What Are the Continents and Oceans?

What Are the Continents and Oceans?

Earth's surface is made up of land and water. The large landmasses are called continents, and the enormous bodies of salt water are called oceans. Together, the continents and oceans form the geography of our entire planet.

• Land covers about 29% of Earth's surface
• Water (mostly oceans) covers about 71% of Earth's surface

The Seven Continents

Asia: East - Largest continent; includes China, India, Japan; Mount Everest

Africa: Central-South - Second largest; Sahara Desert; Nile River; most countries of any continent

North America: West - Includes US, Canada, Mexico; Rocky Mountains; Mississippi River

South America: West - Amazon Rainforest; Andes Mountains; Angel Falls

Antarctica: South Pole - Covered in ice; no permanent residents; coldest place on Earth

Europe: North - Smallest inhabited continent; many countries; Alps; Mediterranean Sea

Australia/Oceania: South Pacific - Surrounded by water; Great Barrier Reef; kangaroos

A Memory Trick for the 7 Continents

"All Antelopes Need Soft And Easy Air" → Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia

The Five Oceans

Pacific: Between Americas and Asia/Australia - Largest; covers more area than all land combined

Atlantic: Between Americas and Europe/Africa - Second largest

Indian: South of Asia, west of Australia - Third largest; warmest ocean

Southern: Surrounding Antarctica - Fourth largest; added officially in 2000

Arctic: Surrounding the North Pole - Smallest; partially frozen year-round

Locating Continents and Oceans on a Globe

On a globe or world map:

• The equator is the imaginary line around Earth's middle, dividing it into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
• The prime meridian divides Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres
• Most continents are in the Northern Hemisphere; Antarctica is entirely in the Southern Hemisphere
• The Americas are in the Western Hemisphere; Europe, Africa, Asia, and Australia are in the Eastern Hemisphere

Interesting Geography Facts

• Longest river: Nile (Africa) or Amazon (South America) - debated

• Tallest mountain: Mount Everest in Asia, 29,032 feet

• Largest desert: Antarctic Desert (yes - a desert is defined by low precipitation, not heat)

• Largest ocean: Pacific - it's bigger than all the land on Earth combined

• Most populous continent: Asia (over 4.5 billion people)

Practice Activities

• Continent and ocean labeling: Students label a blank world map with all 7 continents and 5 oceans.

• Continent comparison chart: Students compare two continents on climate, famous landmarks, and animals.

• Globe exploration: Students use a physical globe to find each continent and ocean, then name their location relative to the equator.

• Animal to continent match: Match animals (panda, kangaroo, elephant, bison) to the continent where they are found.

• Continent song: Learn a continent song (many are available online) to memorize all seven continents.

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