earth by 2800 km) - it is partially in a liquid state. Scientists have divided the mantle into the Lower and the Upper mantle.
The lower mantle reaches depths of up to 600 km from the surface of the planet. And the Lower Mantle ends at a depth of 2800 km from the Earth's surface.
And above the mantle is the earth's crust, which we know as the top layer of the earth.
Its thickness reaches from 10 to 70 km. The earth's crust consists of huge plates that can move, collide with each other, as a result of which mountains are formed, powerful earthquakes are created.
The atmosphere of planet Earth is 77% nitrogen, 22% oxygen and 1% gas. This ratio of substances in the atmosphere turned out to be ideal for all living things that inhabit the planet and plants.
Today, the planet is inhabited by millions of different life forms (animals, plants, birds, insects, fish, etc.), including people, whose number in 2011 exceeded the threshold of 7 billion people and continues to grow. Our planet is rich in beautiful and amazing places that fascinate with their beauty and mystery.
And also has its own records!
For all the years of its existence, mankind has made great strides in terms of technology development, but has caused tremendous damage to the planet itself.
I would like to believe that soon people will begin to correct their mistakes and save the planet from their harmful effects. After all, otherwise no one will survive on this beautiful planet.
A large area of the Earth is occupied by the world ocean.
Land occupies only twenty-nine percent of the surface.
The mainland is a large land mass surrounded by water.
Today there are 6 continents:
Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth.
It occupies more than one third of the land area. The population of this continent is more than five billion people, which is equal to seventy percent of the total population of the Earth. The extreme point in the west is Cape Roka, in the east is Cape Dezhnev. Eurasia is the only continent of the planet washed by four oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian and Arctic.
The surface of Eurasia is very diverse. The largest plains and mountain systems in the world are located on the mainland. This continent is the highest continent on the planet. The average height is approximately eight hundred and thirty meters. The highest mountains on the planet - the Himalayas - are located in Eurasia.
The second largest continent in terms of area is Africa.
Its area is one fifth of the land on the planet. In the south, the extreme point is Cape Agolny, in the north - Cape El-Abyad. They are equidistant from the equator. With the exception of the Isthmus of Suez, which is a small strip of land, this continent is almost entirely surrounded by water. The mainland is washed by the Indian and Atlantic Oceans and the Mediterranean Sea.
The population of the continent is located mainly in certain areas. Most people live on the west coast, in the Nile Valley and around Lake Victoria.
The smallest continent on the planet is Australia.
This continent lies entirely in the southern hemisphere. In the north, west and south, Australia is washed by the Indian Ocean, in the east - by the Pacific Ocean.
The continent is significantly removed from other continents. There are no land routes with them. Much of the continent is sparsely populated or unpopulated. Australia became a separate continent 65,000,000 years ago. Due to its isolated situation, there are many species of flora and fauna that are absent in other countries.
Antarctica is in fifth place in terms of area and is the coldest continent. This continent is located in the southern polar circle. Almost the entire area of the continent is covered with ice, the thickness of which is more than three kilometers.
The continent is washed by the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans. There is practically no flora and fauna here.
South America is in fourth place in terms of area. This continent makes up thirteen percent of the entire land area of the Earth.
In the west it is washed by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north - by the Caribbean Sea. There is a long chain of mountains on the planet - the Andes. Earthquakes often occur here.
North America is entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. This continent has the third largest area. North America is washed by the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans.
Eurasia and North America are separated by the Bering Strait.
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The meaning of many modern words was formed long ago, sometimes in classical ancient times.
And sometimes it is interesting to know how the meaning of words changed or how it was originally formed
their meaning.
This section collects some interesting modern words and concepts, whose origin
originates many centuries ago, or vice versa, they were formed quite recently.
The selection does not claim to be unique or academic.
These are just interesting facts and stories ...
America. Since 1402. Columbus made four voyages to the shores of America, discovered many islands and entered the mainland in 1498.
It became clear that new lands unknown to Europeans were discovered. However, the idea of their existence was first expressed by Amerigo Vespucci, who took part in two expeditions (1499-1504) to the open lands. An inquisitive and observant person, he compiled the first description of new lands, his travel letters gained great fame in Europe, and the discovered New World was named after him.
Australia is a continent located in the southern hemisphere, from the Latin for “southern”.
Antarctica is a continent located in the southern hemisphere, beyond the southern polar circle.
The name of the continent comes from the Greek word "anti" - against, ie the area lying against the northern polar region of the globe - the Arctic.
The Arctic is the northern polar region of the globe, including the Arctic Ocean with its seas and islands, the adjacent parts of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as the outskirts of the continents of Eurasia and North America.
The name comes from the Greek "arktos" - "bear"; a country lying under the constellation Ursa Major in the Far North.
Africa is the second largest continent on the planet. The origin of its name is interpreted in different ways:
1) lat. Africanus - “frost-free, not knowing the cold”;
2) this is what the Romans called a small tribe that lived south of Tunisia, and its place of residence was “Africa”.
Europe is part of the world.
The word is so ancient that it is extremely difficult to trace its origins. The name could come from the Semitic "erebus" or "Irib", which means "west" or from the Phoenician "Erep" - sunset; sunset. Another version: in ancient Greece, the word "Erebos" meant darkness, darkness, the underworld of the dead. Europe is part of the world, the western part of the Eurasian continent. According to legend, the Greek father of the gods, Zeus, kidnapped beautiful Europe from Phenicia, took her to Crete and conceived several children with her here.
The Aral Sea - from the Turkic Aral, which means “island” in translation.
This was the name of the area at the mouth of the Amu Darya at first.
Sea of Azov - in Arabic Bar-el-Azov - "dark blue sea".
Antilles from the Greek word "anti" - "against", "in front", "against the mainland."
The Azores are ten large and several small, mostly uninhabited islets. A thick veil of fog, now and then enveloping the Azores, has become a kind of symbol of the archipelago, another, less well-known name, which sounds like “Ilas de Bruma” (foggy islands).
Alaska is a peninsula in the northwest of the mainland of North America.
From Aleutian alaskhas, it means “big land”.
Bay of Bengal - From the Hindu word bangala, which means “banga dwelling”; (Bangui are the ancient inhabitants of the coast).
The Bosphorus Strait (Greek) - “cow's ford”. According to Greek mythology, the beautiful Io, transformed by the wife of Zeus, the goddess Hero, into a cow, pursued by a gadfly, fled from Greece and swam across the Bosphorus.
Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden - “the gate of tears”.
Greenland is an island, "green country" (in Danish), discovered in Hw by the Norman Vikings.
Hudson Bay is named for the English explorer Hudson, who discovered the bay in 1610
California is a peninsula on the west coast of North America.
Indicates "hot forge" because in summer there are very high temperatures.
The Caspian Lake-Sea is a part of the former vast sea. The name of the sea is associated with the name of the one who lived on its shores in the first millennium BC. of the Caspian people.
Red Sea - According to one version, the name of the sea depends on the part of the world. In the mythical legends of many peoples of the world, the cardinal points are associated with certain color shades. For example, red symbolizes the south, white - east, black (among a number of Asian peoples) - north.
Hence the name "Black Sea" does not mean "the sea with dark, black water", but "the sea in the north." After all, the Turks called this sea Kara-Deniz, the ancient tribes who spoke Iranian languages - Akhshaena (dark), and the Scythians Tama, which is also associated with the meaning of "dark".
As for the Red Sea, the word “red” seems to indicate its southern location, and not at all the color of the sea water.
Madeira - the island of Portugal - "wine island". In the ХYв. The famous Portuguese traveler Heinrich the Navigator planted Malvasian grape shoots brought from Crete in Madeira. So the grapes went into exile in Madeira.
Gulf of Mexico - its name is associated with the state of Mexico, which in turn is named after the Aztec god of war - Mehitli.
Newfoundland - from English.
- "newly discovered land." In 1003. Viking ships Torfini Karlefni sailed further south from Labrador. Two days later, a new land opened up for the travelers.
The rugged coast was covered with coniferous forest. Thorfinn called this land Markland - "forest country".
Florida Peninsula North. America - "blooming" (Spanish).
Aegean Sea (Greek) - "exciting".
Yucatan Peninsula North.
America - in the language of local Indians means “we do not understand you” (this is how the inhabitants of this peninsula answered the first Europeans who asked “what is the name of this land?”)
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 the 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. It has many colors: blue, cyan, green, yellow, brown and white. This is done in order to tell us as much as possible about the Earth.
Why are there the most blue and cyan colors 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 oceans and seas, rivers and lakes.
Rice. 2. Earth from space ()
But if you look closely, you will notice that in different places the ocean is indicated by different shades. This is done to show depth: the deeper the ocean, the darker the blue, and the shallower, the lighter the paint on the globe. are huge expanses of bitter-salty water that surround 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 Fernand Magellan, because during his voyage 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 and thirty-four meters.
Rice. 6. Mariana Trench ()
Previously, Europeans did not even know about the existence of the Pacific Ocean. They knew only one ocean - Atlantic, which seemed boundless, so it was named after the most powerful hero of the Greek myths Atlas.
Rice. 7. Physical map of the Atlantic Ocean ()
In fact, the Atlantic Ocean is the second largest after the Pacific, the deepest ocean is 5 kilometers. In the Atlantic Ocean, there are huge waves as high as a three-story building.
Indian Ocean especially restless in its southern part. It is warmer than others, even in the northern part of the Indian Ocean, it warms up to + 35 degrees.
Rice. 8. Physical map of the Indian Ocean ()
Arctic- the northernmost region, in winter and summer covered with a thick layer of ice and snow. At the North Pole, there is the fourth ocean, almost all of its surface is covered with thick strong ice, and around many meters of snow drifts. That's why this ocean was named Arctic.
Rice. 9. Physical map of the Arctic Ocean
Relatively recently, learned 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 oceans together: Pacific, Indian, Atlantic, Arctic and South - merge together into a single world Ocean, which washes the entire globe.
On the globe, large areas of land, which are called continents, are depicted in green, yellow, brown and white colors. 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. Our homeland is on this mainland 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 indicates the location of the mountains, while green and yellow indicate the location of 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 ()
Rivers are marked on the globe by jagged blue lines drawn along the surface of the continents. Rivers flow across the East European Plain Volga, Don, Dnieper, a river flows across 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. Mountains Himalayas ()
Jamalungma (Everest)- the highest mountain in the world (8 km 708 m).
Rice. 16. Mount Jamalungma ()
Located in Eurasia Baikal- the 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 of land in the world - depression 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 its 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 ()
It is the largest desert in the world and the hottest place on Earth (maximum recorded temperature is +58 degrees). On this mainland flows Nile- the second longest river in the world.
Rice. 27. River Nile ()
Volcano Kilimanjaro- the highest point in Africa.
Rice. 28. Kilimanjaro Volcano ()
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 Ocean, and North America 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. Greenland Coast ()
These continents are rich in rivers and lakes. North America has one of the greatest rivers in the world Mississippi,
Rice. 35. Mississippi River ()
and South America has the largest river in the world in terms of depth and length.
Rice. 36. Amazon ()
There is a bay on the coast of North America Fundy, 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 in twelve hours come to the shore, and then move away from it. South America has the world's tallest waterfall - Angel, its total height is 979 meters.
Rice. 38. Angel Falls ()
It seems as if it is shrouded in fog - this is a curtain of tiny particles of water, which is sprayed, falling from such a huge height. The most powerful waterfall in the world is located on the same mainland. Iguazu.
Rice. 39. Iguazu Falls ()
Although in fact this is a whole complex of 270 individual waterfalls, which is about 2.7 km wide. South America has the driest place in the world - the desert Atacama.
Rice. 40. Atacama Desert ()
In some places of this desert, rain falls once every several decades.
Australia- the fifth continent, which is the smallest of all the others. The Pacific Ocean is washed by the northern and eastern coasts, the Indian Ocean is washed by the western and southern ones.
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. Here are common screams(English creek - rivulet) - rivers that exist only during the rainy season and dry up completely for most of the year.
Rice. 42. The dry mouth of the river (
