6 or 7 continents?

[Tracy McGrady]

5 if you mix up Europe and Asia and N.America and South America.

[whottt]

I was taught 2 different ways but both meant 7 continents.

Mostly I was taught:
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica

I had one Hispanic teacher who taught us:
North America, Central America, South America, Eurasia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica

Encyclopedia Brittanica states:


World Book Encyclopedia:

Depends on what you are looking at. Depending how technical you want to be you could say there are anywhere from 3-14 continents and be accurate. Possibly even more than 14 if you really wanted to get nitpicky.

The confusion is created because there isn't a totally clear boundary between the geological, cultural and geographical definitons of the word and what consitututes a continental boundary. It's just sort of a mishmash of meanings pulled from geography, geology and cultural perspective that usually produces a number between 5 and 7.

You cannot produce a totally consistent definition of the word that applies across the board(culturally, geologically etc.) and come up with 6 or 7 continents. So any time you hear that number know you are hearing a hybrid definition of the word in which what consitutes a continent changes depending on the continent(s)....what makes Europe and Asia continents is not what makes Australia and North and South America continents.

[JoeChalupa]

I say 7.

[jman3000]

Dividing Europe and Asia was done more for cultural reasons than geographic.

[whottt]

Dividing Europe and Asia was done more for cultural reasons than geographic.

The Europeans and Asians could end a lot of this confustion by getting their act together and digging a canal to separate their continents like we over here in the Americas had the good sense to do

I think they refuse to do it because they are all lazy...

[jman3000]

Some do call it Eurasia.

The division between Asia and Europe are the Caucus mountains.

North America = Canada, US, Mexico.

South America = Everything else

Central America=Non existent (or so it seems...)

The Caucus's divide Eastern Europe from the Middle East.

Usually the Ural mountains are considered the natural boundary between Europe and Asia... but they are more like large hills.

[leo_d]

I learned that Australia + New Zealand + another islands= Oceanía.

How aussies call their continent?

[DAF86]

The Europeans and Asians could end a lot of this confustion by getting their act together and digging a canal to separate their continents like we over here in the Americas had the good sense to do

I think they refuse to do it because they are all lazy...

Or they could just leave it like mother nature made it and don't give a about stupid name tags that don't help one bit.

[tp2021]

Or they could just leave it like mother nature made it and don't give a about stupid name tags that don't help one bit.

Didn't you ask?

[DAF86]

Didn't you ask?

Yes, 'cause I wanted to know how it was taught in other places, but I still think is a stupid division to make. It doesn't serve any helpful purpose.

[tp2021]

Agree

[timvp]

Depends on how you define continent, the word has different meanings.

[MannyIsGod]

7 1/2 - India might as well be its own.

[Solid D]

Depends on how you define continent, the word has different meanings.

Q: What's the difference between continent and in-continent?
A: 'Depends.

[Dex]

6 continents and 8 planets?

This is what the American public school system does for you.

[Opinionater]

IMHO, there are six.

[TDMVPDPOY]

australia aint a continent...we are grouped with asia, but never get involved with their affairs....

[sonic21]

australia isn't a continent, it's oceania

[Drachen]

So USA should be renamed as USNA

Why?? Is there another United States in the western hemisphere?? If not, then it would in fact be the United States of America. Now if you saying we should be called something differently (Americans vs. something else) I would say that you are picking nits, but technically would be right.


As far as the subject is concerned, WOW, I had no idea that it was taught like this. I do have to say that I know, unequivocally, the reason why Europe and Asia are separated though. It is so that suckers will keep trying to take Asia in Risk. 7 Extra men, but you can never hold it. Once you have figured out which player is trying to take asia, you know who the first guy out will be.

[E20]

4, the tip of Alaska touches Russia so:

Eurasia/North America/South America all as one, Africa, Antartica, and Austraila. That is 4.

Eventually there will only be 1 again so it.

[Rogue]

theoretically there was only one america until the panama canal appeared and separated this continent into two individuals, North America and South America.

[pkbpkb81]

so dose this mean Hawaii is a continent lol

[Jacob1983]

What about New Zealand?

[bdictjames]

South and North divided, seven.

[Extra Stout]

Africa is attached to Asia at Suez, and Alaska and Russia are only separated by a shallow strait, so really the continents are:

1) Afreurasiamerica (or Extrastoutgaea, as I call it)
2) Australia
3) Antarctica