What is not a continent? How many continents are there on earth and their names

The word “image” is familiar to everyone. In the 21st century, any businessman, politician, public figure, whether women or men, understand how important the role of image is in their careers and lives.

Political scientists are familiar with the works of Niccolo Machiavelli “The Prince” and G. Le Bon “Psychology of Socialism”, in which Machiavelli convincingly showed the importance of having an appropriate “mask” (mask) for a statesman, and Le Bon interpreted the meaning of imagery as a means of achieving political success thanks to the effect "personal charm"

The psychological justification of imagery has become the object and subject of research by social and political psychologists. Having knowledge of the laws of the process social perception and subjective awareness external image, they gave this problem a theoretical and applied basis.

In the 70s, the image began to appear in the USSR in magazines and less often in newspaper publications as a negative category. It was viewed mainly as a manipulative device of bourgeois policies and means mass media, used for the purpose of indoctrination of the mass consciousness of people.

Nowadays, image has become a hot commodity for everyone involved in business and especially political activity. Huge amounts of money, amounting to tens of thousands of dollars, are spent on its acquisition during election events in the country. The image is in high demand on the stage and in the theater. Thanks to the image, political and trade advertising has become one of the developed service industries. The growing demand for image has given rise to new profession- image maker. This is a specialist in constructing the image of a person, business and political structures(For example, political party or public organization).

Imageology is a study not just about image, but about the formation of an opinion among a group of people (the audience of the image) about a particular object (a person, an object, a phenomenon) based on the image they have formed of this object.

The image of an object (person, object, phenomenon) is an opinion about the object that arose in the psyche of a certain or unspecified group people based on an image formed in their psyche as a result of either their direct perception of certain characteristics of a given object, or indirect - based on the perception of an image already assessed by someone (based on the perception of an opinion) formed in the psyche of other people.

Nowadays it is extremely difficult to have a personal impact on people and especially on young people. There are many reasons for this, but one of the main ones is that in the age of advanced means mass communication the effect of live communication and direct personal influence is blocked in the people’s psyche by the presence of information clichés, vague spiritual values, and skepticism towards moral authorities. B. Pascal is right when he draws attention to the logical sequence of using methods of influencing people: first you need to be able to please them, and then try to convince them of something. Without an attractive image, i.e. The ability to mentally win over a person will not solve this problem. This is the pragmatic purpose of imageology.

Today it's hard to find a big one politician, who did not specifically address image makers. The image of such individuals is polished literally down to the smallest detail. For example, on the faces of older people, facial expressions are more strongly recorded age-related changes, therefore, during television programs, their faces are presented at a certain distance from the filming camera. Or this fact: the background against which the personality is presented is very important. It was difficult for Margaret Thatcher to gain political recognition in a country with such a conservative order. Therefore, its image makers close attention paid attention to the choice of interiors: most of her television appearances were filmed in home environment against the backdrop of a lit fireplace. Which is purely in the English classical spirit.

By specificity professional activity The following types of imageology are distinguished: entrepreneurial, political, pedagogical, medical, mass media, banking, service, law enforcement agencies, diplomatic, etc.

One more definition of imageology and image can be identified.

Imageology is the science and art of how to give a person’s appearance the effect of personal charm, how to master the ability to “shine” to people. Many people have become interested in imageology, striving to create an attractive individual appearance. Without it, you cannot achieve great success in any activity, you cannot gain confidence in your position in the family, or in communicating with colleagues.

Image is a kind of magnifying glass that allows the best personal and business qualities person, bring into everyday communication comfort, create an optimistic mood.

Image can be the property of a specific person, as well as a group image, such as the image of a company or government structure. As a rule, image is a positive phenomenon. At the same time, there are many facts in life when a person adopts shocking behavior patterns, thereby attracting the attention of people and gaining access to the media.

A continent is a significant landmass washed by seas and oceans. In tectonics, continents are characterized as sections of the lithosphere that have continental structure.

Continent, continent or part of the world? What's the difference?

In geography, another term is often used to designate a continent - a continent. But the concepts “mainland” and “continent” are not synonymous. IN different countries There are different points of view on the number of continents, called continental models.

There are several such models:

• In China, India, and also English speaking countries In Europe, it is generally accepted that there are 7 continents - they consider Europe and Asia separately;
• In Spanish speaking European countries, and also in the countries of South America they mean division into 6 parts of the world - with a united America;
• in Greece and some countries of Eastern Europe, a model with 5 continents has been adopted - only those where people live, i.e. except Antarctica;
• in Russia and neighboring Eurasian countries they traditionally designate 4 - united in large groups, continent.

(The figure clearly shows different views continental models on Earth, from 7 to 4)

Continents

There are 6 continents in total on Earth. We list them in descending order by area size:

1. — largest continent on our planet (54.6 million sq. km)
2. (30.3 million sq. km)
3. (24.4 million sq. km)
4. (17.8 million sq. km)
5. (14.1 million sq. km)
6. (7.7 million sq. km)

All of them are separated by the waters of the seas and oceans. Four continents have a land border: Eurasia and Africa are separated by the Isthmus of Suez, North and South America by the Isthmus of Panama.

Continents

The difference is that continents do not have land border. Therefore, in this case we can talk about 4 continents ( one of the continental models of the world), also in descending order by size:

1. AfroEurasia
2. America

Parts of the world

The terms "mainland" and "continent" have scientific significance, but the term “part of the world” divides the land according to historical and cultural criteria. There are 6 parts of the world, only unlike the continents, Eurasia differs in Europe And Asia, but North and South America are defined together as one part of the world America:

1. Europe
2. Asia
3. America(both North and South), or New World
4. Australia and Oceania

When we talk about parts of the world, we also mean the islands adjacent to them.

Difference between a mainland and an island

The definition of a continent and an island is the same - a part of land washed by the waters of the ocean or seas. But there are significant differences.

1. Size. Even the most small continent, Australia, is significantly larger in area than the world's largest island, Greenland.

(Formation of the Earth's continents, a single continent Pangea)

2. Education. All continents are of tiled origin. According to scientists, there once existed a single continent - Pangea. Then, as a result of the split, 2 continents appeared - Gondwana and Laurasia, which later split into 6 more parts. The theory is confirmed by both geological research and the shape of the continents. Many of them can be put together into a single whole, like a puzzle.

Islands are formed in different ways. There are those that, like the continents, are located on the ruins of ancient lithospheric plates. Others are formed from volcanic lava. Still others are a result of the activity of polyps (coral islands).

3. Habitability. All continents are inhabited, even the harshest climatic conditions Antarctica. Many islands still remain uninhabited.

Characteristics of the continents

- the largest continent, occupying 1/3 of the land. There are 2 parts of the world located here: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the line Ural mountains, the Black and Azov Seas, as well as the straits connecting the Black and Mediterranean Seas.

This is the only continent that is washed by all oceans. The coastline is indented, it forms large number bays, peninsulas, islands. The continent itself is located on six tectonic platforms, and therefore the relief of Eurasia is incredibly diverse.

Here are the most extensive plains, the most high mountains(Himalayas with Everest), the deepest lake (Baikal). This is the only continent where all climatic zones (and, accordingly, all natural zones) are represented at once - from the Arctic with its permafrost to the equatorial with its sultry deserts and jungles.

The mainland is home to ¾ of the planet's population; there are 108 states, of which 94 have independent status.

- the hottest continent on Earth. Located on the oldest platform, therefore most of The area is occupied by plains, mountains form along the edges of the continent. Africa has the most long river in the world - the Nile and the most extensive desert - the Sahara. Climate types present on the mainland: equatorial, subequatorial, tropical and subtropical.

Africa is usually divided into five regions: North, South, West, East and Central. There are 62 countries on the mainland.

It is washed by the waters of the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic oceans. The result of the movement tectonic plates became very jagged coastline mainland, from a huge amount bays, straits, bays and islands. The largest island is in the north (Greenland).

Along west coast The Cordillera mountains stretch along the eastern side - the Appalachians. Central part occupies a vast plain.

All climatic zones are represented here, except the equatorial one, which determines the diversity natural areas. Most rivers and lakes are located in the northern part. Largest river- Mississippi.

Indigenous people- Indians and Eskimos. Currently, there are 23 states here, of which only three (Canada, USA and Mexico) are on the mainland itself, the rest are on the islands.

It is washed by the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. Along the western coast stretches the longest mountain system in the world - the Andes, or South American Cordillera. The rest of the continent is occupied by plateaus, plains and lowlands.

This is the rainiest continent, since most of it is located in the equator. The largest and most abundant river in the world, the Amazon, is also located here.

The indigenous population are Indians. Currently, there are 12 independent states on the mainland.

- the only continent on whose territory there is only 1 state - Commonwealth of Australia. Most of the continent is occupied by plains, mountains are located only along the coast.

Australia is a unique continent with the largest number of endemic animals and plants. Indigenous people - Australian aborigines, or Bushmen.

- most southern mainland completely covered with ice. The average thickness of the ice cover is 1600 m, the greatest thickness is 4000 meters. If the ice in Antarctica melted, the level of the world's oceans would immediately rise by 60 meters!

Most of the continent is occupied by an icy desert; life glimmers only on the coasts. Antarctica is also the most cold continent. In winter, temperatures can drop below -80 ºC (record -89.2 ºC), in summer - down to -20 ºC.

A land mass that is washed by water. Many experts clarify, saying that most of any continent is above ocean level. Some sources additionally indicate that any consists of continental or mainland earth's crust. Continental crust differs from oceanic multilayered and consists of basalt, granite and sedimentary rocks, which are located on a viscous, semi-liquid layer of magma.

A continent is a large land mass that is surrounded on all sides by water. Most of the continent is raised above ocean level, the smaller part is buried in water and is called the continental slope. Thus, “mainland” and “continent” are synonymous, so both words can be used regardless of the context.

Continents and continents: where did it all begin?

At the very beginning of the Jurassic period, Laurasia was divided into two huge parts - North America and Eurasia, by this time the Indian and Atlantic oceans had already formed, as well as Tethys, which became the predecessor Pacific Ocean. The reason for the separation of Laurasia and Gondavana was the continuous horizontal tectonic movements.

The continents of the Earth occupy less than thirty percent of the entire surface of the planet. IN present moment There are six continents on the planet. The largest of them is Eurasia, followed by Africa, then North America, followed by South America, next is Antarctica, and Australia brings up the rear. Scientists have proven that currently the continents are moving closer together at a very slow speed; the cause of this process is tectonic activity.

A continent is a vast expanse of land washed by seas and oceans. Continent is a geological concept. The border between continents on land passes along the isthmuses: the isthmus of Panama - between North and South America, and the isthmus of Suez - between Africa and Asia.

How many continents on Earth are there 6 or 7?

There is an opinion that there are not 6 continents on Earth, but 7. The territory located around South Pole- these are huge blocks of ice. Currently, many scientists call it another continent on planet Earth.

However, answering the question: “How many continents are there on planet Earth?”, you can accurately answer - 6.

How many continents are there on Earth and their names

• Eurasia,
• Africa,
• North America,
• South America,
• Australia,
• Antarctica.

In geology, the continent also often includes the underwater edge of the continent, including the islands located on it. Continents from a tectonic point of view are areas of the lithosphere that have a continental structure of the earth's crust.

A continent (unbroken, continuous), unlike a mainland, is a continuous landmass not divided by a sea. The boundaries of a continent cannot be drawn by land. There are four continents:

• Old World (Eurasia and Africa),
• New World (North America and South America),
• Australia,
• Antarctica.

There is also a similar historical and cultural concept of “part of the world”. On the continent of Eurasia there are two parts of the world - Europe and Asia, and the part of the world America includes two continents - South and North America. The world is divided into six parts of the world:

• Asia,
• Africa,
• America,
• Europe,
• Australia and Oceania,
• Antarctica (Antarctica with coastal seas and islands).

Sometimes Oceania and the Arctic are separated into separate parts of the world.

The border between Europe and Asia from north to south runs along the Ural Mountains, then along the Emba River to the Caspian Sea, north of the Caucasus- along the Kuma and Manych rivers to Sea of ​​Azov, then along the Black, Marmara and Mediterranean seas. The boundary described above is not undisputed - it is only one of several accepted options in the world.

Continental models

There are several traditions in the world of dividing lands into continents and parts of the world.

• The seven continents model is popular in China, India, and partly in Western Europe and in English-speaking countries.
• The model of six continents with a united America (“Parts of the World”) is popular in Spanish-speaking countries [and parts Eastern Europe, including Greece with its pentacontinental model (five inhabited continents).

Comparison of area and population

Eurasia

Eurasia on the globe

Eurasia- most big continent on Earth, and the only one washed by four oceans: in the south - Indian, in the north - Arctic, in the west - Atlantic, in the east - Pacific. The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere between 9° W. Longitude and 169°W etc., while some of the islands of Eurasia are located in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of continental Eurasia lies in Eastern Hemisphere, although the extreme western and eastern ends of the continent are in the Western Hemisphere. Eurasia stretches from west to east for 10.5 thousand km, from north to south - for 5.3 thousand km, with an area of ​​53.6 million km². This is more than a third of the entire land area of ​​the planet. The area of ​​the Eurasian islands is approaching 2.75 million km².

Contains two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. The border line between Europe and Asia is most often drawn along the eastern slopes of the Ural Mountains, the Ural River, the Emba River, the northwestern coast of the Caspian Sea, the Kuma River, the Kuma-Manych depression, the Manych River, the eastern coast of the Black Sea, south coast Black Sea, Bosphorus Strait, Sea of ​​Marmara, the Dardanelles Strait, the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, the Strait of Gibraltar. This division has developed historically. IN natural attitude There is no sharp border between Europe and Asia. The continent is united by the continuity of land, the current tectonic consolidation and the unity of numerous climatic processes.

North America

North America on the globe

North America(English) North America, fr. Amérique du Nord, Spanish América del Norte, Norteamérica , ast. Ixachitlān Mictlāmpa) is one of the continents of planet Earth, located in the north of the Western Hemisphere of the Earth. North America is washed from the west by the Pacific Ocean with the Bering Sea, the Gulf of Alaska and the Gulf of California, from the east Atlantic Ocean with the seas of Labrador, the Caribbean, the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Mexican, from the north - the Northern Arctic Ocean with the seas of Beaufort, Baffin, Greenland and Hudson Bay. From the west, the continent is separated from Eurasia by the Bering Strait. In the south, the border between North and South America passes through the Isthmus of Panama.

North America also includes numerous islands: Greenland, the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, the Aleutian Islands, Vancouver Island, the Alexandra Archipelago and others. The area of ​​North America including the islands is 24.25 million km², without the islands it is 20.36 million km².

South America

South America on the globe

South America(Spanish) América del Sur, Sudamérica, Suramérica , port. América do Sul, English South America, Netherlands Zuid-Amerika, fr. Amérique du Sud, guar. Ñembyamérika, Quechua Urin Awya Yala, Urin Amerika) - southern continent in America, located mainly in the Western and Southern hemispheres of planet Earth, however, part of the continent is also located in the Northern Hemisphere. It is washed in the west by the Pacific Ocean, in the east by the Atlantic Ocean, in the north it is limited by North America, the border between the Americas runs along the Isthmus of Panama and the Caribbean Sea.

South America also includes various islands, most of which belong to the countries of the continent. The Caribbean territories belong to North America. South American countries that border Caribbean Sea- including Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana - are known as Caribbean South America.

The most important river systems V South America are the Amazon, Orinoco and Paraná, whose total basin is 7 million km² (the area of ​​South America is 17.8 million km²). Most of South America's lakes are in the Andes, the largest of which and the world's highest navigable lake is Titicaca, on the border of Bolivia and Peru. The largest lake in area is Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela; it is also one of the oldest on the planet.

The tallest waterfall in the world, Angel Falls, is located in South America. The most powerful waterfall, Iguazu, is also located on the mainland.

The continent's area is 17.8 million km²: 4th place among the continents.

Africa

Africa on the globe

Africa- the second largest continent after Eurasia, washed by Mediterranean Sea from the north, the Red Ocean from the northeast, the Atlantic Ocean from the west and the Indian Ocean from the east and south. Africa is also the name given to the part of the world consisting of the continent of Africa and adjacent islands.

The African continent crosses the equator and several climatic zones; it is the only continent that extends from the northern subtropical climate zone to southern subtropical. Due to lack of constant rainfall and irrigation - as well as glaciers or aquifers mountain systems- There is practically no natural regulation of climate anywhere except the coasts.

Australia

Australia on the globe

Australia(from lat. australis- “southern”) is a continent located in the Eastern and Southern Hemispheres of the Earth. The entire territory of the mainland is the main part of the state of the Commonwealth of Australia. The continent is part of the world Australia and Oceania. Northern and east coast Australia is washed by the Pacific Ocean: Arafura, Coral, Tasman, Timor Seas; western and southern - Indian Ocean. There are large islands near Australia New Guinea and Tasmania. Along the northeastern coast of Australia, the world's largest coral reef stretches for more than 2000 km - the Great Barrier Reef.

Antarctica

Antarctica on the globe

Antarctica(Greek ἀνταρκτικός - the opposite of Arctic) - a continent located in the very south of the Earth, the center of Antarctica approximately coincides with the southern geographic pole. Antarctica is washed by the waters of the Southern Ocean. Antarctica is also called the part of the world consisting of the mainland of Antarctica and adjacent islands.

Antarctica is the highest continent, its average height- 2040 meters. The continent also contains about 85% of the planet's glaciers. There is no permanent population in Antarctica, but there are more than 50 scientific stations belonging to different states and intended for research and detailed study of the characteristics of the continent.

Antarctica is almost completely covered ice cover, the average thickness of which exceeds 2500 meters. There are also a large number of subglacial lakes (more than 140), the largest of which is Lake Vostok, discovered by Russian scientists in the 1990s.

Hypothetical continents

Kenorland

Kenorland- a hypothetical supercontinent that, according to geophysicists, existed in the Neoarchean (approximately 2.75 billion years ago). The name comes from the Kenoran folding phase. Paleomagnetic studies indicate that Kenorland was located at low latitudes.

Nuna

Nuna (Colombia, Hudsonland listen)) is a hypothetical supercontinent that existed between 1.8 and 1.5 Ga (maximum assembly ~1.8 Ga). Its existence was proposed by J. Rogers and M. Santosh in 2002. Nuna's existence dates back to the Paleoproterozoic era, making it presumably the oldest supercontinent. It consisted of plateau predecessors of ancient platforms that were part of the earlier continents of Laurentia, Fennosarmatia, the Ukrainian Shield, Amazonia, Australia and possibly Siberia, the Sino-Korean platform and the Kalahari platform. The existence of the continent of Colombia is based on geological and paleomagnetic data.

Rodinia

Rodinia(from “Motherland” or from “to give birth”) - a hypothetical supercontinent that supposedly existed in the Proterozoic - Precambrian eon. It arose about 1.1 billion years ago and disintegrated about 750 million years ago. At that time, the Earth consisted of one giant piece of land and one giant ocean, called Mirovia, also taken from the Russian language. Rodinia is often considered the oldest known supercontinent, but its position and outline are still a matter of debate. After the collapse of Rodinia, the continents managed to once again unite into the supercontinent Pangea and break up again.

Lavrussia

Lavrussia (Euramerica) is a Paleozoic supercontinent formed as a result of the collision of the North American (ancient continent of Laurentia) and East European (ancient continent of Baltica) platforms during the Caledonian orogeny. Also known names Caledonia, « Ancient Red Continent"(English) Old Red Continent), « continent of ancient red sandstone» ( Old Red Sandstone Continent). During the Permian period it connected with Pangea and became its integral part. After the collapse of Pangea, it became part of Laurasia. It disintegrated in the Paleogene.

Gondwana

Vanished continents

Gondwana in paleogeography - an ancient supercontinent that arose approximately 750-530 million years ago, for a long time localized around the South Pole, which included almost all the land, now located in southern hemisphere(Africa, South America, Antarctica, Australia), as well as the tectonic blocks of Hindustan and Arabia, which have now moved to the northern hemisphere and become part of the Eurasian continent. In the early Paleozoic, Gondwana gradually shifted north, and in the Carboniferous period (360 million years ago) joined with the North American-Scandinavian continent into the giant protocontinent Pangea. Then, during the Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago), Pangea split again into Gondwana and northern continent Laurasia, which was divided by the Tethys Ocean. 30 million years later, in the same Jurassic period, Gondwana gradually began to break up into new (current) continents. Finally everything modern continents- Africa, South America, Australia, Antarctica and the Hindustan Peninsula - separated from Gondwana only at the end Cretaceous period, that is, 70-80 million years ago.

Pangea

Pangea surrounded by Panthalassa

Pangea(ancient Greek Πανγαῖα - “all-earth”) is the name given by Alfred Wegener to the protocontinent that arose during the Paleozoic era. The giant ocean that washed Pangea from the Silurian period of the Paleozoic to the early Mesozoic inclusive was called Panthalassa (from the ancient Greek. παν- "all-" and θάλασσα "sea"). Pangea formed in the Permian period, and split at the end of the Triassic (approximately 200-210 million years ago) into two continents: northern Laurasia and southern Gondwana. During the formation of Pangea, mountain systems arose from more ancient continents at the sites of their collision, some of them (for example, the Urals and Appalachians) have existed to this day. These early mountains are much older than relatively young mountain systems (the Alps in Europe, the Cordillera in North America, the Andes in South America or the Himalayas in Asia). Due to erosion lasting many millions of years, the Urals and Appalachians are flattened low mountains.

Kazakhstania

Kazakhstan- Middle Paleozoic continent, which was located between Laurussia and Siberian platform. It stretches from the Turgai trough and the Turan lowland to the Gobi and Taklamakan deserts.

Laurasia

Topographic map of Zealand showing borders with Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu

Laurasia- a supercontinent that existed as northern part the break of the protocontinent Pangea (southern - Gondwana) in the late Mesozoic era. United most of the territories that make up today existing continents northern hemisphere- Eurasia and North America, which in turn broke away from each other from 135 to 200 million years ago.

Pangea Ultima

It seems likely that in 100-200 million years the continents will reassemble into a supercontinent. Different possible scenarios of this association, known under the names Pangea Ultima, Novopangea and Amasia.

Zealand

A hypothetical continent, currently almost completely submerged. Broke off from Australia 60-85 million years ago and from Antarctica between 130 and 85 million years ago. It may have been completely submerged about 23 million years ago.