3. Continents, Countries and States

Do you think the Earth was always divided into seven continents? Long ago, scientists believed all the land on Earth was one big supercontinent called Pangea. This supercontinent existed 200 million years ago before breaking apart into the continents we know today.1 

Fig 3.1: Continents

Vid: 3.1 : Continent Drift Theory 

Earth’s surface is divided into seven continents. A continent is a large, continuous area of land on Earth. Together, the Earth's continents cover around one-third of the planet's surface. 

1. Asia2

• Asia is the largest continent in the world. 

• There are 53 countries in Asia. The world's largest country, Russia, is located in Asia, though some parts of
  Russia are in Europe. 

• The world's most populous  countries, India and China, are situated in Asia. 

• There are many islands on the Asian continent, some of which are countries. Asia's major island nations include Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Mount Everest, the world's highest mountain, is also located on this continent.

Fig 3.2: Asia

2. Africa2

• Africa is the second largest continent in the world. 

• While there are 56 countries in Africa, only 14% of the world's population lives there. 

• The Sahara desert, the world's largest desert, is found on this continent. 

• This continent is blessed with the world’s  longest River Nile, which has played an important role in African history. 

Fig 3.3: Africa

3. North America2

• North America is the third largest continent in the world. North America is dominated by two countries, The United States of America and Canada. 

• The Rocky Mountains, also called the Rockies, are a prominent feature of the continent, running along its western part.

• The Grand Canyon in the state of Arizona is a unique natural rock formation consisting of deep valleys and towering cliffs.

Fig 3.4: North America

4. South America2

• South America is the fourth largest continent in the world. South America is connected to North America by the narrow Isthmus of Panama.

• South America is home to the world's largest rainforest called the Amazon Rainforest. Through the rainforest flows the Amazon river which is the largest river in the world. 

• Angel Falls, the well-known and highest waterfall in the world, is found on this continent.

Fig 3.5: South America

5. Antarctica2

• Antarctica is the fifth largest continent in the world. It surrounds the south pole and is often called The White continent or the Icy Continent as it is almost completely covered with ice.  

• Due to the extreme cold climate, there is no human habitation on this continent. However, there are some animals that live there such as penguins and seals. 

• These animals are adapted to the cold conditions. There are no countries in Antarctica. 

Fig 3.6: Antarctica

Vid 3.2: Antarctica exploration

6. Europe2

• Europe is the sixth largest continent on planet earth.

• It has more than 40 countries.

• The Alps are the youngest and highest mountain range in Europe. 

• Europe is the home to many lakes of the world. It is the only continent with no desert.

• The climate of Western Europe makes it one of the world’s leading tourism destinations. 

Fig 3.7: Europe

7. Australia2

• Also known as a country, Australia is the smallest continent in the world. 

• It is totally enclosed by sea from all sides, hence is called ‘Oceania’.

• Australia is home to ‘The Great Barrier Reef’ which is the largest coral reef on the planet. 

• Australia is a wondrous nation that has some of the world’s most significant rainforests with rich wildlife. 

• Other island countries like New zealand, Papua New Guinea and Fiji are a part of this continent region.

Vid 3.3: Seven Continents' song

Continents are further divided into regions of land called countries. A country is a place with its own rules and government. Countries are smaller parts of continents. There are 195 countries in the world.  Russia is the largest country in the world in terms of area. It extends from Europe to Asia. Whereas, Vatican City is the smallest country in the world. 

China and India on the other hand are the most populous countries, while the Vatican City is the least populous. A country's land is sometimes connected while sometimes they are not.  Some countries are made up of groups of islands.4 

1. India as a country

What would you say if someone asked you where you live?  Would you say a city or state? Or maybe your response would be the name of the country you live in.5

India is the 7th largest country in the world which is known for its democracy. It is a part of the continent of Asia. It is surrounded by water on three sides and is therefore called a peninsular country. India is blessed with many geographical features and landforms. Agriculture is the main occupation of the country which contributes largely to its economy. The capital of India is New Delhi. India is known for its rich culture, history and heritage.5 

The majority of countries are split into smaller regions known as states or provinces. A government exists in each state or province. The laws of a state or province only apply to the citizens living there. A state or provincial government's laws only apply to the citizens of that state or province. Different countries in the world have different states and provinces. For example, The United States of America has 50 states, whereas our country India has 28 states and 8 union territories.6 

1. Maharashtra as a state 

Fig 3.10: Maharashtra State Map