CONTINENTS AND OCEANS NOTES

CONTINENTS  There are seven continents and 4 Oceans on the earth.  A continent is a great landmass.  From largest to smallest in size: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.  Population: Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America, Australia, and Antarctica.  Four Oceans are: Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean World Population What are Continents?

EARTH’S LAND AND WATER  Earth’s surface is 71% water and 29% land

EARTH’S WATER  Earth’s Water is 96.5% saltwater and 3.5% freshwater  Lakes, rivers, ponds, streams are freshwater ecosystems

NORTH AMERICA  North America consists of Canada (2 nd largest country), the United States (3 rd largest), Mexico, Central America, Greenland, and small islands in the Atlantic Ocean.  Central America is an isthmus- a narrow strip of land surrounded on two sides by water that connects two landmasses  There are three oceans that touches North America: the Arctic to the North, the Pacific to the West, and the Atlantic to the East.

SOUTH AMERICA  South America is directly south of North America  is made up of 12 countries.  The Pacific Ocean borders South America to the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east.

EUROPE  Europe is located east of North America  is made up of 50 countries.  The Atlantic Ocean is Europe’s western border and the Arctic Ocean is north of Europe.

ASIA  Asia is located east of Europe  made up of 48 countries  The largest include Russia, China, and India.  Extremely diverse climates and geographic features.  The Pacific Ocean lies to the east and to the southwest is the Indian Ocean

AFRICA  Africa is south of Europe  made up of 54 countries  Africa is surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the East

AUSTRALIA  Australia is located southeast of Asia  As a continent includes Tasmania and many other islands throughout the Pacific Ocean  The Indian Ocean borders the west and south, while the Pacific is on the east

ANTARCTICA  The southernmost, coldest, windiest and most remote continent.  Surrounds the South Pole, the point at the southern end of the Earth’s axis.  Almost completely covered by ice  Antarctica means “opposite of the Arctic” the Earth’s most northernmost region. Continents and Oceans song