Continents of the World

Asia (orange), Africa (yellow), North America (light green), South America (dark green), Europe (red), Australia (purple), Antarctica (blue)

• Asia is the world's largest continent in terms of land area.

• Asia is the world's most populous continent.

• There are 48 countries on the continent of Asia.

• Asia is located in the Eastern Hemisphere. Most of Asia is located in the Northern Hemisphere. It stretches from the cold, Arctic regions of the North to the tropics along the Equator.

North Asia or Siberian Russia (blue)

East Asia (yellow)

Southeast Asia (orange)

South Asia (red)

Central Asia (purple)

Southwest Asia (green)

• Africa is the world's second largest continent in terms of land area.

• Africa is the world's second most populous continent.

• Africa is located: south of Europe & the Mediterranean Sea; west of the Indian Ocean and Asia; north of Antarctica; and, east of the Atlantic Ocean, South America, and North America.

North Africa or Saharan Africa (blue)

West Africa (green)

Central Africa (purple)

East Africa (orange)

Southern Africa (red)

• Europe is the world's third most populous continents, and yet it is one of the smallest continents.

• Europe is connected to Asia. It is located west of Asia. There are 50 countries in Europe.

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Northern Europe (blue)

Western Europe (green)

Southern Europe (yellow)

Eastern Europe (red)

• North America is Earth's third largest continent in terms of land area. It is located entirely in the Western Hemisphere.

• North America is located: south of the Arctic Ocean; west of the Atlantic Ocean; north of South America; and, east of the Pacific Ocean.

• There are 23 countries in North America. The United States is the most populous country in North America.

The world's second & third largest countries by land area, Canada and the United States, respectively, are located in North America. Mexico, the countries of Central America and the Caribbean region are also part of North America.

• South America is the 4th largest continent.

• South America is located entirely in the Western Hemisphere. It is located: south of North America; west of the Atlantic Ocean; north of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean; and, east of the Pacific Ocean.

Brazil is the largest country in South America. To the west, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Chile are known as the Andean Countries because the Andes Mountains pass through them. Argentina, Paraguay, and Uruguay are southern countries. Venezuela, Guyana, and Surinam are countries on the northern, or Caribbean, coast.

• Australia is located in the Southern Hemisphere.

• Australia is bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the west.

Australia is a continent, and also an independent country made up of states and territories. Neighboring island countries in the Pacific, along with Australia, make up a region known as Oceania. Australia is located south of Indonesia and New Guinea; it is northwest of New Zealand.

• Antarctica is located in the South Polar Region.

• Antarctica is surrounded by the Southern Ocean.

• Most of Antarctica's land is covered by glacial ice.

• Antarctica has no permanent residents, although approximately 1,000 scientists do live and work at scientific research bases.

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Antarctica has no permanent residential population. International treaty agreements allow for the establishment of scientific stations to study the Earth, however military bases and operations are banned.

Test yourself! What have you learned about the world's continents?