Continents and Oceans
Seven continents and five oceans cover our planet.
About this topic
Earth has seven continents by the common convention: Asia (largest), Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe and Australia/Oceania; and five oceans: Pacific (largest and deepest), Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic. Oceans cover about 71% of the surface and most of the land is in the Northern Hemisphere. Knowing these locations is the foundation for all geography, since every other topic refers to places.
Continents lie on tectonic plates and have drifted over time; about 250 million years ago they were joined in the supercontinent Pangaea. This is why the coasts of South America and Africa look like jigsaw pieces and why similar fossils appear on both sides of the Atlantic. The Pacific Ocean alone covers more area than all the land combined, and its deepest point, the Mariana Trench, is nearly 11 km down.
The way continents are counted varies by region: some combine the Americas, or Europe and Asia as Eurasia, and the boundary between Europe and Asia is a cultural and historical line, not a sea. Oceans also form one connected world ocean that carries heat, supports fishing, trade and climate, and links every coast. A good study tip is to learn continents by size and then place the oceans around them, using a blank outline map for practice.
Key ideas
- Asia is largest, Australia smallest
- Pacific is the biggest ocean
- 71% of Earth is water
Quick check
Use cases: where Continents and Oceans helps
- Homework: review the key idea behind Continents and Oceans before you start a problem set.
- Exam revision: use the quick check to test whether you can recall Continents and Oceans without notes.
- Visual learning: play with the interactive lab to see how Continents and Oceans changes when you adjust its inputs.
- Teaching a friend: explain Continents and Oceans in your own words, then compare your version with the key ideas.
Geography helps with city planning, climate, trade and migration.
Frequently asked questions
What is Continents and Oceans?
Seven continents and five oceans cover our planet.
What will I learn in Continents and Oceans?
Asia is largest, Australia smallest. Pacific is the biggest ocean. 71% of Earth is water.
Is Continents and Oceans part of Geography?
Yes. It is one of 40 Geography topics on LearnViz HighSchoolEdu, with 3 key ideas, a live animation and a quick check.
Does the Continents and Oceans lab work on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The animation resizes to fit your screen and supports touch, so you can drag, tap and slide with your finger.
How should I study Continents and Oceans?
Read the summary and key ideas first, play with the interactive lab to see the idea in motion, then answer the quick check. If you get a question wrong, go back to the key idea it tests.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?
No account is needed. Marking a topic as learned is saved in your own browser, so it stays on that device and is not sent to a server.