| Viewed from space, the Earth appears to have four | | | | misleading. Under the seven continents methodology, |
| or five major landmass areas depending on your | | | | Asia extends over much of Russia, the Mideast and |
| viewpoint. Despite this, we hold on to the illusion | | | | even parts of Egypt.Often referred to as the |
| there are more continents.As we all learned in grade | | | | forgotten continent, Australia is the fourth continent. |
| school, there are seven continents. A quick look at a | | | | Incorrectly referred to as an island for significant |
| globe, however, reveals this basic assumption is just | | | | periods of history, Australia is undoubtedly a |
| flat wrong. In particular, how can Europe be | | | | continent. That being said, it is the smallest in |
| considered a continent when there is no clear division | | | | landmass with just more than 4,000,000 square miles, |
| with Russia?To the surprise of many, the Arctic is | | | | but has a healthy population of over 20 million |
| not classified as a continent. Instead, it is divided up | | | | people.Europe is also considered a continent, but |
| between North America and Asia. Yes, Asia because | | | | there is little geographic evidence supporting this |
| Russia is considered to be part of it in the seven | | | | claim. The continental designation is primarily a political |
| continents model. Following are the accepted seven | | | | and historical development. Regardless, Europe covers |
| continents in alphabetical order.Africa is undeniably a | | | | an area of 4 million square miles, but is heavily |
| continent by any definition. It is also the second | | | | populated with over eleven percent of the world |
| largest one as a measure of landmass, covering over | | | | population at 705 million people.North America is our |
| 11,700,000 square miles and making up 5.9 percent of | | | | next continent. Once again, we run into the practical |
| the total surface of the Earth. As a measure of | | | | issue of boundaries. Using the seven continent |
| population, Africa is second most populous continent | | | | methodology, North America extends into the arctic |
| with over 840 million people.Antarctica is also | | | | as expected, but is also considered to include much |
| considered a continent, if a particularly barren one. 98 | | | | of Central America. The total landmass is 9.45 million |
| percent of Antarctica is covered in ice and it is the | | | | square miles. 514 million people are estimated to live in |
| only continent neither considered a country nor | | | | North America.Our final continent is South America. |
| claimed by any other country.Based on sheer size, | | | | Covering 6.9 million square miles, South America |
| Asia is the dominant continent in the world. It has the | | | | covers 3.5 percent of the total surface of the Earth. |
| largest landmass area and is home to over 60 | | | | With a population of 371 million people, it ranks as the |
| percent of all humans. Talk about traffic jams! In | | | | fifth most populous nation.The misleading nature of |
| truth, the measurements on Asia can be a bit | | | | the seven continent theory has to do with Europe. |