When we look at the Earth from space, we see it covered mostly by water. These largest water bodies that we see all around the globe are called oceans. Oceans are huge, continuous expanses of saltwater that cover more than two-thirds of the Earth's surface.
Besides oceans, you also see other colors on the Earth’s picture. One common color is brown, which shows the land. The land on Earth covers a little more than one-fourth of its surface. Large bodies of land are called landmasses. These landmasses can be made up of many countries or regions.
When a landmass is very big and continuous — meaning it is not broken up by oceans — it is called a continent. For example, Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America are all continents. Continents are important because they hold most of the people, plants, animals, and resources of the world.
So, to sum up:
- Ocean: The largest bodies of water on Earth.
- Landmass: A large area of land.
- Continent: A very large, continuous landmass.
Understanding these terms helps us learn more about how our planet is made and how different parts of the Earth are connected.