Geography US vs Europe

afro-elf · 06-22-2003, 01:10 AM

North Americans how many continents are there?

Europeans same question.

***HOBBIT*** · 06-22-2003, 01:14 AM

7 - unless you view Europe and Asia as the same, right?

Gwaimir Windgem · 06-22-2003, 01:17 AM

That's easy.

Europe
Asia
North America
South America
Antarctica
Australia
Africa

Six!

afro-elf · 06-22-2003, 01:18 AM

My European friends count Northa and South America as one.

I count Europe as Asia as Eurasia because I think it is an ethnic divide as opposed to a geographic one.

***Jonathan*** · 06-22-2003, 04:33 AM

While Eurasia is a continent, Europe and Asia are more of "parts of the world".
The same thing with Australia and Oceania. Australia is a continent and Oceania is a "part of the world".

In my language there are separate words for continents, depending of whether or not it's about one landmass (Eurasia) or "parts of the world" (Europe and Asia).

Sheeana · 06-22-2003, 04:49 AM

Australasia, people! Australasia!

Artanis · 06-22-2003, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jonathan
In my language there are separate words for continents, depending of whether or not it's about one landmass (Eurasia) or "parts of the world" (Europe and Asia).

The same in Norwegian. We also count N. America and S. America as one continent, as A-E said, and we tend to leave out Antarctica, for some reason.

Lizra · 06-22-2003, 10:04 AM

I was taught there are seven continents. Is it now a "suit yourself" question?

How many huge land masses are there?

***Fat middle*** · 06-22-2003, 10:57 AM

i learned that there were five continents:

Europe
Asia
Africa
America
Oceania

some people also include a sixth continet: Antarctica

LutraMage · 06-22-2003, 11:46 AM

The answer to your question depends on exactly how you are using the word 'continents'. If you mean it in the normal sense most people understand (areas of the world that are clearly distinguishable from others) there are seven continents:

Africa
Antarctica
Asia
Australia (or Australasia if Sheeana prefers)
Europe
North America
South America

In the case of Europe and Asia, this 'distinction' is purely in terms of culture and human geography as the two have never been physically 'separated' (although most of Europe was under water 560 million years ago when much of Asia was already land).

However, from a geological point of view, plate tectonics identifies the continents by the 'plates' upon which they lie, and there are only six plates with significant land formations rising above sea level (that is, forming land masses):

The African Plate
The Antarctica Plate
The Euroasian Plate
The Indo-Australian Plate
The North American Plate
The South American Plate

But, there are actually a further six plates that don't have huge landmasses, some are practically all under sea, and some have islands, but not large land masses. At its basic level, the definition of 'continents' must relate only to areas with huge land masses (we'd never call the Pacific Ocean a continent, even though it has its own geological 'plate').

Nevertheless, it seems to me that the only rational distinction we have is the existence of the plates. Therefore, I would define continents as 'large land masses sharing a single geographical plate'. And this means there are only six continents (but note, India is then not in Asia (or Eurasia for that matter), but is in the continent of Indo-Australia, and even a part of Italy is in Africa, not Eurasia, because the plate boundaries have bumped into each other).

If that's not confusing enough, I'll leave you with one final thought. On current predictions, in 250 million years time all the plates will come together and there will be just one huge land mass encircled by a gigantic ocean - so if you want to visit all of the continents while they're still separated you had better get a move on!

***Earniel*** · 06-22-2003, 04:01 PM

Ohoo! Cultural differences!

Let's see... how many continents:

Europe
Asia
America
Oceania
Africa
Antarctica

Darn, I can't remember if North and South America get counted as one or as two. And poor Antarctica tends to be forgotten a lot.

Quote:

On current predictions, in 250 million years time all the plates will come together and there will be just one huge land mass encircled by a gigantic ocean - so if you want to visit all of the continents while they're still separated you had better get a move on!

We-ell, I don't think I'll be still around by then, so there's no need to be hasty.

Shadowfax · 06-22-2003, 04:33 PM

I'm from Canada, and I have always learned it as there are 7 continents:
Europe
Asia
Africa
Oceania
Antarctica
North America
South America
and sometimes I've heard Central America (between North and South) called a continent, but I don't think it really stands on its own.

Elf Girl · 06-22-2003, 04:58 PM

I was taught 7 but it always seemed stupid.

Draken · 06-23-2003, 08:13 AM

When I was very young we were taught their were 5 inhabited continents (which was what the chappy who thought up the Olympic flag thought, hence 5 rings) - Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australasia/Oceania/whatever you want to call that bit. Plus Antarctica makes six.

But whilst I was still at school that seemed to change to being taught that North and South America were indeed separate continents. I don't think many people in the UK of my age or lower would think of them as one continent - "the Americas" is a phrase you hear in old films or old books, I'd guess it's almost out of usage now.

Lizra · 06-23-2003, 09:56 AM

The Americas certainly seem like two continents. (IMO) North and South are so huge, and the middle strip connecting them seems like just that...a connecting strip! The Europ/ Asia distinction is the one that hardly makes sense! So we are really headed back toward Pangia? (sp?... one large land mass)

That seems confusing, the tetonic plates have been doing a little dance here, and then it's all back together again? Hmmm, I think some things are "un" predictible!

Sween · 06-23-2003, 10:53 AM

well really if we are getting techincal its only really Australia and the Americas that are seperate from Europe Asia and Africa!

Isnt the deviding line bettween Europe and Asia the Ural mountians?

jerseydevil · 06-23-2003, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sween
well really if we are getting techincal its only really Australia and the Americas that are seperate from Europe Asia and Africa!

Well Africa is seperated from Asia and Europe by the Strait of Gibraltar and the Red Sea. The only thing attaching it to Asia had been the land that made up the Suez Canal.

Quote:

Isnt the deviding line bettween Europe and Asia the Ural mountians?

Yes.

BoP - it's Australia/Oceania or just Australia here in the US.

Quote:

Many modern atlases and geography experts now consider the long-established continent of Australia to be better defined as Australia/Oceania, which then combines and includes all of (Australia), the large island groups of New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Solomons, and the countless volcanic and coral islands of the south Pacific Ocean including those of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia.

Here is a good site on the Continents

As for the number of Continents - in America it is considered to be 7.

North America
South America
Europe
Africa
Asia
Australia
Antartica

Quote:

In some parts of the world students are taught that there are only six continents, as they combine North America and South America into one continent called Americas. Other experts use only six continents by combining Europe and Asia into a continent called Eurasia.

sun-star · 06-23-2003, 02:09 PM

Out of curiosity... if the continent is called Australia, what continent is New Zealand in?

Elf Girl · 06-23-2003, 02:14 PM

I think it's not on a continent, can any smallish islands be?

Gwaimir Windgem · 06-23-2003, 02:32 PM

Hmm... Cuba is an island in the Americas, so I would guess NZ to be a continent in Australia. Maybe Asia. Or Australasia.

06-22-2003, 01:10 AM	#1
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	Geography US vs Europe North Americans how many continents are there? Europeans same question. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

06-22-2003, 01:14 AM	#2
*HOBBIT* Saviour of Entmoot Admiral Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: NC/NJ (no longer Same place as bmilder.) Posts: 61,986	7 - unless you view Europe and Asia as the same, right? __________________ President Emeritus (2000-2004) Private message (or email) me if you need any assistance. I am here to help! "I'm up to here with cool, ok? I'm so amazingly cool you could keep a side of meat in me for a month. I am so hip I have difficulty seeing over my pelvis" - Zaphod Beeblebrox Latest Blog Post: Just Quit Facebook? No One Cares!

06-22-2003, 01:17 AM	#3
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	That's easy. Europe Asia North America South America Antarctica Australia Africa Six! __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

06-22-2003, 01:18 AM	#4
afro-elf Hoplite Nomad Join Date: Sep 2001 Posts: 3,931	My European friends count Northa and South America as one. I count Europe as Asia as Eurasia because I think it is an ethnic divide as opposed to a geographic one. __________________ About Eowyn, Does anyone know what her alias Dernhelm means? She was kown as dernhelm because of her exclaimation when she realized that the rider's headgear was heavy and obscured her sight. 'Dern Helm" Culled from Entmoot From Kirinski 57 and Wayfarer.

06-22-2003, 04:33 AM	#5
*Jonathan* Entmoot Attorney-General, Equilibrating the Scales of Justice, Administrator ♎ Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Stockholm, Sweden Posts: 3,891	While Eurasia is a continent, Europe and Asia are more of "parts of the world". The same thing with Australia and Oceania. Australia is a continent and Oceania is a "part of the world". In my language there are separate words for continents, depending of whether or not it's about one landmass (Eurasia) or "parts of the world" (Europe and Asia). __________________ An unwritten post is a delightful universe of infinite possibilities. Set down one word, however, and it immediately becomes earthbound. Set down one sentence and it’s halfway to being just like every other bloody entry that’s ever been written. ☻

06-22-2003, 04:49 AM	#6
Sheeana Lord of the Pants Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 1,382	Australasia, people! Australasia!

06-22-2003, 10:04 AM	#8
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	I was taught there are seven continents. Is it now a "suit yourself" question? How many huge land masses are there?

06-22-2003, 10:57 AM	#9
*Fat middle* Mootis per forum Administrator Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Spain Posts: 61,439	i learned that there were five continents: Europe Asia Africa America Oceania some people also include a sixth continet: Antarctica __________________ Do not be hasty. That is my motto. Now we'll have a drink and go to the Entmoot.

06-22-2003, 11:46 AM	#10
LutraMage Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Tolkien's England where the tale grew in the telling... Posts: 330	The answer to your question depends on exactly how you are using the word 'continents'. If you mean it in the normal sense most people understand (areas of the world that are clearly distinguishable from others) there are seven continents: Africa Antarctica Asia Australia (or Australasia if Sheeana prefers) Europe North America South America In the case of Europe and Asia, this 'distinction' is purely in terms of culture and human geography as the two have never been physically 'separated' (although most of Europe was under water 560 million years ago when much of Asia was already land). However, from a geological point of view, plate tectonics identifies the continents by the 'plates' upon which they lie, and there are only six plates with significant land formations rising above sea level (that is, forming land masses): The African Plate The Antarctica Plate The Euroasian Plate The Indo-Australian Plate The North American Plate The South American Plate But, there are actually a further six plates that don't have huge landmasses, some are practically all under sea, and some have islands, but not large land masses. At its basic level, the definition of 'continents' must relate only to areas with huge land masses (we'd never call the Pacific Ocean a continent, even though it has its own geological 'plate'). Nevertheless, it seems to me that the only rational distinction we have is the existence of the plates. Therefore, I would define continents as 'large land masses sharing a single geographical plate'. And this means there are only six continents (but note, India is then not in Asia (or Eurasia for that matter), but is in the continent of Indo-Australia, and even a part of Italy is in Africa, not Eurasia, because the plate boundaries have bumped into each other). If that's not confusing enough, I'll leave you with one final thought. On current predictions, in 250 million years time all the plates will come together and there will be just one huge land mass encircled by a gigantic ocean - so if you want to visit all of the continents while they're still separated you had better get a move on! Last edited by LutraMage : 06-22-2003 at 03:44 PM.

06-22-2003, 04:33 PM	#12
Shadowfax The Fleet-Footed Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: British Columbia Posts: 913	I'm from Canada, and I have always learned it as there are 7 continents: Europe Asia Africa Oceania Antarctica North America South America and sometimes I've heard Central America (between North and South) called a continent, but I don't think it really stands on its own. __________________ Jesus saved me "To remain ignorant of things that happened before you were born is to remain a child" (Cicero, 106-43 B.C.) "Art is a lie which makes us realize the truth" (Picasso)

06-22-2003, 04:58 PM	#13
Elf Girl Lurker Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 3,419	I was taught 7 but it always seemed stupid. __________________ There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium...

06-23-2003, 08:13 AM	#14
Draken Elf Lord Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Durham, England Posts: 694	When I was very young we were taught their were 5 inhabited continents (which was what the chappy who thought up the Olympic flag thought, hence 5 rings) - Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, Australasia/Oceania/whatever you want to call that bit. Plus Antarctica makes six. But whilst I was still at school that seemed to change to being taught that North and South America were indeed separate continents. I don't think many people in the UK of my age or lower would think of them as one continent - "the Americas" is a phrase you hear in old films or old books, I'd guess it's almost out of usage now. __________________ I'm beset by self-doubt ....or am I?

06-23-2003, 09:56 AM	#15
Lizra Domesticated Swing Babe Join Date: May 2002 Location: Reality Posts: 5,340	The Americas certainly seem like two continents. (IMO) North and South are so huge, and the middle strip connecting them seems like just that...a connecting strip! The Europ/ Asia distinction is the one that hardly makes sense! So we are really headed back toward Pangia? (sp?... one large land mass) That seems confusing, the tetonic plates have been doing a little dance here, and then it's all back together again? Hmmm, I think some things are "un" predictible!

06-23-2003, 10:53 AM	#16
Sween im quite stupid Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Cockermouth Posts: 2,058	well really if we are getting techincal its only really Australia and the Americas that are seperate from Europe Asia and Africa! Isnt the deviding line bettween Europe and Asia the Ural mountians? __________________ Yeah god hes ok but i would rather be judged by a sheep than that idiot

06-23-2003, 02:09 PM	#18
sun-star Lady of Letters Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Either Oxford or Kent, England Posts: 2,476	Out of curiosity... if the continent is called Australia, what continent is New Zealand in? __________________ And all the time the waves, the waves, the waves Chase, intersect and flatten on the sand As they have done for centuries, as they will For centuries to come, when not a soul Is left to picnic on the blazing rocks, When England is not England, when mankind Has blown himself to pieces. Still the sea, Consolingly disastrous, will return While the strange starfish, hugely magnified, Waits in the jewelled basin of a pool.

06-23-2003, 02:14 PM	#19
Elf Girl Lurker Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Lothlórien Posts: 3,419	I think it's not on a continent, can any smallish islands be? __________________ There's antimony, arsenic, aluminum, selenium...

06-23-2003, 02:32 PM	#20
Gwaimir Windgem Dread Mothy Lord and Halfwitted Apprentice Loremaster Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula, CA Posts: 10,820	Hmm... Cuba is an island in the Americas, so I would guess NZ to be a continent in Australia. Maybe Asia. Or Australasia. __________________ Crux fidelis, inter omnes arbor una nobilis. Nulla talem silva profert, fronde, flore, germine. Dulce lignum, dulce clavo, dulce pondus sustinens. 'With a melon?' - Eric Idle

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Middle-Earth is Dark Age Europe	GreyMouser	Middle Earth	67	09-24-2008 05:05 PM
Muslims	Sween	General Messages	992	04-11-2006 11:04 AM
bin Laden offers Europe truce (BBC News)	Radagast	General Messages	11	04-17-2004 03:49 PM
National Geographic Geography Quiz	jerseydevil	General Messages	33	11-28-2002 04:50 PM
Trip to Europe	bmilder	General Messages	16	07-20-2001 07:32 PM