The Continents
The continents are the great land masses of the world.
The total area of land on Earth is 57,308,738 Sq. Miles
The total area of each continent is:
 Africa = 11,608,000 Sq. Miles
 Asia = 17,212,000 Sq. Miles
 Europe = 3,837,000 Sq. Mile
 North America = 9,365,000 Sq. Miles
 South America = 6,880,000 Sq. Miles
 Australia = 2,968,000 Sq. Miles
 Antarctica = 5,100,000 Sq. Miles
The population of each continent is:
 Africa = 778,000,000 people
 Asia = 3,674,000,000 people
 Europe = 342,000,000 people
 North America = 483,000,000 people
 South America = 342,000,000 people
 Australia = 31,000,000 people
 Antarctica =
0 people
The number of countries on each continent is:
 Africa = 53 countries
 Asia = 47 countries
 Europe = 43 countries
 North America = 23 countries
 South America = 12 countries
 Australia = 14 countries
 Antarctica = 0 countries
Fill in the above data on the map below:
. Anne Pemberton. November, 2002
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Continental Highs and Lows
The highest point on each continent is a mountain. The highest moutains on each
continent are:
1. Africa = Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, 19,340 ft
2. Asia = Mt. Everest, Tibet/Nepal, 29,028 ft
3. Europe = Elbrus, Russia/Georgia,18,510 ft
4. North America = Mt. McKinley, Alaska, 20,320 ft
5. South America = Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina, 22,834 ft
6. Australia = Kosciusko, Australia, 7,316 ft
7. Antarctica = Vinson Massif, Ellsworth Mts.,16,066 ft
The Lowest point on each continent is a lake, sea or valley. The lowest points on
each continent are:
1. Africa = Lake Assal, Africa, 512 ft below sea level
2. Asia = Dead Sea, 1,341 ft below sea level
3. Europe = Caspian Sea, 92 ft below sea level
4. North America = Death Valley, 282 ft below sea level
5. South America = Valdes Peninsula, 131 ft below sea level
6. Australia = Lake Eyre, Australia, 52 ft below sea level
7. Antarctica = 8,327 ft below sea level
Find the highest and lowest point of each continent in an atlas. Mark each with an X on the map below.
. Anne Pemberton. November, 2002
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Comparing The Continents
Fill in the area and population for each continent. Divide the population by the
area to find out how many people live in a square mile on that continent.
Area
Population
People per Square Mile
Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia
Europe
North America
South America
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Which continent has the largest area? _____________
Which continent has the largest population? _______________
Which continent has the most people per square mile?____________
Which continent has the smallest area?______________
Which continent has the smallest population?____________
Which continent has the least people per square mile?___________
Compare the area of Europe and Australia:
___________________________________________
___________________________________________
Compare the population of North America and Europe?
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
Compare the people per square miles of Asia and Australia?
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
. Anne Pemberton. November, 2002
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Label the Continents
Read the descriptions, then label the map below.
1. Africa - a continent that crosses the equator. It is south of Europe and is bordered by the
Atlantic and Indian Oceans.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Antarctica - the continent that surrounds the South Pole of the Earth.
Asia - a continent in the Northern Hemisphere. Asia is attached to Europe (and east of it).
Australia - a continent, an island, and a country in the Southern Hemisphere.
Europe - a continent in the Northern Hemisphere. Europe is attached (and west) of Asia.
North America - a continent in the Northern Hemisphere; it is north of South America. It
is bordered by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
7. South America - a continent that is mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. It is bordered by
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
 Equator - an imaginary line that divides the Earth into North and South Hemispheres.
 North Pole - the point that is the farthest north on Earth.
 South Pole - the point that is the farthest south on Earth.
Label the continents on the map below.
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EARTH'S OCEANS
Oceans cover about 70% of the Earth's surface. The oceans contain roughly 97% of the
Earth's water supply. The oceans of Earth are unique in our Solar System. No other planet in
our Solar System has liquid water (although recent finds on Mars indicate that Mars may have
had some liquid water in the recent past). Life on Earth originated in the seas, and the oceans
continue to be home to an incredibly diverse web of life.
The oceans of Earth serve many functions, especially affecting the weather and temperature.
They moderate the Earth's temperature by absorbing incoming solar radiation (stored as heat
energy). The always-moving ocean currents distribute this heat energy around the globe. This
heats the land and air during winter and cools it during summer.
THE OCEANS
The Earth's oceans are all connected to one another. Until the year 2000, there were four
recognized oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Arctic. In the Spring of 2000, the
International Hydrographic Organization delimited a new ocean, the Southern Ocean (it
surrounds Antarctica and extends to 60 degrees latitude).
There are also many seas (smaller branches of an ocean); seas are often partly enclosed by land.
The largest seas are the South China Sea, the Caribbean Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea.
Find the deepest points in an atlas. Mark the deepest point in each ocean with an X.
Ocean
Pacific Ocean
Atlantic Ocean
Indian Ocean
Area (square miles)
64,186,000
33,420,000
28,350,000
Southern Ocean
7,848,300
Arctic Ocean
5,106,000
Average Depth (ft)
Deepest depth (ft)
15,215
Mariana Trench, 36,200 ft deep
12,881
Puerto Rico Trench, 28,231 ft deep
13,002
Java Trench, 25,344 ft deep
Southern end of the South Sandwich
13,100 - 16,400
Trench, 23,736 ft deep.
3,953
Eurasia Basin, 17,881 ft deep
©2001-2002 EnchantedLearning.com
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Label the Earth's Oceans
Read the definitions, then label the map below.
Definitions
Arctic Ocean - an ocean around the North Pole, bordering northern Europe, Asia and North
America. It is the smallest ocean.
Atlantic Ocean - an ocean bordering western Europe, western Africa, Antarctica, and eastern
North and South America.
Indian Ocean - an ocean bordering eastern Africa, southern Asia, western Australia, and
Antarctica.
Pacific Ocean - an ocean bordering eastern Asia, northeastern Australia, Antarctica, and
western North and South America. It is the biggest ocean.
Southern Ocean - the ocean bordering Antarctica and extending from 60 degrees latitude.
This fifth ocean was recognized by the International Hydrographic Organization in the spring
of 2000.
©2001-2002 EnchantedLearning.com
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Equator and Poles
At the top of the earth is the North Pole. It is as far North as you can go.
At the bottom of the earth is the South Pole. It is as far South as you can go.
Around the middle of the earth is an imaginary line called The Equator. The
Equator is half way between the North Pole and the South Pole.
1. Draw a red line along the equator.
2. Draw a red dot for the North Pole.
3. Draw a red dot for the South Pole.
4. Which continents does the Equator pass through?
5. Which oceans does the Equator pass through?
6. Which ocean contains the North Pole?
7. Which continent contains the South Pole?
. Anne Pemberton. November, 2002
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Hemispheres
Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere
A hemisphere is half of a sphere or ball. The Equator divides the earth into two
hemispheres. They are the Northern Hemisphere and the Southern Hemisphere.
The annual seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
When it is summer in one hemisphere it is winter in the other. When it is spring in
one hemisphere, it is autumn in the other.
The Northern Hemisphere.
The North Pole is in the
center of the Northern
Hemisphere.
North America, Europe and
Asia are in the Northern
Hemisphere. The Northern
Hemisphere also includes
parts of Africa and South
America.
The Southern Hemisphere.
The South Pole is in the center
of the Southern Hemisphere.
Antartica and Australia are in
the Southern Hemisphere. The
Southern Hemisphere also
includes most of South America
and Africa.
. Anne Pemberton. November, 2002
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Hemispheres
Eastern Hemisphere and Western Hemisphere
The Eastern Hemisphere stretches from the North pole to the South pole
between the International Date Line and the Greenwich Meridian.
Day and night are different in the Eastern and Western Hemisphere. When it is
day in a Hemisphere, that Hemisphere is facing the sun. When it is night, that
hemisphere is facing away from the sun.
The Eastern Hemisphere.
The Eastern Hemisphere
includes the continents of Asia,
and Australia. The Eastern
Hemisphere also includes most
of Africa and most of Europe.
The Western Hemisphere.
The Western Hemisphere includes
the continents of North America and
South America. It also includes part
of Africa.
. Anne Pemberton. November, 2002
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