Geography Continents and Oceans

Continents The world is divided into 7 major continents

1) North America 9.5 million square miles 565 million people (7.5%) Ranked #3 out of 7 565 million people (7.5%) Ranked #4 out of 7 23 different countries

2) South America 6.9 million square miles 375 million people (5%) Ranked #4 out of 7 375 million people (5%) Ranked #5 out of 7 12 different countries

3) Africa 11.7 million square miles 1.1 billion people (15%) Ranked #2 out of 7 1.1 billion people (15%) 54 different countries

4) Europe 3.9 million square miles 745 million people (11%) Ranked #6 out of 7 745 million people (11%) Ranked #3 out of 7 50 different countries

5) Asia 17.2 million square miles 4.3 billion people (60%) Ranked #1 out of 7 4.3 billion people (60%) 49 different countries

6) Australia 3.3 million square miles 36 million people 4 countries Ranked #7 out of 7 36 million people Ranked #6 out of 7 (1%) 4 countries

7) Antarctica 5.4 million square miles No permanent population Ranked #5 out of 7 98% is covered by ice No permanent population Ranked #7 out of 7 No countries

Oceans There are 4 major oceans in the world Some sources might say there are 5 or 6 In this class, we will only deal with the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans

8) Pacific Ocean This is the largest ocean in the world It covers 1/3 of the earth’s surface The Pacific Ocean is bigger than the land area of all of the continents combined! The Pacific Ocean borders 4 continents!

9) Atlantic Ocean The second largest ocean in the world It covers 1/5 of the earth’s surface The Atlantic Ocean is S-shaped and borders 4 continents.

10) Indian Ocean The third largest ocean in the world. It covers about 1/7 of the earth’s surface. The Indian Ocean gets its name from the Indian subcontinent. It borders 3 continents.

11) Arctic Ocean Located near the North Pole This is the world’s smallest ocean In the winter-time it is mostly covered by sea ice

12) Southern Ocean Located around Antarctica and the South Pole Sometimes, geographers say that the Southern Ocean isn’t an ocean by itself, but part of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian

Longitude Lines that go north and south (up and down) on a map to specify an East or West point on the earth’s surface 0 – 180 (East or West)

Prime Meridian The Prime Meridian divides the earth into East and West

Prime Meridian The degrees give you a measurement of how far to go from the Prime Meridian and in which direction (East or West)

Latitude Lines that go east and west (left and right) on a map to and specifies an North or South point on the earth’s surface 0-90 (North or South)

Equator The Equator divides the earth into North and South

Equator The degrees give you a measurement of how far to go from the Equator and in which direction (North or South)

Absolute Location Coordinates where LONGITUDE and LATITUDE intersect gives an exact location! Example: 100 degrees East and 40 degrees North

Scale Scale is what is used to measure distances on maps Usually, one inch will represent a certain number of miles on the map On larger maps, one inch will represent hundreds of miles

Cardinal Directions North South East West Northeast Northwest 4 Intermediate Directions Northeast Northwest Southeast Southwest

Lubbock, Texas to Charlotte, North Carolina what direction are you travelling how many miles (approximately)?

You travel approximately 1,000 miles You are traveling northeast