Overview
This lecture introduces the seven continents, listing them from largest to smallest and providing key facts about each.
The Seven Continents
- There are seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.
- The continents are often listed from largest to smallest: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia.
Key Facts About Each Continent
- Asia: Largest continent; over half the world’s population lives here.
- Africa: Contains vast deserts and the Nile, the world’s longest river.
- North America: Extends from Panama to Canada and features wide-open spaces.
- South America: Known for its abundant animal life and rainforests with heavy rainfall.
- Antarctica: Covered almost entirely in ice.
- Europe: Recognized for its cultural foods such as pasta, pizza, waffles, and fries.
- Australia/Oceania: Known for many islands and sometimes referred to as Oceania.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Continent — A large, continuous area of land on Earth identified by convention.
- Asia — The largest continent by both area and population.
- Africa — The second-largest continent, notable for deserts and the Nile River.
- Oceania — A region including Australia and many islands in the Pacific Ocean.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Memorize the seven continents in order from largest to smallest.
- Review one key fact about each continent for recall.