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Knowledge of the surroundings should be a must for any person. And the topics like the continents and the oceans are the very basic information of geography that every person and even a child must know. We already know that the ocean occupies 71% of the earth’s surface in which 2% is of human use, the rest is the saltwater. Also, there is a difference between a country and a continent, countries are part of different continents.
Continents
A continent is defined as a very large landmass that is separated by other land masses or by the ocean. Continents are divided into 7 different regions which are Asia, North America, Antarctica, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Also, there are a few variations that have been done in the continents by merging some of them, for instance, Afro-Eurasia, Eurasia, and America are considered a single continent. Zealandia has been also considered a continent too.
Many of the island countries are surrounded by the Pacific Ocean which together forms the continent Australia, and that region is geographically called Oceania. According to geology, a continent can be defined as “Earth’s major landmass that includes dry mass and the Continental shelves both”
Human activities have left a greater effect on the Continental shelf.
(CONTINENTAL SHELVES: It is the region where the reach of the ocean to the dry land is shallower)
Oceans
An Ocean is referred to as a salty water body that covers 71% of the Earth’s surface. In simpler words, it can be defined as a very large body of water due to which the greater ocean has been divided. There are five different oceans: the Pacific Ocean (it is the largest) , the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern Ocean. Just like plant photosynthesis, ocean photosynthesis also takes place, which helps in creating 50% of the earth’s oxygen content. The terms sea and ocean sound quite similar, but according to British English, the term sea is used for the water body that is generally a division from the world ocean that is wholly or partially surrounded by any landmass. In American English, both terms are interchangeable.
Strait
The term strait is a form of landmass that connects two oceans or two other landmasses through the water. These are also considered loci for sediment accumulation. Many artificial channels are referred to as canals, which are made to connect two different water bodies, for instance, the Suez Canal. The term strait is reserved for the larger marine environment but still, there is an exception where the strait is called canals, that is the Pearse Canal. One of the very popular straits is the “Strait of Malacca”, which is 930 km long and is between Sumatra (an Indonesian island) and the Malay peninsula. The strait is the main channel for the major shipping between the Pacific and the Indian ocean.
The converse of the strait is an isthmus, the isthmus is a narrow landmass that connects the two larger areas across the water body. One example of an isthmus is a tombolo, it consists of a bar or a spit.
The knowledge of the ocean and the continents are important as they are part of the diversity we live in, and to understand the geology of the Earth. Also, for the sake of communication between other people. Understanding and learning about the continents and different types of oceans help 9n the development of the children and also makes them aware of the world they have been living in.
Conclusion
The ocean is a very large body of water due to which the greater ocean has been divided. There are five different oceans: the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Arctic Ocean, and the Southern Ocean whereas the continents are defined as a large landmass that is separated by other land masses or by the ocean. These are divided into 7 different regions which are Asia, North America, Antarctica, South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia.
