Oceans, Continents & Countries
Oceans, Continents & Countries
Earth science
Oceans,
Continents and
countries
Oceans
Around 71 percent of the Earth is covered in salt water. We call this major body of water the
Ocean. The ocean is divided up into 5 major oceans, but they are actually all connected
together. They are mostly divided up by the world's seven continents.
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the oceans covering around one third of the Earth's
surface. It separates Asia and Australia from North and South America. The Pacific Ocean got
its name from the explorer Ferdinand Magellan. He called it the Mar Pacifico, meaning the
"peaceful sea" in Portuguese.
The Mariana Trench lies within the Pacific Ocean. It's the deepest place in the world at over
10,000km under the ocean.
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the world's second largest ocean. It separates Europe and Africa from
North and South America. Many years ago some people thought the Earth was flat and that
ships would just fall off the Earth somewhere out in the Atlantic Ocean. Columbus proved
them wrong by sailing across the Atlantic and discovering the Americas. The Atlantic Ocean
gets its name from the Greeks who called it the Sea of Atlas.
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest ocean in the world. It lies south of Asia and India, and
separates East Africa from Australia. It is the warmest ocean in the world. The Indian Ocean
includes the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Significant islands include Madagascar, the
Seychelles, and Sri Lanka.
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean is the fourth largest, or second smallest of the oceans. It sits at the
South Pole and the southern part of the Earth.
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean is in the northern part of the Earth, primarily around the North Pole. It is the
smallest and shallowest of the world's oceans. A lot of fresh water enters the Arctic from
melting ice. For a good part of the year much of the Arctic is covered in ice.
FAST FACTS :
1-What do we call the major body of salt water that covers the Earth?
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True or False?
Would you like to travel the oceans like ancient explorers? Write a few sentences to express your
thoughts.
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Asia
The continent of Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent with over 4 billion
people calling Asia home. Asia also contains the world's most populous country, China, and
the world's largest country, Russia. Asia borders Africa and Europe to the west, the Pacific
Ocean to the east and the Indian Ocean to the south.
Asia is rich in diverse races, cultures, and languages. Many of the world's major religions
came out of Asia including Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam and Hinduism.
FAST FACTS:
Asia is almost 30% of the world’s land area and contains 60% of the world’s population.
The highest point on earth, Mt. Everest, is in Asia. The lowest point on land, the Dead Sea, is
also in Asia. Asia is the only continent that shares borders with two other continents; Africa and
Europe. It sometimes joins with a third continent, North America, in the winter by ice forming in
the Bering Sea.
Asia contains many of the largest cities in the world including the two largest; Shanghai, China
and Mumbai, India. Countries such as Russia, China, Japan and India produce products and
services that are used by every nation in the world. Asia is also abundant in natural resources.
Oil in the Middle East is a major supplier of much of the world's energy.
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Mongolia
The first dinosaur egg ever discovered was found in the mighty Gobi desert in Mongolia.
Many dinosaur remains and fossils from 100 million years ago, during the late Cretaceous
period, have been found there. The Mongol Empire gained power as Genghis Khan and his
sons conquered much of Asia and Europe during the 13th century.
Many Mongolians continue to live in yurts, or gers, which are dome-shaped, tent-like
structures. They are furnished with all the comforts of home, including a stove for heat and
cooking meals, rugs to cover the wooden floors, beds, and storage. Today gers often have
electricity, satellite dishes, and solar panels.
GEOGRAPHY
Mongolia’s temperature can fluctuate as much as 35 degrees in one day. The country is
very dry and receives only about ten centimetres of rainfall per year. Southern Mongolia is
dominated by the Gobi, which is one of the Earth’s coldest deserts. The country is located
in Asia between Russia to the north and China to the south.
NATURE
Bactrian camels are native to Mongolia. They have two humps and are smaller than the
Arabian camel. The Gobi is expanding. Every year, about 2,200 square kilometres of new
desert are added because of changes in land use, including farming, grazing animals, and
destruction of the forests.
FAST FACTS:
Official Name: Mongolia
Capital: Ulaanbaatar
Population: 3,133,318
Official Languages: Khalkha Mongol, Turkic, Russian
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Asia
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True or False?
Would you like to visit a desert? Write a few sentences to express your thoughts.
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Africa
The continent of Africa borders the southern half of the Mediterranean Sea. The
Atlantic Ocean is to the west and the Indian Ocean is to the Southeast. Africa stretches
well south of the equator to cover more than 19 million square km making Africa the
world's second largest continent. Africa is also the world's second most populous
continent. Africa is one of the most diverse places on the planet with a wide variety of
terrain, wildlife, and climates.
FAST FACTS:
The highest point in Africa is Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania at 5895 metres high.
The largest country in Africa is Algeria, the smallest is The Seychelles. The most
populated country is Nigeria and the largest city is Cairo in Egypt.
The largest lake in Africa is Lake Victoria and the longest river is The Nile River, which
is also the longest river in the world.
Africa is rich with varied wildlife including elephants, penguins, lions, cheetahs,
seals, giraffes, gorillas, crocodiles, and hippos. African languages are varied with more
than 1000 languages spoken across the continent.
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Kenya
Kenya's location between the Indian Ocean and Lake Victoria means that people from all over Africa
and the Middle East have traveled and traded across it for centuries. This has created a diverse
culture with many ethnic groups and languages.
In Kenya, more than 60 languages are spoken and there are more than 40 ethnic groups.
Almost everyone there speaks more than one African language.
GEOGRAPHY
Even if you've never been to Kenya, chances are you know what it looks like. Kenya's
savanna is familiar from movies, TV shows, books, and commercials. It's the landscape
many people imagine when they think of Africa.
NATURE
Millions of people visit Kenya each year to see its endless savanna and the animals that
inhabit it: elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffes, zebras, hippos, rhinos, and more. The
Kenyan government has set up more than 50 reserves and parks to protect these animals.
FAST FACTS:
Official Name: Republic of Kenya
Capital: Nairobi
Population: 33,830,000
Official Languages: Swahili, English
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Africa
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True or False?
Would you like to go on a safari (trip) to Kenya? Which animal would you most like to see? Write a few
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North America
North America is the third largest of the seven continents. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to
the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Central America and the Caribbean are considered
part of North America.
Prior to the European colonization, many Native American tribes and the Aztecs ruled over this
vast continent. In the 1600s Europeans quickly colonized and took over much of North America.
France colonized what is today Quebec, England colonized Canada and the United States and
Spain took over Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Today North American countries have
their own governments but the languages of the colonizers are still spoken.
Ranking: It is the third largest and the fourth most populous continent
FAST FACTS:
The city with the largest population in North America is Mexico City, Mexico. The most populous
country is the United States.
The longest river in North America is the Mississippi River. Lake Superior is the largest fresh
water lake in the world. It is located on the border between the United States and Canada.
Mexico's ancient societies built great cities and huge pyramids, created remarkable works of
art, and even studied the stars and planets to determine when to plant crops and hold
ceremonies. In the early 1500s, the Spanish arrived in Mexico. The Aztec people died from
diseases and war that the Spanish brought with them.
Few nations on Earth support as many plant and animal species as Mexico does. Located
partway between the Equator and the Arctic Circle, it is a refuge for animals fleeing extreme
cold in the north and intense heat in the south.
GEOGRAPHY
Mexico is a land of extremes, with high mountains and deep canyons in the centre of the
country, sweeping deserts in the north, and dense rain forests in the south and east. The
stretch of land called the Yucatán Peninsula was once the home of the Maya civilization,
an ancient culture whose amazing buildings can still be seen today.
NATURE
In northern Mexico, deserts are full of plant and animal species that have found ways to
survive the harsh environment. The rain forests and coastal wetlands of eastern Mexico
are home to thousands of tropical plant species and elusive animals like jaguars and
quetzal birds.
FAST FACTS:
Official Name: United Mexican States
Capital: Mexico City
Population: 106,202,903
Official Language: Spanish
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North America
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True or False?
6-The United States are the most populous country in North America. ____
The Aztecs were an advanced culture when the Spanish arrived in North America. Why do you think
the Aztecs are no more? Write a few sentences to express your thoughts.
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South America
South America is the fourth largest continent in size and the fifth largest in population. It is
located primarily in the southern hemisphere. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east
and the Pacific Ocean to the West. The geography of South America is dominated by the
Andes Mountain Range and the Amazon River (second longest river in the world).
Prior to European colonization, the Incan Civilization was a dominant force in South America.
In the 1500s, Spain and Portugal colonized much of South America. As a result, much of
South America still speaks Spanish and Portuguese is the primary language of Brazil.
FAST FACTS:
The highest point in South America is Cerro Aconcagua in the Andes Mountains in the country of
Argentina.
The largest South American country in both size and population is Brazil. The largest city is Sao
Paulo, Brazil, which is also one of the ten largest cities in the world.
The highest waterfall in the world is Santo del Angel (also called Angel Falls). It is almost 1000
metres high!
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Peru
Peru is a very old country. The earliest inhabitants arrived there about 15,000 years ago.
Societies emerged on the west coast more than 5,000 years ago and began to spread inland.
One of the most important Peruvian cultures was the Inca, who lived in Peru around 600
years ago. They built Machu Picchu, a famous and mysterious ancient city in the Andes
(pictured above).
The world's largest rain forest, the Amazon, covers nearly half of Peru. Called the selva in
Spanish, this huge jungle, which also covers half of Brazil, is home to plants and animals that
do not live anywhere else on Earth. Some scientists think there may even be Indian tribes
there that have never seen the outside world.
GEOGRAPHY
Peru is the third largest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. It is made up
of a variety of landscapes, from mountains and beaches to deserts and rain forests. Most
people live along the coast of the Pacific Ocean, where the capital, Lima, is located.
NATURE
Because it has so many different ecosystems, Peru is home to a wider variety of plants and
animals than most other countries on Earth. Peru's mountains support special types of
grasses and plants, which provide food for mammals like llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas.
One plant that grows in the Andes, the puya raimondi, grows for a hundred years before
blooming.
FAST FACTS:
Official Name: Republic of Peru
Capital: Lima
Population: 28,302,603
Official Languages: Spanish, Quechua
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South America
1-Which powerful culture ruled over South America before the Europeans came?
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True or False?
Why do you think Machu Picchu was built high in the foggy mountains? Write a few sentences to
express your thoughts.
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Antarctica
Antarctica is located at the South Pole and is surrounded by the Southern Ocean. Over 98%
of Antarctica is covered by ice. It is the driest and coldest continent on earth. Antarctica is
the fifth largest continent based on size, but it is the smallest in population with an official
population of 0 (although some people do visit for scientific research).
Ranking: It is the fifth largest and the least populous of the continents (Visitors vary between
1000 and 4000 researchers.).
FAST FACTS:
The lowest recorded temperature in history was -89 degrees Celsius in Antarctica.
Antarctica has the highest average elevation of any continent. This is due to all the ice on it!
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Antarctica
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2-Where is Antarctica?
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True or False?
Some scientists visit Antarctica to conduct research. What do you think they are trying to learn? Write
a few sentences to express your thoughts.
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Europe
Europe is the sixth largest continent in size and the third largest in population. It is bordered
by the Mediterranean Sea to the south, Asia to the east, and the Atlantic Ocean to the West.
Europe is a wealthy continent and is the centre of the West and Western Democracy.
Europe has been the home to some of the Earth's greatest civilizations from Ancient Greece
to the Roman Empire. It is also home to the birth of democracy. The European Union allows
independent European countries to have a single currency and to combine their economic
and military power.
FAST FACTS:
Europe is the home to many of the world's oldest countries including the 5 oldest: San Marino,
France, Bulgaria, Denmark, and Portugal.
Europe is home to the smallest country in the world, the Holy See or the Vatican. It is the
smallest country both in size and population.
Most of Europe now uses the same currency called the Euro.
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Greece
During ancient times Greece was divided into city-states. The largest were Athens, Sparta,
Thebes, and Corinth. Each state controlled the territory around a single city. Athens became
the most powerful, and in 508 BCE, the people instituted a new system of rule by the people
called democracy.
The first Olympic Games were held in the southern city of Olympia in 700 BCE to honour
Zeus, the king of the gods. Only men could compete in the events such as sprinting, long
jump, discus, javelin, wrestling, and chariot racing.
GEOGRAPHY
Greece has the longest coastline in Europe and is the southernmost country in Europe. The
mainland has rugged mountains, forests, and lakes, but the country is well known for the
thousands of islands dotting its many seas.
NATURE
Greece has ten national parks. The long coastline and clear water make Greece an ideal
location to spot starfish, sea anemones, sponges, and seahorses hiding in the seaweed.
The Greek landscape is covered by maquis, a tangle of thorny shrubs that don't need a lot
of water. These plants include fragrant herbs such as thyme, rosemary, oregano, and bay
and myrtle trees.
FAST FACTS:
Official Name: Hellenic Republic
Capital: Athens
Population: 10,722,816
Official Language: Greek
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Europe
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True or False?
8-Children often live with their parents after they get married in Greece. ____
Do you think you would enjoy Greek food? Write a few sentences to express your thoughts.
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Oceania
Oceania is the smallest continent by size and the second smallest in terms of population.
Oceania is located to the southeast of Asia. It is made up of Australia and a number of island
countries. Oceania and its islands are surrounded by the Indian Ocean and the Pacific
Ocean.
Much of Oceania's land mass is desert, but there are also very lush areas. Oceania has some
very unique animal life for such a small continent. Some examples are the koala bear (which
is not really a bear, but a marsupial), the platypus, and the kangaroo.
Ranking: It is the seventh largest (smallest) and sixth most populous continent
FAST FACTS:
Much of Oceania is sparsely populated and there are more sheep in Oceania than people.
Oceania is located in the southern hemisphere. This means that its winter is during June, July,
and August and its summer during the months of December, January, and February.
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Australia
Australia is the only country in the world that covers an entire continent. It is one of the
largest countries on Earth. Although it is rich in natural resources and has a lot of fertile land,
more than one-third of Australia is desert.
Aboriginal people arrived in Australia about 50,000 years ago. They may have traveled from
Asia across land bridges that were exposed when sea levels were lower.
GEOGRAPHY
Most Australian cities and farms are located in the southwest and southeast, where the
climate is more comfortable. There are dense rain forests in the northeast. The famous
outback (remote rural areas) contains the country's largest deserts, where there are
scorching temperatures, little water, and almost no vegetation.
NATURE
Australia's ecosystem is an unusual one because of its remote location. As a result, there
are many animal species that occur here and nowhere else in the world, such as the
platypus, kangaroo and koala. Australia is home to many of the deadliest species of
animals on the planet. There are 36 species of poisonous spiders in Australia. There are
also 20 types of venomous snakes!
FAST FACTS:
Official Name: Commonwealth of Australia
Capital: Canberra
Population: 20,683,554
Official Language: English
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Oceania
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True or False?
Would you prefer to visit Australia or one of the many island countries of Oceania? Write a few
sentences to express your thoughts.
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