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A map showing the continents:
    North America
    South America

A continent is a large area of the land on Earth that is joined together. In general it is agreed there are seven continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and South America.[1][2]

Most sources say that Australia is one of the seven continents[3]. Others believe that Australia is part of another continent called Oceania. They believe that Oceania is a region which includes Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands.[4]

Some say that North America and South America are one continent. Some say that Europe and Asia are only parts of a continent called Eurasia. Some even say that Eurasia and Africa are one continent called Eurafrasia.

When British people talk about "the Continent" (or "Continental" things) they mean the European mainland.[5] This meaning is not used as much as it used to be, but is still seen in phrases like "Continental breakfast" (rolls with cheese, jam etc. as distinct from an "English breakfast" which is a cooked breakfast).

Continents not only move but also sometimes crash into each other. The Indian subcontinent has been colliding with the Eurasian continent for a while now. As these continents push against each other, they buckle and bend. Because of this, the Himalaya Mountains, where Mount Everest is, are still being made today.[6]

Other pages[change | edit source]

References[change | edit source]

  1. Continent (2009). In Encyclopædia Britannica. Retrieved 12 December 2009.
  3. World fact book - Australia
  4. - Australia