Commonly Asked Questions About Continents

Many people wonder which continent houses which countries or locales. The seven landmasses of the world that are typically identified as continents  are  Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. However, there are places in the world that  are not physically part of either of these, and in such cases, they are included as part of a region of the world.   Here are some of the most frequent continent questions.   Is Greenland Part of Europe? Geographically, Greenland is part of North America, even though economically and politically, it is a territory of Denmark (which is in Europe). To Which Continent Does the  North Pole Belong? None. The North Pole is in the middle of the Arctic Ocean. Which Continents Does the Prime  Meridian Cross? The prime meridian runs through Europe, Africa, and Antarctica. Does the International Date Line Hit Any Continents? The international date line runs only through Antarctica. How Many Continents Does the Equator Pass? The equator passes through South America, Africa,  and Asia. Where Is the Deepest Point on Land? The deepest point on land is the Dead Sea, located on the border of Israel and Jordan in Asia. On Which Continent Is Egypt? Egypt is mostly part of Africa, although the Sinai Peninsula in northeastern Egypt is part of Asia. Are Islands Such as New Zealand, Hawaii, and the Islands of the Caribbean Part of Continents? New Zealand is an oceanic island far from a continent, and thus, it is not on a continent but is often considered to be part of the Australia and Oceania region. Hawaii is not on a continent, as it is an island chain far from a landmass. The Caribbean islands likewise—they are considered part of the geographic region known as North America or Latin America. Is Central America a Part of North or South America? The border between Panama and Colombia is the border between North America and South America, so Panama and countries to the north are in North America, and Colombia and countries south of it are in South America. Is Turkey Considered in Europe or Asia? Although most of Turkey lies geographically in Asia (the Anatolian Peninsula is Asian), far western Turkey lies in Europe. As such, Turkey is considered to be a transcontinental country. Continent Facts Africa Africa covers about 20 percent of the total landmass on planet Earth. Antarctica The ice sheet covering Antarctica amounts to about 90 percent of the Earths total ice. Asia The huge continent of Asia has both the highest and the lowest points on Earth. Australia Australia is home to more species than any developed country, and most of them are endemic, meaning that they arent found anywhere else. Thus, it also has the highest species extinction rate. Europe Britain separated from continental Europe only about 10,000 years ago.   North America North America extends from the Arctic Circle at the north all the way to the equator at the south. South America South Americas Amazon River, the second longest river in the world, is the greatest in volume of water moved. The Amazon Rainforest, sometimes called the lungs of the Earth, produces about 20 percent of the worlds oxygen.