What are the Seven Continents and Oceans?



Posted: Thursday, August 27, 2009

by Jon Smarth
http://south-america-travel-tips.com

Are you able to name every continent and ocean on Earth? If you look at a map of seven continents and oceans you will probably remember right away, but if you're like the majority of people you can likely name the continents but will leave out 1 or 2 oceans. Let's find out what they are.

There are generally considered to be 7 continents. But the continents we identify are not chosen based on exact criteria, but rather by historical definitions. For example, there is nothing separating Europe from Asia and they could be considered one continent called Eurasia. But they are generally considered separate continents because of cultural and historical reasons. There are 7 continents: Australia, Europe, Antarctica, South America, North America, Europe, and Australia.

Some of the continents have very vague boundaries between them, so we apply aribtrary boundaries to them.The Panama Canal demarcates the boundary between North America and South America, even though it's a man-made feature. Africa and Asia are separated by the Suez Canal,which is again man-made. These arbitrary boundaries indicate that the continents are not always easy to define with perfection.

Let's now take a look at the world's oceans.We identify five oceans in the world, though a lot of people can't remember what all of them are. They are the Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Arctic Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, and Pacific Ocean. The Arctic and Southern Oceans are often merged in with the first three oceans, which is why you hear less about them, especially the Southern Ocean.

The Southern Ocean is situated in the southern portion of the globe, around Antarctica. It revolves around the Antarctic continent and merges into the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans at its northern edge.

Does that clearup some misconceptions for you?. Click here to see a great map of seven continents and oceans.

Jon Sharm is an avid traveller and geography enthusiast. See his printable map blog for endless geographic information. Start here with Map of Seven Continents and Oceans.
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