Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gopher]

How many continents are there and why do you think so?

[jajdude]

I always thought 7

[the_beaver]

Argued with an Italian nun about this last winter in Korean class. She pulled the Olympic rings thing out too. But I've always been taught 7, although I've never been able to figure out how Europe can be considered separate from Asia.

[sonofthedarkstranger]

I was taught 7 too.

However, I always thought it was pretty arbitrary to split Europe and Asia up. They seem like one to me.

The Chilean definition is retard. Why should "the Americas" be one and Eurasia two? The Americas are connected by a tiny (50 mile?) isthmus that effectively splits them in two. Europe and Asia are connected by thousands of miles of solid landmass. The fact that "the Americas" is a pluralized name tells you everything. Do their maps have Norte America and Sud America labeled separately or do they just say "The Americas?"

Not recognizing Antarctica??? Antarctica is larger than Australia and Europe. A continent is not definied by how many people live there. What is it then, an island? An island that's larger than 2 continents?

Sounds like a case of arguing with people who have been taught what to think but not how to think. Such people are so limited. So un-intelligent! That must be frustrating. You are right that the concept of a continet is totallya rbitray and if you want to be a purist you'd have to say there are 4 (Eurafrasia, Americas, Australia, Antarctica).

[Gopher]

Should we consider "Europe" a separate continent than "Asia"?

It may be a legacy of nineteenth-century racism. Europeans had to affirm their distinctiveness with respect to Asians. Thus Europe became a continent, but India only a "sub-continent."

World historians talk more and more about "Eurasia" these days, although there are a lot of die-hards in the U.S. who refuse to give up on the idea of "Europe" as a separate continent.

[sonofthedarkstranger]

It's also ludicrous to think of "Oceania" as a continent. The continent is Australia. All those Pacific islands are by definition not part of any continent.

[jajdude]

Strange some places are not part of any continent.

Also it was only a few years ago I discovered Russia is in Asia and Europe.
Before 2000 or whenever I figured it was in Asia, as I figured a single country must belong entirely to one continent.

Now I am pretty sure Russia belongs to both Asia and Europe. Or am I still not with a clue?

[sonofthedarkstranger]

Russia and Turkey are indeed bi-continental (if you believe that Europe and Asia are separate).

[jajdude]

Don't most people believe Asia and Europe are 2 continents?

But I have thought of Turkey as belonging to Asia.

Arguable, no doubt. I know they want to be in the EU.

[sonofthedarkstranger]

Europe and Asia are considered separate purely by convention. There really is no logic to it other than racial pride. The word "contient" implies continuity and Europe and Asia flow right into one another.

Turkey is mainly in Asia but there's a tiny bit that's across the Bosporus Strait that's in Europe. Interestingly enough, Istanbul (astride that strait)is the world's only bi-continental city.

OK I've contributed enough tot his topic now.

[meagicano]

I think there are seven... I don't consider Asia and Europe to be the same, although technically they could be since they're the same landmass... but look at the differences.

Antarctica is a major landmass - yes, it's covered by ice, but there's land down there (unlike the Arctic which isn't a landmass and is constantly shifting).

Besides. I've been to six of seven. Four of five just isn't as exciting. I only have Australia to go.

[turtlepi1]

http://geography.about.com/library/faq/blqzcontinents.htm

How many continents are on the earth?

A continent is one of several major land masses on the earth. There is no standard definition for the number of continents but you'll commonly find that the numbers six or seven are used. By most standards, there are a maximum of seven continents - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. Most students in the U.S. are taught that there are seven continents.
In Europe, many students are taught about six continents, where North and South America is combined to form a single America. Thus, these six continents are Africa, America, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, and Europe.

Many geographers and scientists now refer to six continents, where Europe and Asia are combined (since they're one solid landmass). Thus, these six continents are Africa, Antarctica, Australia, Eurasia, North America, and South America.

The National Geographic Society recognizes seven continents

[jajdude]

But what about islands not included? They are non-continental?

[Gopher]

[deleted]

[schwa]

On a side note, how many oceans are there? 4? 5?
What are the 7 seas?