Continents and oceans

In short: The Earth has seven continents (Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, Australia/Oceania) and five oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Southern and Arctic). About 71 percent of the surface is covered by water.

In more detail: Depending on the way of counting, five or six continents are also named. Europe and Asia form one contiguous land mass geographically (Eurasia).

In detail

• Largest continent: Asia with about 44 million km² and about 60 percent of the world population.
• Smallest continent: Australia/Oceania, about 8.5 million km² in area.
• Pacific: The largest and deepest ocean; the Mariana Trench reaches almost 11,000 m deep.
• Atlantic: Separates Europe and Africa from the Americas.
• Antarctica: Almost entirely covered by ice and uninhabited apart from research stations.
• Plate tectonics: The continents drift slowly (plattentektonik, laengen-und-breitengrade).