Oceans and continents, their names, location on the map

The surface of the Earth has an extremely uneven terrain. Deep basins are filled with water, the rest of the planet is represented by land. All this together - oceans and continents. They differ in size, climate, outlines, geographical location.

Interaction of the oceans and continents

Despite the fact that the world water and land have a number of distinctive properties, they are inseparably linked. Map of the continents and oceans is that evidence (see below). Water continuously affects the processes occurring on land. In turn, the continents form the features of the world's oceans. In addition, interaction occurs in the animal world, and in the plant world.

The geography of continents and oceans shows clear boundaries between water and land areas. Continents are placed on the surface of the planet unevenly. Most of them are located in the Northern Hemisphere. That is why the Southern in science is called hydrological. The continents and oceans of the world are also divided into two groups relative to the equator. Those that stand above the line belong to the northern half, the rest to the south. Each continent borders on the world's water area. So what are the oceans washing the continents? The Atlantic and Indian border on four continents, the Arctic - with three, the Pacific - with all but Africa. In total there are 6 continents and 4 oceans on the planet. The boundaries between them are uneven, embossed.

Pacific Ocean

Has the largest water area among other basins. Map of the continents and oceans shows that it washes all continents, except the African. It includes dozens of large seas, the total area of which is about 180 million square meters. Km. Through the Bering Strait connects to the Arctic Ocean. The other two have a communal pool.

The maximum depth of the water area is the Mariana Trench - more than 11 km. The total volume of the basin is 724 million cubic meters. Km. Seas occupy only 8% of the Pacific Ocean area. The study of the water area began in the 15th century by Chinese geographers.

Atlantic Ocean

It occupies the second place in terms of size in the world basin. As is customary, each name of the oceans derives from an ancient term or deity. The Atlantic is named in honor of the famous Greek titan Atlas. The water area extends from Antarctica to subarctic latitudes. Borders with all other oceans, even with the Pacific (through Cape Horn). One of the biggest straits is the Hudson. They have an Atlantic basin connected to the Arctic. The seas make up about 16% of the total ocean area. The area of the basin is just over 91.5 million square meters. Km. Most of the Atlantic seas are inland, and only a small part of them are coastal (up to 1%).

Arctic Ocean

It has the smallest water area on the planet. Fully located in the Northern Hemisphere. Occupied territory - 14.75 million square meters. Km. At the same time, the volume of the basin is about 18.1 million cubic meters. Km of water. The deepest point is considered to be the Depression of the Greenland Sea - 5527 m.

The relief of the bottom of the water area is represented by the outskirts of the continents and a large shelf. The Arctic Ocean is conventionally divided into the Arctic, Canadian and European basins. A distinctive feature of the water area is a thick ice cover, which can persist all 12 months of the year, constantly drifting. Because of the severe cold climate, the ocean is not so rich in fauna and flora as the rest. Nevertheless, important commercial shipping routes pass through it.

Indian Ocean

It occupies one fifth of the entire world water surface. It is remarkable that each name of the oceans has either a geographic or a theological background. The only difference is the Indian basin. Its name has more historical background. The ocean was named in honor of the first Asian country, which became known to the Old World - in honor of India. The water area covers an area of 76.17 million square meters. Km. Its volume is about 282.6 million cubic kilometers. Washes 4 continents and borders with the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Has the widest pool in the world's water expanses - more than 10 thousand kilometers.

The Eurasian continent

It is the largest continent on the planet. Eurasia is located mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. The territory of the continent occupies almost half of the world's land. Its area is about 53.6 million square meters. Km. The islands occupy only 5% of Eurasia - less than 3 million square meters. Km.

All oceans and continents are interconnected. As for the Eurasian continent, all four oceans wash it. The boundary line is strongly indented, deep-watered. The mainland has in its composition 2 parts of the world: Asia and Europe. The boundary between them runs along the Ural Mountains, the Manych, Ural, Kuma rivers, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Mediterranean seas and a number of straits.

South America

Oceans and continents in this part of the planet are located mainly in the Western Hemisphere. The continent is washed by the Atlantic and Pacific basins. It borders with North America through the Caribbean Sea and the Isthmus of Panama. The mainland includes dozens of medium and small islands. Most of the inland water basin is represented by such rivers as Orinoco, Amazon and Parana. Together they make up the water area of 7 million square meters. Km. The total area of South America - about 17.8 million square meters. Km. There are few lakes on the continent, most of them are near the Andes mountains, for example Lake Titicaca.

It is worth noting that on the territory of the mainland there is the highest waterfall in the world - Angel.

North America

It is located in the Western Hemisphere. It is washed by all the oceans, except the Indian Ocean. The coastal waters include the seas (Bering, Labrador, Caribbean, Beaufort, Greenland, Baffin) and bays (Alaska, Saint Lawrence, Hudson, Mexican). North America has common borders with the South on the Panama Canal.

The most significant island systems are the Canadian and Alexandrian archipelagos, Greenland and Vancouver. The continent occupies an area of more than 24 million square meters. Km, without taking into account the islands - about 20 million square meters. Km.

African continent

On the territorial area it is on the second place after Eurasia, which borders on the northeast. It is washed only by the Indian and Atlantic oceans. The largest coastal sea is the Mediterranean. It is remarkable that Africa is both a continent and a part of the world. In this region of the planet, the oceans and continents cross several climatic zones and the equator. In turn, Africa stretches from the northern to the southern subtropical belt. That is why the level of precipitation is very low here. Hence, there are problems with fresh water and irrigation.

Mainland Antarctica

It is the coldest and lifeless continent. Located at the South Pole of the Earth. Antarctica, like Africa, is the mainland and part of the world. To the territorial possessions belong all the adjacent islands.

Antarctica is considered the highest continent in the world. Its average height fluctuates around 2040 meters. Most of the land is occupied by glaciers. There are no population on the mainland, only a few dozen stations with scientists. Inside the continent, there are about 150 subglacial lakes.

Australian continent

The continent is in the Southern Hemisphere. All the territory he occupies belongs to the state of Australia. Washed by such seas of the Pacific and Indian Ocean, as Coral, Timor, Arafour and others. The largest adjoining islands are Tasmania and New Guinea. The continent is part of a part of the world, called Australia and Oceania. Its area is about 7.7 million square meters. Km.

Four time zones pass through Australia. In the northeast of the mainland, the coast is represented by the world's largest coral reef.