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Continentes and Oceans

The Earth - Shape and Size

Shape of the Earth

Pythagoras (572-500 B.C.), a Greek philosopher and mathematician, was among the first to
suggest that the Earth was shaped like a globe.

The Earth is not flat

1. If the Earth were a flat disc, then the rising Sun would have been seen at all places at the
same time. But this does not happen. Places in the east see the rising Sun earlier.

2. When a ship approaches land, its funnel or mast is seen first and then the hull. If the Earth
had been flat, the whole ship would have been seen at the same time.

The Earth is a sphere

1. The Earth is rarely oriented in the same position during successive eclipses but it always
casts a circular shadow, thus proving that the Earth is a sphere. A sphere is the only solid body
that will always cast a circular shadow.

2. At the North Pole, the Pole Star can always be observed at 90 degrees in the sky, since the
star lies in the line with the axis of the Earth.

3. As one travels southwards, the angle of Pole Star decreases.

4. At the Equator the angle becomes zero degree.

5. This observation proves that the path of travel is an arc of a circle.

6. The Sun, Moon and all the heavenly bodies appear to be spherical when viewed from
different positions. It seems logical to conclude that the Earth is no exception.

7. The photographs of the Earth taken from the space prove beyond any doubt that the Earth
is a sphere.

The Earth as an Oblate Spheroid

1. Refined measurements of the Earth have proved that the true form of the Earth resembles a
sphere that has been compressed at the poles and made to bulge at the Equator. This form is
known as an oblate spheroid.

2. The various factors which make the earth suitable for

3. life to evolve and survive are

4. The earth has all the essential elements like carbon (in the form of C02), hydrogen (H2),
nitrogen (N2) and oxygen (02) which act as building blocks for the origin of life.

5. The earth is neither too hot nor too cold. It has the right temperature range for carrying out
the life-sustaining chemical reactions.

6. The earth has a lot of water in the form of lakes, rivers and oceans for the growth and
survival of life.

7. The earth has enough oxygen gas in its atmosphere for the survival of living beings through
breathing.

8. The earth has a protective blanket of ozone layer high up in its atmosphere to save life from
harmful ultraviolet radiations coming from the sun.

Oceania

Australia with New Zealand, Tasmania, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands (Micronesian,
Melanesian and Polynesian Islands) is called Australasia by some geographers while some
others call it "Oceania", which includes proximate islands (Caribbean countries etc.).

Oceans on The Earth

There are four oceans. In order of their size, they are : Pacific Ocean, Atlantic Ocean, Indian
Ocean and Arctic Ocean.

Pacific Ocean

1. The explorer Ferdinand Magellan, who circumnavigated the Earth, named the ocean
"Pacific" meaning calm or peaceful.

2. The Pacific Ocean (Area : 166,240,000 sq. km.) is the largest ocean of the world.

3. It is the deepest ocean with an average depth of 4,200 m.

4. The Mariana Trench is the world's deepest trench with a depth of 11,033 metres
(36,201feet).

5. Most of the islands of this ocean are of volcanic or coral origin.

Atlantic Ocean

1. The Atlantic Ocean (Area : 86,560,000 sq. km.) is the second largest ocean in the world

2. Its name is derived from Atlas, a Titan (giant) in Greek mythology.

3. The Atlantic Ocean has the longest coastline.

4. The Atlantic Ocean is the busiest ocean for trade and commerce since its shipping routes
connect the two most industrialized regions, namely Western Europe and N.E. United States of
America.

5. The Atlantic Ocean was formed millions of years ago when a rift opened up in the
Gondwanaland and the continents of South America and Africa separated. The separation
continues even today and the Atlantic Ocean is still widening.

6. The continental islands of Newfoundland and British Isles are the major ones.

7. Volcanic islands are fewer and they include those of Cuba, Jamaica and Puerto Rico.
Iceland is the largest island of volcanic origin.

Indian Ocean

1. The Indian Ocean (Area : 73,430,000 sq. km.) is the only ocean named after a country.

2. The Indian Ocean is deeper than the Atlantic Ocean.

3. It contains numerous continental islands, Madagascar and Sri Lanka are being the largest
ones.

4. Some of the islands of volcanic origin are those of Mauritius, Andaman and Nicobar,
Seychelles, Maldives and Lakshadweep are of coral origin.

South Indian Ocean

1. Warm currents : 1. South Equatorial 2. Mozambique 3. Madagascar 4. Agulhas.

2. Cool Currents : 1. Antarctic drift 2. West Australian currents.

Arctic Ocean

1. The Arctic Ocean (Area : 13,230,000 sq. km.) is the smallest of all the oceans
2. It lies within the Arctic Circle, hence the name Arctic Ocean.

3. The North Pole lies in the middle of the Arctic Ocean.

4. Most of the parts of Arctic Ocean remains frozen with thick ice for most of the days every
year.

5. It is the shallowest of all oceans, with an average depth of 1,500 m.

6. It has the least salinity of all the oceans. It has a salinity of 20 unit per thousand.

Ocean Currents
1. The flow of a large amount of water in a definite direction with a great intensity is known as
Ocean Current.

2. Ocean Currents are of two types-Hot and Cold.

Hot Currents
1. The currents flowing from tropical zones of lower latitudes to higher temperate and sub
polar zones are known as hot water currents.

Cold Currents
1. The currents flowing from higher latitudes to lower latitudes are known as cold water
currents.

2. The only exception to the conduction of ocean currents is found in the Indian Ocean. The
flow of currents changes here with a change in the direction of the Monsoon Winds. The hot
currents flow towards cooler oceans and the cold currents flow towards the warmer oceans.

Biosphere
1. The part of the Earth where life exists is called the Biosphere ('bios' means 'life').

2. The Earth is the only planet of the solar system that supports life. Life is

Lithosphere
1. The uppermost layer of the Earth's crust which is capable of supporting life is called
Lithosphere.
2. The Lithosphere (or land) covers two-sevenths or 29.22% (14,90,41,182 sq. km.) of the total
surface area of the earth.

Hydrosphere
1. Hydrosphere (or sea) covers five-sevenths or more accurately 70.78% (36,10,59,226 sq. km.)
of the total surface area of the earth.

2. Water is freely available in the gaseous, liquid and solid state.

3. It is necessary for carrying out chemical reactions within the bodies of the living organisms.

4. Water also dissolves and transports nutrients from the soil to the plants.

5. It is used by plants for making food.

Atmosphere
1. The envelope of air that completely surrounds the earth is known as atmosphere.

2. The atmosphere extends to about 1000 km from the surface of the earth. But 99% of the total
mass of the atmosphere is found within 32 km.

3. This is because the atmosphere is held by the gravitational pull of the earth.

Latitude and Longitude

Any location on Earth is described by two numbers--its latitude and its longitude.

Latitude
On a globe of the Earth, lines of latitude are circles of different size. The longest is the equator,
whose latitude is zero, while at the poles--at latitudes 90 north and 90 south (or -90) the
circles shrink to a point.

Longitude
On the globe, lines of constant longitude ("meridians") extend from pole to pole.

Every meridian must cross the equator. Since the equator is a circle, we can divide it--like any
circleinto 360 degrees, and the longitude of a point is then the marked value of that division
where its meridian meets the equator.

For historical reasons, the longitude (meridian) passing the old Royal Astronomical Observatory
in Greenwich England, is the one chosen as zero longitude. Located at the eastern edge of
London, the British capital, the observatory is now a public museum and a brass band stretching
across its yard marks the "prime meridian."

A line of longitude is also called a meridian, derived from the Latin, from meri, a variation of
"medius" which denotes "middle", and diem, meaning "day." The word once meant "noon", and
times of the day before noon were known as "ante meridian", while times after it were "post
meridian." Today's abbreviations a.m. and p.m. come from these terms, and the Sun at noon
was said to be "passing meridian".All points on the same line of longitude experienced noon
(and any other hour) at the same time and were therefore said to be on the same "meridian line".

Important Boundary Lines

1. Durand Line

between Pakistan and Afghanistan

2. Hindenberg Line

between Germany & Poland

3. 49th Parallel

between USA & Canada

4. Mac Mahon Line

between India & Tibet / China

5. Maginot Line

between France & Germany

6. 38th Parallel

between North & South Korea

7. Oder Neisse Line

between Germany and Poland

8. Radcliffe Line

between India & Pakistan

9. 17th Parallel

between India & Pakistan (as claimed by Pakistan)

Tribes and their Homeland (World)

Eskimos Greenland, North Canada, Alaska, N. Siberia

Lapps N. Finland, Scandinavian country

1. Koryaks : N. Siberia, Eurassian Tunda, N.E. Asia

Chukchi : N.E. Asia, U.S.S.R., North Siberia

2. Aleuts : Alaska

Bedouin : Sahara and Middle East

3. Bushman : Kalahari

Bindibu or Aborigins : Australia

4. Turregs : Sahara

Gobi Mongols : Gobi

5. India Tribes : Amazon basin

Orang Asli : Malaysia

6. Pygmies : Congo basin, Zaire

Masai : East & Central Africa

7. Hausa : North Nigeria

Aeta : Phillipines

8. Ainus : Japan

Tapiro : Papua New Guinea

9. Maoris : New Zealand

Fulani : Western Africa

10. Hotten tots : Hot tropical Africa

Zulus : South Africa

11. Ibans : Equatorial rain forest region of South-East Asia

Kirghiz : Asiatic steppes

12. Kalmuk : Central Asia

Kazakhs : Kazakhistan

13. Buryak : Central Asia

Red Indian : N. America

14. Yoakuts : Siberia

Samoyeds : Siberia

15. Berbers : N. Africa

Guicas : Amazon forest area

16. Kareus or Meos : Myanmar

Semangs : East Sumatra

Three Deepest Oceans

1. Name ---> Pacific Ocean

2. Greatest depth (in metres)--> 11,033

3. Greatest depth location--> Mariana Trench

1. Name ---> Atlantic Ocean

2. Greatest depth (in metres)--> 9,460

3. Greatest depth location--> Puerto Rico Trench

1. Name ---> Indian Ocean

2. Greatest depth (in metres)--> 7,542

3. Greatest depth location--> Java Trench

Geographical Epithets (Sobriquets)

1. Blue Mountains

Nilgiri Hills, India

2. City of Sky Scrapers

New York, USA

3. City of Seven Hills

Rome, Italy

4. City of Dreaming Spires

Oxford, England

5. City of Golden Gate

San Francisco, USA

6. Cockpit of Europe

Belgium

7. China's Sorrow

Hwang Ho

8. Dark Continent

Africia
9.Eternal City

Rome

10. Forbidden City

Lhasa, Tibet

11. Gate of Tears

Bab-el-Mandeb, Jerusalem

12. Granite City

Aberdeen, Scotland

13. Herring Pond

Atlantic Ocean

14. Hermit Kingdom

Korea

15. Island Continent

Australia

16. Island of Cloves

Madagascar

17. Island of Pearls

Bahrain

18. Key to the Mediterranean

Gibraltar

19. Land of Golden Fleece

Australia

20. Land of Mid Night Sun

Norway

21. Land of Rising Sun

Japan

22. Land of White Elephant

Thailand

23. Never Never Land

Prairies of N. Australia

24. Pearl of Antilles

Cuba

25. Pillars of Hercules

Strait of Gibraltar

26. Pearl of the Pacific

Guyayaquil Port of Ecuador

27. Pink City

Jaipur, India

28. Queen of the Adriatic

Venice, Italy

29. Sugar Bowl of the World

Cuba

Highest Mountain peaks (World)

1. Name ---> Mount Everest

2. Height (in metres) --> 8848

3. Range---> Himalayas

1. Name ---> K2 (Godwin Austen)

2. Height (in metres) --> 8611

3. Range---> Karakoram

1. Name ---> Kanchenjunga

2. Height (in metres) --> 8598

3. Range---> Himalayas

1. Name ---> Lhotse

2. Height (in metres) --> 8511

3. Range---> Himalayas

1. Name ---> Makalu I

2. Height (in metres) --> 8481

3. Range---> Himalayas

1. Name ---> Cho Uyo

2. Height (in metres) --> 8153

3. Range---> Himalayas

1. Name ---> Nanga Parvat

2. Height (in metres) --> 8126

3. Range---> Himalayas

1. Name ---> Annapurana I

2. Height (in metres) --> 8091

3. Range---> Himalayas

Continent's Earth Area

1. Continent----> Asia

2. % of Earth Area---> 29.5

1. Continent----> Africa

2. % of Earth Area---> 20.4

1. Continent----> North America

2. % of Earth Area---> 16.3

1. Continent----> South America

2. % of Earth Area---> 11.8

1. Continent----> Europe

2. % of Earth Area---> 7.1

1. Continent----> Australia

2. % of Earth Area---> 5.3

1. Continent----> Antarctica

2. % of Earth Area---> 9.6