Continents

Learning Outcomes:

1. Understand the geographical features of Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.
2. Comprehend the climatic variations and natural vegetation across different continents.
3. Recognize the unique physical divisions and natural resources of each continent.
4. Gain insights into political, natural, and economic attributes of global regions.

Africa

Africa, second-largest continent, covers 30,335,000 sq km (20% of Earth’s land). It has a coastline of 30,539 km and extends between latitudes 37° 31′ N to 34° 52′ S and longitudes 17° 31′ W to 51° 24′ E. Divided by the Equator, it primarily lies in the Torrid Zone.

Physical Features

1. Plateaus: Predominant in the South and East, featuring volcanic peaks. Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) is the tallest, snow-covered year-round.
2. Rift Valleys: Stretch from Lake Malawi northward to the Red Sea. Known as the Great Rift Valley, it includes lakes like Victoria, Africa’s largest.
3. Deserts: One-third of Africa is desert. The Sahara (world’s largest) is in the North; the Kalahari in the South.
4. Rivers: The Nile (longest globally) originates in Lake Victoria, flowing north to the Mediterranean. Zaire (Congo) has the greatest water volume, draining into the Atlantic.

Important Note: Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River is 2 km wide.

Climate

1. Equatorial: High temperatures, daily rainfall near the equator, forming tropical rainforests.
2. Sudan Type: North and South of rainforests, warm summers, mild winters, and seasonal rains. Region covered by Savanna grasslands.
3. Desert: Extensive Northern and Southern deserts with extreme temperatures; world’s highest recorded in Al-Aziziyah, Libya (58°C).
4. Mediterranean: North and South coasts feature rainy winters, warm dry summers.

Soil and Vegetation

1. Soil Suitability: Only 16% suitable for crops; fertile regions include volcanic soils (East Africa) and Nile Valley’s alluvial soils.
2. Forests: Central Africa houses tropical forests with valuable trees (mahogany, ebony). Palm trees (coconut, oil palm, date palm) thrive in tropical regions.

Important Concept: Savanna: Region of tall, coarse grasses between the rainforests and deserts.

Drainage

Rivers are largely non-navigable but crucial for hydroelectric power. Kariba Dam (Zambezi) and Aswan Dam (Nile) are major hydroelectric projects.

Antarctica

Fifth largest, Antarctica spans 14,000,000 sq km. Known as the White Continent, it’s devoid of permanent human settlement.

Features

1. Topography: Rugged and mountainous; highest continent (avg. 6,000 ft). The Queen Maud Range bisects it. Highest peak: Vinson Massif (4,897 m).
2. Volcano: Mount Erebus, the only active volcano.
3. Climate: Cold, windy; South Pole records as low as -95°C. Aurora Australis lights up winter nights.
4. Ice and Water: 70% of Earth’s freshwater stored in ice caps. Icebergs break off and drift into surrounding waters.

Vegetation and Resources

1. Flora: Limited to lichens and mosses.
2. Fauna: Penguins, sea birds, seals, whales.
3. Resources: Krill swarms offer potential development. Minerals (gold, coal, petroleum) remain under exploration moratorium due to international agreements.

Important Note: Antarctica is termed the “Continent of Science” due to its use solely for scientific research.

Asia

Largest continent, Asia, covers one-third of Earth’s land. Latitudinal range: 10° 11’S to 81° 12’N; longitudinal: 26° 2’E to 169° 40’W. Bounded by Arctic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans.

Physical Features

1. Northern Lowlands: Siberian Plain, drained by Ob, Yenisei, Lena rivers. Contains Lake Baikal, world’s deepest.
2. Central Mountains: Pamir Knot is a convergence point for ranges like the Himalayas, Karakoram. Contains highest peaks (Everest, K2).
3. Plateaus: South-central Deccan (India), Yunnan (China) feature deep valleys from erosion.
4. River Valleys: Fertile valleys of the Ganges, Yangtze. Plains house intensive agriculture.

Climate

1. Varied Zones: Ranges from Tundra in the North to Equatorial in the South.
2. Monsoons: Summer monsoon brings rain to South, Southeast Asia. Winters experience cold waves.
3. Dry Areas: Desert belt extends from Red Sea to Mongolia.

Vegetation

1. Coniferous Forests (Taiga): Siberian region.
2. Tropical Forests: South, Southeast Asia with teak, bamboo.
3. Grasslands: Steppes in Central Asia.

Important Concept: Monsoon Forests thrive on seasonal rains, common in South Asia.

Australia

Australia, the smallest continent, also called the Island Continent. Encompasses Oceania. Spanning 8,112,000 sq km, it lies south of the equator.

Physical Features

1. Western Plateau: Vast, mineral-rich (coal, iron ore). Contains Ayers Rock, world’s largest monolith.
2. Central Lowland: Bounded by Gulf of Carpentaria; features the Murray-Darling river system.
3. Eastern Highlands: Great Dividing Range; Mount Kosciuszko is the highest peak (2,228 m).

Climate

1. Desert: Dominant across interior regions.
2. Mediterranean: Southern coasts with warm, dry summers.
3. Monsoon: Northern regions have wet summers.

Vegetation

1. Eucalyptus: Predominant, evergreen.
2. Grasslands: Savannas (north), Downs (temperate grasslands).

Europe

Sixth in size, Europe covers 10,498,000 sq km. Its indented coastline provides natural harbors.

Physical Divisions

1. North-Western Highlands: Extends from Finland to Iceland, rich in minerals.
2. North European Plain: Broadest in East, narrows westward; fertile for agriculture.
3. Central Uplands: Mountains, hills, plateaus like Massif Central, Black Forest.
4. Alpine System: High mountain chain, including the Alps, Pyrenees.

Climate

1. Maritime Influence: Mild winters, warm summers due to Westerlies and North Atlantic Drift.
2. Mediterranean: South Europe with hot, dry summers; mild, wet winters.
3. Tundra: Extreme North; cold, limited vegetation.

Important Concept: Taiga (coniferous forests) thrives south of the Arctic Circle.

North America

North America ranks third in size (24,474,000 sq km). Stretches from Alaska to Panama, bordered by Arctic, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans.

Physical Divisions

1. Canadian Shield: Mineral-rich, ancient hard rock region.
2. Eastern Highlands: Appalachian range.
3. Central Lowland: Fertile plains of the Missouri-Mississippi river basin.
4. Western Cordilleras: Mountainous, includes Rockies, Sierra Nevada.

Climate and Vegetation

1. Diverse: From Tundra in the North to Tropical forests in the South.
2. Prairies: Grasslands dominate central regions.
3. Deserts: Southwest has hot, arid zones.

Drainage

1. Mississippi: Major river system, crucial for transport and agriculture.
2. St. Lawrence: Connects Great Lakes to Atlantic, key inland waterway.

Important Note: The Grand Canyon is a defining geographical feature formed by the Colorado River.

South America

Fourth-largest continent, South America, covers 17,819,000 sq km. Primarily tropical, it lies west of the Prime Meridian.

Physical Features

1. Western Coastal Strip: Narrow plains between Andes and Pacific.
2. Andes Mountains: Longest mountain range; Mount Aconcagua (7,021 m) highest peak.
3. Central Plains: Vast basin area of Amazon and Plata rivers.
4. Eastern Highlands: Brazilian and Guiana Highlands.

Climate and

Vegetation

1. Equatorial: Amazon basin has hot, wet rainforests.
2. Savannas: Grasslands known as Llanos in the north, Campos in the south.
3. Desert: Atacama in Peru and Chile is among the driest places.

Drainage System

1. Amazon Basin: Largest river by discharge, crucial for rainforest ecosystem.
2. Plata Basin: Drained by Paraguay, Uruguay, and Parana rivers.
3. Orinoco Basin: Third largest, features Angel Falls, world’s highest.

Concept: The Pampas of Argentina represent the temperate grasslands of South America.

MCQ: Which continent is known as the “White Continent”?

1. Europe
2. Antarctica
3. Australia
4. Asia
   Correct Answer: 2. Antarctica