Oceans, Landmasses, and Continents Explained
When we look at the globe, the largest blue areas are called oceans. These are vast bodies of saltwater that cover about 71% of the Earth’s surface. Oceans are crucial for regulating climate, supporting marine life, and enabling transportation.
However, not all of the Earth's surface is covered by water. On a globe or a world map (like the hypothetical Fig. 2.1), you will notice other colors, typically brown, which represent land.
Land covers a bit more than one-fourth of the Earth’s surface. The large areas of land are known as landmasses.
While a landmass simply refers to a large area of solid ground, a continent is a large, continuous expanse of land that is separated by oceans or significant geographical features. For example, continents include Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia.
Summary:
- Oceans: Largest water bodies covering about 71% of Earth's surface.
- Landmasses: Large areas of land on Earth.
- Continents: Very large, continuous landmasses separated by oceans.
Understanding these basic geographical terms helps us better comprehend the planet’s layout and the distribution of land and water.