THE SEVEN CONTINENTS OF THE WORLD

The land area comprises only a third of the land area (29%), while the remaining two thirds are occupied by the waters and ocean waters (71%). In general, there is a preponderance of the solid mass on the liquid in the Northern Hemisphere, while in the Southern Hemisphere the figure is reversed. The concentration of the land area is evident when limited to a circle almost the entire continental brand, separating the so-called Hemisphere Hemisphere Continental Maritime. For geographical and historical, traditionally, have divided the land area in seven parts:

1)    Europa                                            10,520,165 square kilometers
2)    Asia                                               44,177,011 square kilometers
3)    Africa                                             30,284,091 square kilometers
4)    Artico & América del Norte                   24,239,878 square kilometers
5)    América del Centro, Caribe & Sur          17,842,605 square kilometers       
6)    Antártida                                         13,176,727 square kilometers
7)    Oceanía & Australia                             8,944,571 square kilometers

Source: Atlas Geográfico Universal. Editorial Océano. Madrid. 1993

Europe and Asia up in reality a solid landmass, called Eurasia. But Europe is studied as a separate continent, and that because of its historical-cultural evolution, which has given a leadership position in the history of mankind. Its highest peak is Mount Elbrus.

Africa (which until 1869 was linked to Asia by the Isthmus of Suez, before opening the channel of the same name) is also very close to Europe, separated from it only by the Strait of Gibraltar (15 km).
Its highest peak is Mount Kilimanjaro.

Pacific, however, is characterized by the dispersion of their lands, as it is composed of numerous islands, scattered over the Pacific Ocean, of different origin, size and geographic location. Among its highlights land Australia, too large to be considered an island, some scholars classified as a continent. Its major peaks are Mount Kosciusko and Carstensz Pyramid.

America is clearly separated from other landmasses, which would explain the late touchdown by the Europeans, however, Alaska is very close to northeast Asia and even the two continents come to join when it freezes Waters surrounding the arc of the Aleutians. This circumstance was used by prehistoric peoples who migrated from Asia to populate the Americas. Some scholars believe that America itself is divided into two continents, as there are two continental plates, one is attached to the North American Arctic Circle & North Pole, and its highest peak Mount McKinley or Denali, and the other side is made in Central America, Caribbean and South America, whose highest peak is Mount Aconcagua.

Antarctica is the continent that is almost entirely within the Antarctic Circle, and weather conditions which kept covered with a thick layer of ice, lack of fauna and flora except in the coast and the sea surrounding it. The highest peak is Mount Vinson.

Geological structures of the continents are formed by the union of ancient rock solid too rigid (Canadian Shield and the Baltic, Africa, etc.) folds corresponding to middle age ranges or Hercynian mountain ranges (Appalachian Rhenish Massif, etc.) and the major tertiary ridges characterized by its youth, due to its high altitude and its instability, manifested in the significant seismic and volcanic activity in these areas (Andes, Alps, Himalayas, etc.).

The configuration of climates on the continents is the result of a complex interplay between several factors, such as latitude, topography and proximity to the sea, which determine the distribution and intensity of weather (temperature, wind and rainfall). Thus we see that the areas are on Ecuador, close to sea level, enjoy a hot and humid climate, but at the same latitude, on the Ecuadorian Andes and on Kilimanjaro or the Carstensz Pyramid, there is snow permanent.

The sea temperature is a moderator, but its proximity can be positive, as the action of the warm Gulf Stream to the Norwegian coast, or negative, as the cold Labrador Current to the North American coasts. High climatic ranges are real barriers to keep out the wet winds, such as the Andes or the Himalayas. The lack of rain causes desert climates, usually located at the latitude of the tropics (Sahara, Kalahari, etc.). The vegetation is closely linked to climatic regions, although the action of man has changed its natural development and altered the distribution of plant species on the surface of the Earth.