This article will consider the largest continent - Eurasia. He received this name due to the combination of two words - Europe and Asia, which personify two parts of the world: Europe and Asia, which are united as part of this continent, and the islands also belong to Eurasia.

The area of ​​Eurasia is 54.759 million km2, which is 36% of the entire land area. The area of ​​the Eurasian islands is 3.45 million km2. The population of Eurasia is also impressive, as it accounts for 70% of the total population on the entire planet. As of 2010, the population of the Eurasian continent was already more than 5 billion people.

The continent of Eurasia is the only continent of the planet Earth, which is washed by 4 oceans at once. The Pacific Ocean washes the mainland in the east, the Arctic Ocean washes the north, the Atlantic Ocean washes the mainland in the west and the Indian Ocean in the south.

The dimensions of Eurasia are quite impressive. The length of Eurasia when viewed from west to east is 18,000 kilometers and 8,000 kilometers when viewed from north to south.

Eurasia has all the climatic zones, natural zones and climatic zones that exist on the planet.

The extreme points of Eurasia, which are located on the mainland:

There are four extreme continental points that Eurasia has:

1) In the north of the mainland, Cape Chelyuskin (77 ° 43′ N), which is located on the territory of the country of Russia, is considered the extreme point.

2) In the south of the mainland, Cape Piai (1°16′ N), which is located in the country of Malaysia, is considered the extreme point.

3) In the west of the mainland, the extreme point is Cape Roca (9º31′ W), which is located in the country of Portugal.

4) And finally, in the east of Eurasia, the extreme point is Cape Dezhnev (169°42′ W), which also belongs to the country of Russia.

The structure of the mainland Eurasia

The structure of the continent of Eurasia differs from all other continents. First of all, the fact that the mainland consists of several plates and platforms, as well as the fact that the continent in its formation is considered the youngest of all the others.

The northern part of Eurasia consists of the Siberian Platform, the East European Platform, and the West Siberian Plate. To the east, Eurasia consists of two plates: it includes the South China platform and also includes the Sino-Korean platform. In the west, the mainland includes plates of Paleozoic platforms and Hercynian folding. The southern part of the mainland consists of the Arabian and Indian platforms, the Iranian plate and part of the Alpine and Mesozoic folding. The central part of Eurasia consists of the Aleozoic folding and the Paleozoic platform plate.

Eurasian platforms that are located on the territory of Russia

The continent of Eurasia has many large cracks and faults, which are located on Lake Baikal, in Siberia, in Tibet and other regions.

Relief of Eurasia

Due to its size, Eurasia as a continent has the most diverse relief on the planet. The mainland itself is considered the highest mainland on the planet. Above herself high point mainland Eurasia is only the mainland Antarctica, but it is higher only due to the thickness of the ice covering the earth. The landmass of Antarctica itself does not exceed Eurasia in height. It is in Eurasia that the largest plains in terms of their area and the highest and most extensive mountain systems are located. Also on the territory of Eurasia there are the Himalayas, which are the highest mountains on planet Earth. Accordingly, the highest mountain in the world is located on the territory of Eurasia - this is Chomolungma (Everest - height 8,848 m).

Today, the relief of Eurasia is determined by intense tectonic movements. Many regions on the territory of the Eurasian continent are characterized by high seismic activity. There are also active volcanoes in Eurasia, which include volcanoes in Iceland, Kamchatka, the Mediterranean and others.

Climate of Eurasia

The continent of Eurasia is the only continent on which all climatic zones and climatic zones are present. In the north of the mainland there are arctic and subarctic belts. The climate here is very cold and harsh. To the south begins a wide strip of the temperate zone. Due to the fact that the length of the mainland from west to east is very huge, the following zones are distinguished in the temperate zone: maritime climate in the west, then temperate continental, continental and monsoon climate.

South of the temperate zone is the subtropical zone, which is also divided into three zones from the west: Mediterranean climate, continental and monsoon climate. The very south of the mainland is occupied by the tropical and subequatorial belts. The equatorial belt is located on the islands of Eurasia.

Inland waters on mainland Eurasia

The continent of Eurasia differs not only in the amount of water space that washes it from all sides, but also in the size of inland water resources. This continent is the richest in terms of ground and surface water. It is on the mainland of Eurasia that the largest rivers of the planet are located, which flow into all the oceans washing the continent. These rivers include the Yangtze, Ob, Huang He, Mekong, Amur. It is on the territory of Eurasia that the largest and deepest reservoirs are located. These include the largest lake in the world - the Caspian Sea, the deepest lake in the world - Baikal. Underground water resources distributed on the mainland rather unevenly.

As of 2018, there are 92 independent states on the territory of Eurasia that are fully functioning. The largest country in the world - Russia is also located on Eurasia. By clicking on the link you can see full list countries by area and population. Accordingly, Eurasia is richest in the nationality of the people living on it.

Fauna and flora on the Eurasian continent

Since all natural zones are present on the Eurasian continent, the diversity of flora and fauna is simply enormous. The mainland is inhabited by a variety of birds, mammals, reptiles, insects and other representatives of the animal world. The most famous representatives of the animal world in Eurasia are the brown bear, fox, wolf, hares, deer, elk, squirrels. The list goes on and on as a wide variety of animals can be found on the mainland. Also birds, fish, which have adapted to both low temperatures and arid climates.

Mainland Eurasia video:

Due to the size and location of the mainland, the flora is also very diverse. On the mainland there are deciduous, coniferous and mixed forests. There are tundra, taiga, semi-deserts and deserts. The most famous representatives of trees are birch, oak, ash, poplar, chestnut, linden and many others. Also a variety of species of herbs and shrubs. The poorest region on the mainland in terms of flora and fauna is the far north, where only mosses and lichens can be found. But the more you go south, the more diverse and rich flora and fauna on the mainland.

If you liked this material, share it with your friends in in social networks. Thank you!

Eurasia is rightfully recognized as a continent that can be included in the top "most-most". It is the largest in area, there is the highest mountain peak, in addition, the mainland is inhabited by a third of the world's population. Eurasia is rich in its history, and its earthly surface accommodates a large number of countries and nationalities. In other words, the most interesting continent, about which we will tell the most informative facts and details.

About Eurasia, we can say with accuracy that almost everything is here. Everything that was not in this territory was eventually brought and propagated. The fact is that Eurasia is located in absolutely all climatic zones, there are all types of climate here, from warm equatorial to harsh and cold Arctic, which is mostly concentrated in the north of the continent. There is also a wide variety of flora and fauna.

The main continental part of Eurasia lies in the northern hemisphere, and in the southern part of the Earth there are island land areas. Since this continent is the largest, it also has the largest number of irregularities: mountains, depressions, indented coastline. This is especially true in the southeast. It would seem that Eurasia is connected to the African continent. In fact, this is not so, they are separated by the Suez Canal. Therefore, Eurasia is a separate continent. The territory of Eurasia is amazing, it is filled with lakes, seas, rivers, while the entire continent is washed by all 4 oceans.

Description of the climate of Eurasia according to the plan Grade 7

Due to the fact that the territory of Eurasia extends immediately in all climatic zones, the climate here will be the most diverse. The mainland is different in that it is not crossed by the equator (only the island part), while the following climatic zones are assigned to it:

Most of the mainland is in the temperate climate zone. A temperate continental climate prevails here with an average temperature in July of + 25 Cº, in winter, in January, the thermometer can drop to -19 Cº. In some regions located in the Far North, the temperature can reach -63 Cº.

The temperature on the continent varies from north to south. The northern tip of Eurasia is mostly located in the arctic and subarctic climatic zone. Basically, the climate of the mainland corresponds to the conventionally designated zoning, but in the mountains the situation is changing. The climate is also changing in the south and southeast of Asia, the coming monsoons from the Indian Ocean change the weather, resulting in a large amount of precipitation.

In general, 4 types of air currents hang over the territory of Eurasia. At the same time, the mountain height serves as a kind of boundary between the flows of cold or warm masses, dry or wet. Arctic masses form over the arctic and subarctic belts, moderate masses form over most of Eurasia in the temperate zone, and, accordingly, tropical and equatorial masses.

If we compare the boundaries of the relief and the climatic zone, then we can say that in the northern part of the Himalayan mountains, the amount of precipitation reaches a level of 80-100 mm, while in the east of the Himalayas it is 10,000 mm and higher. The picture is the same with the Alps, they bring warm winters to the countries along the Mediterranean Sea, and leave cold streams for Central Europe, where winters are colder.

Description of the population of Eurasia

Europe is very heterogeneous in its composition. It is filled with both the largest powers: Russia, China, India, and very tiny states, which in size occupy an area no larger than an average city, for example, the Vatican or Andorra. But, despite all this, Europe with an area of ​​10.18 million km2 accommodates about 741 million people on its territory. Conventionally, Eurasia is divided into 2 parts Europe and Asia, but it is Asia that stands out for its population density. Analysts in many countries of the world have revealed that the European birth rate has decreased several times, while the Asian one is growing every year.

Representatives of three races are expressed in Eurasia - Caucasoid, Mongoloid, Ethiopian. The southeast of the continent is considered the most densely populated. If the average population density in Eurasia is 93-94 people (per 1 sq. km), in China (160 people / 1 sq. km) the density is increased by almost 2 times, in Indonesia by 1.5 times (125 people / 1 sq. km). 1 sq. km).

According to the nationalities on the continent, a Slavic group is distinguished (Russians, Moravians, Slovaks, Ukrainians, Czechs, Belarusians, Croats), a Germanic group (Germans, Swedes, Norwegians, English), Chinese (peoples of East Asia), Arabic, Indo-Iranian, Sino-Tibetan, it also includes the peoples of Japan and Korea.

Description of northern Eurasia

Northern Eurasia is spread out on the shores of the cold Arctic Ocean. Three climatic zones are concentrated on this territory: arctic, subarctic and temperate. The Arctic is the most severe and brings cold air masses, as a result, this influence cannot be ignored. The temperature throughout the year here does not rise above 0 Cº, winter drags on for almost 12 months. The average temperature is -40 Cº.

In the subarctic zone, the picture is much more rosy. There is a short summer here, almost without precipitation, but with abundant winds and a temperature of +12 Cº. The rest of the year is occupied by winters, with little precipitation. Another part of northern Eurasia captures the temperate zone, where all 4 seasons appear with a mild temperature transition and precipitation. The warmest winters here occur in the western European part, this is due to the flow of the Atlantic masses.

The diversity of nature begins in the tundra and taiga. The habitat of animals, just like the distribution of vegetation, depends on the person and the specifics of the climate. For example, deer, arctic foxes, foxes, white hares, tundra partridges are common in the tundra. Moving further to the Arctic, only polar bears, seals, fur seals, some birds, most of which are nomadic, are encountered.

Northern Eurasia with a temperate climate accommodates a more diverse flora and fauna. The temperature is conducive to the habitation of wolves, wolverines, foxes, saigas, hares, deer, bears (brown), elks and some other animals that are also found in the middle lane. Birds include hazel grouse, black grouse, woodpeckers, swallows, falcons, etc.

Northern Eurasia is considered the most sparsely populated after the northeast. Mostly in these areas they are engaged in fishing, forestry and mining. The north of the continent is filled with oil, gas, various ore deposits, gold and diamond reserves. A lot of oil and gas processing enterprises, metal and stone processing enterprises are concentrated in the northern territory.

Description of the Eurasian River

Eurasia is more than other continents filled with the waters of rivers, lakes and even seas. The longest river on the continent, the Yangtze, flows through its territory. And the most full-flowing is the Ganges, if you look down the map, we will see that it connects with the Brahmaputra - the most little-studied river. Nevertheless, it is an important artery of Asia. The rivers Indus, Ayeyarwaddy, Mekong, Solween are located nearby, literally parallel to each other, they carry their waters into the oceans. With them, the Amur, the Huang He, the Tigris, and the Euphrates rush to the large harbor.

Many rivers are concentrated in Northern Eurasia on the territory of Russia, flowing into the Arctic Ocean: Yenisei, Kolyma, Indigirka, Yana, Olenyok, Khatanga, Ob. There are other small rivers flowing into large waters, but the greatest rivers of Russia are: the Lena - as the longest river, the Yenisei - is famous for its full flow, the Ob - forms many small rivers and eventually ends with the widest and most overflowing outlet to the ocean, the Ural is a river , which serves as a separator between the European and Asian parts of Eurasia.

There are many other rivers in Eurasia, which can also be noted by their full flow, length, sinuosity, for example, the Dnieper, Seine, Rhine, Danube. The Volga is considered the longest river in modern Europe, and the Oder crosses the Central European Plain. Rivers with internal flows are also important, most of them are used for irrigation, and some are even on the verge of extinction.

Description of the relief of Eurasia

Scientists have established that Eurasia was formed as a result of the convergence of several lithospheric platforms. As a result of the connection of the Russian, Siberian, Chinese, Arabian and Indian plates, a folded continent was formed. In places of its convergence, mountains, volcanoes and hills were formed. However, the lithospheric movement was accompanied not only by the protrusion of the subsoil to the surface, but during seismic activity, faults were formed. Currently, these are depressions, rivers, seas, lakes and detached islands.

Eurasia is a rather high continent, its average height is 835-840 m above sea level. At the same time, the highest mountain range, the Himalayan Range, is concentrated on it, which makes the core of the mainland even higher. There are many other mountain elevations here, as a rule, between the mountains there is a highland or plateau. The most famous Central Siberian, Dean, Iranian, plateau. Among the large-scale plains are East European, Central European, West Siberian.

Distributed in Eurasia and deserts, one of the largest is the Rub al-Khali desert. It covers several countries with sand (Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates). The deserts of the Karakum and Kyzyl Kum are located in Central Asia. The Gobi and Takla Makan deserts lie between the Tien Shan and Tibetan mountains. There is also a Kazakh upland not far from Balkhash, it is an ancient mountain destruction. Once there were mountains, now only small elevations remain of them - the Kokchetav Upland, the Karkaraly Mountains.

The western side is notable for its homogeneity, but even here there are irregularities - the Alpine mountains that cross several countries, the volcanoes of Italy, the Turkish mountains. By the way, volcanoes are also found in Japan, on the island of Sumatra, in Southeast Asia. Some of them are extinct, not showing themselves for several decades.

Deserts of Eurasia description

Surprisingly, all the deserts of Eurasia are concentrated in the Asian part of the mainland. It turns out that it was there that unfavorable conditions for all living things prevailed, resulting in sandy and rocky dunes.

Arabian deserts

The Arabian deserts smoothly flow from one large desert to a smaller one and eventually form as many as 5 deserts:

• Rub al Khali - consists of sand lying on top of gypsum / gravel deposits, the hottest and driest desert of Eurasia;
• Big Nefud- a desert with red sand and strong winds. Known for the fact that in some of its parts there is still life-giving moisture. In these same places, certain crops are grown in the form of vegetables and fruits;

• Dehnu- sandy-stony desert, which lies in a mountain hollow;
• Nefud-Dakhi- central desert. The sand dunes are inhabited by some Bedouin tribes;
• Al Hasa- a desert filled with sand and only one oasis of Ratif.

Mongolian deserts

The world-famous Gobi desert is located in the mountains of Mongolia. It is divided into several parts and is the separator between northern and southern Asia. Conventionally, the daughter deserts were named due to the adjacent territories. For example, a part of the desert adjacent to the Altai Mountains was called the Trans-Altai, a part near Mongolia was called the Mongolian Gobi. In addition to these, the five deserts include the Alashan Gobi, the Gashun Gobi and the Dzungarian Gobi.

The rest of the deserts of Eurasia are located along different parts mainland one by one. They have no nearby counterparts, but have their own history and differentiated composition:

• Karakum and Kyzylkum Both deserts are in Turkmenistan. Only Kyzylkum goes to the territories of neighboring Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan;
• Takla Makan, Tsaidam, Ordos the deserts of China. They differ in their composition: Takla-Makan - sandy; Tsaidam - saline-sandy; Ordos - sandy-clayey;
• Tar, Thal- sandy deserts originating in India. Tar simultaneously captures the territory of Pakistan;

• Syrian desert - is called the Greater Desert. Consists of sand and stones and stretches for more than 1 million km. It lies on the territory of Syria, Jordan and Iraq;
• Dashti-Margo- located in Afghanistan, translated as the valley of death. It lies in the river valley, among its sandy section there are clay and stony rocks;
• Badgers Large and small - are located on the territory of Kazakhstan in the northern part of the Aral Sea;
• Judaean Desert - the most mythical and popular among pilgrims. Located in Israel, west of the Dead Sea. Many researchers believe that reservoirs lie under this desert, which let hundreds of millions of cubic meters of water pass through them.

Description of the natural zone of Eurasia taiga

The taiga is located on the border with the tundra and is not distinguished by the abundance of flora and fauna. Its nature is devoid of biological diversity; in conditions of severe cold and high humidity, only certain plants adapted to acidic soils can survive. Pine, cedar, alder, birch, larch and some types of poplars are common in the taiga. Boreal forests are quite dense, their peculiarity lies in the fact that in most trees the seeds ripen in cones, hiding from the cold and excessive moisture.

Taiga forests can be called impenetrable. On the one hand, the difficulty lies in dense and high forests, on the other hand, in swamps. The taiga area is simply overflowing with water, small rivers, swamps and swamps literally ooze from it. However, animals and insects have long adapted to low temperatures and moisture.

Wolves, lynxes, foxes, tigers, bears, desmans, sables, ermines, chipmunks are found in the taiga, and the largest taiga animal is the elk. It feeds on the "lower" green layer of vegetation - mosses and lichens, which are more than enough here due to the specific environment.

Brief description of the nature of Eurasia

In general, the vegetation of Eurasia is the richest on the planet, there are all types of forests: deciduous, broad-leaved, eucalyptus, etc. There is practically no piece of land on the continent that is not covered with greenery, with the exception of deserts. And then, sometimes there are thorns, feather grass. Starting from the lower grass layer, the soil is covered with a layer of grass or mosses, then low-growing plants or shrubs grow, and multi-tiered tree species grow higher. This order of growth is established in the subtropical, tropical, subequatorial and temperate climatic zones.

The seas, rivers and lakes of Eurasia are filled with fish, waterfowl, among which there are commercial species. Among them are chum salmon, sturgeon, beluga, kaluga, coho salmon, trout, salmon, flounder, etc. As for the animal world, the tiger is considered the most dangerous Eurasian representative. Behind him are several varieties of bears, wolverines, lynxes. Fields and forests are inhabited by many species of rodents, and many birds also live on the territory of Eurasia.
The Central European part and southern Eurasia are the most favorable for the cultivation of agricultural crops, the south of Asia is famous for the market of fruits and spices. In other words, regardless of climatic conditions, animals and plants have learned to adapt to their environment.

Description of the subtropical belt of Eurasia

The subtropical belt of Eurasia is very specific in its content. This is explained by the fact that the belt is lined with different areas: mountains are replaced by plains, lowlands go into the seas. The climate of the subtropics is very diverse because of this. However, there are two typical seasons - winter and summer. From the west, the mainland is affected by the Atlantic cyclone, and from the south by African warm air currents. Because of this, the Mediterranean has hot and dry summers and rainy warm winters.

The middle continental part is characterized by aridity and a cold winter period. The warm Indian monsoon blows from the south in summer, the islands and land are in excess of precipitation (more than 3000 mm). In winter, the climate changes, the influence is exerted by the eastern part of the subtropical belt. From there come the monsoons, which flood the continent with rain and cold winds.

Description of the temperate climatic zone of Eurasia

In Eurasia, the temperate climatic zone is considered the widest and longest. It stretches immediately between the 40th and 65th parallels. Here the distinction between all seasons is expressed. In summer there is a high sun, the air temperature is always positive, in autumn and winter the thermometer drops lower than in summer, and in winter in all regions of the temperate zone it snows and the temperature drops below 0 degrees.

The relief of the continent in the temperate zone is mixed, so there is a variation in temperatures in the same season. For example, Atlantic air masses bring warm temperatures from the west, resulting in warmer winters in Europe than in central and eastern Eurasia.

Description of the tropical belt of Eurasia

The tropical belt captures a small part of Eurasia. For this, it is considered unique on the mainland. This territory includes the Arabian Peninsula and the adjacent countries of Mesopotamia. The tropics are warm all year round. Continental-tropical air currents move above them.

The wet streams of the Indian Ocean cannot reach this part of the continent because of the mountains bordering the Arabian Peninsula, so here are the largest deserts on Earth, where heat and drought reign all year round. Most of the year it is dominated by summer with temperatures above 35º C (July). During the summer period, temperatures around 60º C were recorded in Riyadh. Precipitation in these places is very rare. Tropical winter takes place with average temperatures of 12-16º C in January.

Lakes of Eurasia

Most of the lakes of Eurasia are recognized as exceptional. Some of them amaze with their transparency, inconsistency, others have an unusual history of formation, others feed on glacial waters, and some even turned from seas into lakes. Yes, yes, unfortunately this happens, due to drought and pernicious influence humanity. Such a story happened with the salty Aral Lake, for a long time it was used for irrigation, as a result, the southern part of the former sea almost dried up.

The nearby Caspian Sea is also now classified as a lake. Its water level is constantly fluctuating, the maximum depth is 1025 m.
On the territory of Europe, the country of Estonia has the largest number of lakes (Chudskoye, Alesti, Kaali, Verevi, etc.). Who would have thought that in such a small country there are so many lakes. Germany and Norway are next in terms of the number of water attractions. After them Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Iceland. The most remarkable lake in Europe is Lake Como, in addition to being very deep, many world celebrities settled along it, including Madonna, Ronaldinho and others. Lake Venern (5.65 thousand km) is recognized as the freshest, and its area is the third after Lake Ladoga (17.8 thousand km) and Lake Onega (9.7 thousand km).

Central Eurasia is filled with no less number of lakes than European. Lake Onega, Ladoga, Urmia, the system of lakes Seleger, Karelia are located here. Eastern Eurasia is filled with lakes Balkhash, Issyk-Kul, Duntin, Taimyr, Khanka. But the most unsurpassed lake is Baikal. This is the deepest freshwater lake on the planet (1642 m), located in the rift basin. The beautiful waters of Lake Baikal contain many aquatic inhabitants, among which there is an unusual golomyanka fish that does not have scales, but consists of fat by a third. For remarkable processes, outstanding phenomena, beauty and significance, the lake has been on the UNESCO heritage list since December 1996.

Mountains of Eurasia

The mountains of Eurasia surpass all the elevations of the planet. Here is the highest peak of the Earth - Chomolungma. Every year it gets higher. The Ural mountain range divides the mainland into two parts: Europe and Asia. The Alps are considered the highest mountain range in the European part, followed by the Carpathians, which also cover several countries.

On the territory of the largest country on the mainland of Russia, there are many mountain ranges: the Caucasus, Altai, the mountains of South Siberia, Northeast Siberia: Stanovoye highland, Verkhoyansky ridge, Stanovoy ridge. In Kamchatka, there are also hills - a chain of Klyuchevskaya volcanoes, one of the main elevated among the hills is the volcano Klyuchevskaya Sopka.

The Asian part is literally raised by mountain ranges. From the south it is framed by Sahyadri,
Yunnan-Guizhou Highlands) from the east, Eurasia is closed by the Sikhote-Alin mountains. Here is Tibet, Tien Shan. In the southeast of the continent, the Central Iranian chain of mountains, the Iranian Highlands, and the Kuhrud ridge are located. The northwest is closed by the Scandinavian mountains.

Animals of Eurasia

The territory of Eurasia is diverse in its relief, respectively, there is a wide variety of flora and fauna. The most populated are areas with a normal, affordable climate. Extreme climatic zones, similar to the Arctic and subarctic climatic zones, are devoid of animal diversity.

Animal world the tundra is poor, deer, arctic foxes, wolves, hares, foxes, polar bears and some species of birds live here. In the taiga zone, the list of animals becomes wider, there are already moose, brown bears, lemings, ermines, sables, weasels, otters, rascomakhs, tigers, and small rodents. Among the birds in the taiga there are capercaillie, nutcrackers, Trans-Siberian owls, smurfs, woodpeckers. Also, a large number of insects live here, which literally live in clouds on every meter of wet terrain.

In the temperate zone, the number of inhabitants of the animal world becomes more meaningful (cows, bulls, sheep, rams, goats, wild boars, etc.). The inhabitants of the south and south-east of Asia are interesting. The largest land-based proboscis mammals live here - elephants, bantengs, binturongs, gaurs, camels, big cats, rhinos, chamois, tapirs, exotic birds and, of course, the most charming koalas and pandas. The latter, by the way, are listed in the Red Book. Also in Asia there are a large number of monkeys, amphibians: frogs, newts, reptiles: crocodiles, turtles, snakes and insects.

The desert zone also did not remain without its inhabitants: lizards, ground frogs, mice, chuckwells, snakes, foxes, ground squirrels, camels, gazelles, and some species of birds. Even in the Namib desert, there are insect beetles that accumulate moisture on their skin at the time of fog, they feed on life-giving drops during the heat. The most dangerous arachnids on the planet, Transvaal scorpions, also live here.

Unusual plants of Eurasia

• The leader is radiant;

• Tacca Chantrier;

• Flower kadupul;

• Flycatcher flower;

• Catalpa;

• Mongolia.

Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth, with an area of ​​53.893 million km², which is 36% of the land area. The population is more than 4.947 billion (2010), which is about 3/4 of the population of the entire planet.

Origin of the name of the continent

Initially, various names were given to the largest continent in the world. Alexander Humboldt used the name "Asia" for all of Eurasia. Carl Gustav Reuschle used the term "Doppelerdtheil Asien-Europa" in 1858 in his Handbuch der Geographie. The term "Eurasia" was first used by the geologist Eduard Suess in the 1880s.

Geographic location of the mainland

The continent is located in the Northern Hemisphere between approximately 9° W. and 169° W. while some of the Eurasian islands are located in the Southern Hemisphere. Most of continental Eurasia lies in the Eastern Hemisphere, although the extreme western and eastern ends of the mainland are in the Western Hemisphere.

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, east coast the Black Sea, the southern coast of the Black Sea, the Bosphorus, the Sea of ​​Marmara, the Dardanelles, the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas, the Strait of Gibraltar. This division has developed historically. Naturally, there is no sharp boundary between Europe and Asia. The continent is united by the continuity of land, the current tectonic consolidation and the unity of numerous climatic processes.

Eurasia stretches from west to east for 16 thousand km, from north to south - for 8 thousand km, with an area of ​​≈ 54 million km². This is more than a third of the total land area of ​​the planet. The area of ​​the Eurasian islands is approaching 2.75 million km².

Extreme points of Eurasia

mainland points

• Cape Chelyuskin (Russia), 77°43′ N sh. - extreme northern mainland point.
• Cape Piai (Malaysia) 1°16′ N sh. - extreme southern mainland point.
• Cape Roca (Portugal), 9º31′ W d. - the extreme western mainland point.
• Cape Dezhnev (Russia), 169°42′ W d. - extreme eastern mainland point.

island points

• Cape Fligeli (Russia), 81°52′ N sh. - extreme northern island point (However, according to topographic map Rudolf Island, the coast stretching in the latitudinal direction to the west of Cape Fligely lies several hundred meters north of the cape at coordinates 81°51′28.8″ N. sh. 58°52′00″ E (G)(O)).
• South Island (Cocos Islands) 12°4′ S sh. - the southernmost point of the island.
• Monchique Rock (Azores) 31º16′ W d. - the extreme western island point.
• Ratmanov Island (Russia) 169°0′ W d. - the extreme eastern island point.

Largest peninsulas

• Arabian Peninsula
• Peninsula Asia Minor
• Balkan Peninsula
• peninsula
• The Iberian Peninsula
• Scandinavian Peninsula
• Taimyr Peninsula
• Chukotka Peninsula
• Peninsula Kamchatka
• Peninsula Indochina
• Hindustan Peninsula
• Peninsula Malacca
• Yamal Peninsula
• Kola Peninsula
• Peninsula Korea

Geological characteristics of the continent

Geological structure of Eurasia

The geological structure of Eurasia is qualitatively different from the structures of other continents. Eurasia is composed of several platforms and plates. The continent was formed in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic eras and is the youngest geologically. This distinguishes it from other continents, which are the heights of ancient platforms formed billions of years ago.

The northern part of Eurasia is a series of plates and platforms formed during the Archean, Proterozoic and Paleozoic periods: the East European platform with the Baltic and Ukrainian shields, the Siberian platform with the Aldan shield, the West Siberian plate. The eastern part of the mainland includes two platforms (Sino-Korean and South China), some plates and areas of Mesozoic and Alpine folding. The southeastern part of the mainland is an area of ​​Mesozoic and Cenozoic folding. The southern regions of the mainland are represented by the Indian and Arabian platforms, the Iranian plate, as well as areas of Alpine and Mesozoic folding, which also prevail in southern Europe. Territory Western Europe include zones of predominantly Hercynian folding and slabs of Paleozoic platforms. The central regions of the continent include zones of Paleozoic folding and plates of the Paleozoic platform.

In Eurasia, there are many large faults and cracks that are found in Siberia (Western and Lake Baikal), Tibet and some other areas.

Story

The period of formation of the mainland covers a huge period of time and continues today. The beginning of the process of formation of ancient platforms that make up the continent of Eurasia occurred in the Precambrian era. Then three ancient platforms were formed: Chinese, Siberian and East European, separated by ancient seas and oceans. At the end of the Proterozoic and in the Paleozoic, the processes of closing the oceans separating the land masses took place. At this time, the process of land growth around these and other platforms and their grouping took place, which ultimately led to the formation of the Pangea supercontinent by the beginning of the Mesozoic era.

In the Proterozoic, the process of formation of the ancient platforms of Siberian, Chinese and East European Eurasia took place. At the end of the era, the land area south of the Siberian Platform increased. In the Silurian, extensive mountain building occurred as a result of the connection of the European and North American platforms, which formed the large North Atlantic continent. In the east, the Siberian platform and a number of mountain systems united, forming a new mainland - Angara. At this time, the process of formation of ore deposits took place.

A new tectonic cycle began in the Carboniferous period. Intensive movements led to the formation of mountainous areas that connected Siberia and Europe. Similar mountainous regions were formed in the southern regions of modern Eurasia. Before the beginning of the Triassic period, all the ancient platforms were grouped and formed the mainland Pangea. This cycle was long and divided into phases. In the initial phase, mountain building took place in the southern territories of present-day Western Europe and in the regions of Central Asia. In the Permian period, new major mountain-building processes took place, in parallel with the general uplift of the land. As a result, by the end of the period, the Eurasian part of Pangea was a region with large folding. At this time, the process of destruction of old mountains and the formation of powerful sedimentary deposits took place. In the Triassic period, geological activity was weak, but in this period the Tethys Ocean gradually opened in the east of Pangea, later in the Jurassic dividing Pangea into two parts, Laurasia and Gondwana. In the Jurassic period, the process of orogeny begins, the peak of which, however, fell on the Cenozoic era.

The next stage in the formation of the continent began in the Cretaceous, when the Atlantic Ocean began to open. Finally, the Laurasia continent was divided in the Cenozoic.

At the beginning of the Cenozoic era, northern Eurasia was a huge land mass, which was composed of ancient platforms, interconnected by regions of the Baikal, Hercynian and Caledonian folding. In the east and southeast, this massif was joined by areas of Mesozoic folding. In the west, Eurasia was already separated from North America by the narrow Atlantic Ocean. From the south, this huge massif was propped up by the shrinking Tethys Ocean. In the Cenozoic, there was a reduction in the area of ​​the Tethys Ocean and intense mountain building in the south of the continent. By the end of the Tertiary period, the continent took on its modern shape.

Physical characteristics of the mainland

Relief of Eurasia

The relief of Eurasia is extremely diverse, it contains some of the largest plains and mountain systems in the world, the East European Plain, the West Siberian Plain, and the Tibetan Plateau. Eurasia is the highest continent on Earth, its average height is about 830 meters (the average height of Antarctica is higher due to the ice sheet, but if we consider the height of the bedrock as its height, then the continent will be the lowest). In Eurasia there are the highest mountains on Earth - the Himalayas (ind. Abode of snows), and the Eurasian mountain systems of the Himalayas, Tibet, Hindu Kush, Pamir, Tien Shan, etc. form the largest mountainous region on Earth.

The modern relief of the continent is due to intense tectonic movements during the Neogene and Anthropogenic periods. The East Asian and Alpine-Himalayan geosynclinal belts are characterized by the highest mobility. Powerful neotectonic movements are also characteristic of a wide band of structures of different ages from Gissar-Alay to Chukotka. High seismicity is inherent in many regions of Central, Central and East Asia, the Malay Archipelago. The active volcanoes of Eurasia are located in Kamchatka, the islands of East and Southeast Asia, in Iceland and in the Mediterranean.

The average height of the continent is 830 m, mountains and plateaus occupy about 65% of its territory.

The main mountain systems of Eurasia:

• Himalayas
• Alps
• Hindu Kush
• Karakoram
• Tien Shan
• Kunlun
• Altai
• Mountains of Southern Siberia
• Mountains of North-Eastern Siberia
• Western Asian highlands
• Pamir-Alai
• Tibetan Plateau
• Sayano-Tuva Highlands
• Deccan Plateau
• Central Siberian Plateau
• Carpathians
• Ural mountains

Major plains and lowlands of Eurasia

• the East European Plain
• West Siberian Plain
• Turan lowland
• Great Plain of China
• Indo-Gangetic Plain

The relief of the northern and a number of mountainous regions of the continent was affected by ancient glaciation. Modern glaciers have been preserved on the islands of the Arctic, in Iceland and in the highlands. About 11 million km² (mainly in Siberia) is occupied by permafrost.

Mainland geographic records

In Eurasia there is the highest mountain of the Earth - Chomolungma (Everest), the largest lake - the Caspian Sea and the deepest - Baikal, the largest mountain system by area - Tibet, the largest peninsula - Arabian, the largest geographical area - Siberia, the lowest point sushi - Depression of the Dead Sea. The cold pole of the northern hemisphere, Oymyakon, is also located on the continent. Eurasia also contains the largest natural region of the Earth - Siberia.

Historical and geographical zoning

Eurasia is the birthplace of the most ancient civilizations of the Sumerian and Chinese, and the place where almost all the ancient civilizations of the Earth were formed. Eurasia is conditionally divided into two parts of the world - Europe and Asia. The latter, due to its size, is divided into smaller regions - Siberia, the Far East, the Amur Region, Primorye, Manchuria, China, India, Tibet, Uyguria (East Turkestan, now Xinjiang as part of the PRC), middle Asia, Middle East, Caucasus, Persia, Indochina, Arabia and some others. Other, less well-known regions of Eurasia - Tarkhtaria (Tartaria), Hyperborea are almost forgotten today and are not recognized.

The climate of the mainland Eurasia

All climatic zones and climatic zones are represented in Eurasia. In the north, the polar and subpolar climatic zones prevail, then the temperate zone crosses Eurasia with a wide strip, followed by the subtropical zone. The tropical belt on the territory of Eurasia is interrupted, stretching across the continent from the Mediterranean and Red Seas to India. The subequatorial belt protrudes to the north, covering India and Indochina, as well as the extreme south of China, while the equatorial belt covers mainly the islands of southeast Asia. The climatic zones of the maritime climate are located mainly in the west of the continent in Europe, as well as the islands. Monsoon climate zones prevail in the eastern and southern regions. With a deepening inland, the continentality of the climate grows, this is especially noticeable in the temperate zone when moving from west to east. The most continental climate zones are found in Eastern Siberia (see Sharply continental climate).

nature on the continent

natural areas

All natural zones are represented in Eurasia. This is due to the large size of the mainland and the length from north to south.

The northern islands and high mountains are partly covered by glaciers. The zone of polar deserts extends mainly along the northern coast and a significant part of the Taimyr Peninsula. Next comes a wide belt of tundra and forest-tundra, occupying the most extensive areas in Eastern Siberia (Yakutia) and the Far East.

Almost all of Siberia, a significant part of the Far East and Europe (northern and northeastern), is covered with coniferous forest - taiga. On South Western Siberia and on the Russian Plain (central and western parts), as well as mixed forests in Scandinavia and Scotland. There are areas of such forests in the Far East: in Manchuria, Primorye, Northern China, Korea and the Japanese Islands. Deciduous forests predominate mainly in the west of the mainland in Europe. Small patches of these forests are found in eastern Asia (China). In the southeast of Eurasia, there are massifs of moist equatorial forests.

The central and southwestern regions are predominantly occupied by semi-deserts and deserts. In Hindustan and Southeast Asia, there are areas of light forests and variable-humid and monsoon forests. Subtropical and tropical forests of the monsoon type also prevail in eastern China, and their temperate counterparts in Manchuria, the Amur Region and Primorye. In the south of the western part of the continent (mainly the Mediterranean and on the Black Sea coast) there are zones of hard-leaved evergreen forests and shrubs (forests of the Mediterranean type). Large areas are occupied by steppes and forest-steppes, occupying the southern part of the Russian Plain and the south of Western Siberia. Steppes and forest-steppes are also found in Transbaikalia, the Amur region, their vast areas are in Mongolia and northern and northeastern China and Manchuria.

In Eurasia, areas of altitudinal zonation are widespread.

Fauna, animal world

A large, northern, part of Eurasia belongs to the Holarctic zoogeographic region; the smaller, southern one, to the Indo-Malayan and Ethiopian regions. The Indo-Malayan region includes the Hindustan and Indochina peninsulas, together with the adjacent part of the mainland, the islands of Taiwan, the Philippine and Sunda, South Arabia, along with most of Africa, is included in the Ethiopian region. Some southeastern islands of the Malay Archipelago are classified by most zoogeographers as part of the Australian zoogeographic region. This division reflects the features of the development of the Eurasian fauna in the process of change natural conditions during the end of the Mesozoic and the entire Cenozoic, as well as connections with other continents. To characterize modern natural conditions, the ancient extinct fauna known only in the fossil state, the fauna that disappeared in historical time as a result of human activity, and modern fauna are of interest.

At the end of the Mesozoic, a diverse fauna formed on the territory of Eurasia, consisting of monotremes and marsupials, snakes, turtles, etc. With the advent of placental mammals, especially predators, lower mammals retreated south to Africa and Australia. They were replaced by proboscis, camels, horses, rhinos, which inhabited most of Eurasia in the Cenozoic. The cooling of the climate at the end of the Cenozoic led to the extinction of many of them or retreat to the south. Proboscis, rhinos, etc. in the north of Eurasia are known only in a fossil state, and now they live only in South and Southeast Asia. Until recently, camels and wild horses were widespread in the interior arid parts of Eurasia.

The cooling of the climate led to the settlement of Eurasia by animals adapted to harsh climatic conditions (mammoth, aurochs, etc.). This northern fauna, the center of formation of which was in the area of ​​the Bering Sea and was common with North America, gradually pushed the heat-loving fauna to the south. Many of its representatives have died out, some have survived in the composition of the modern fauna of the tundra and taiga forests. The drying up of the climate of the interior regions of the mainland was accompanied by the spread of the steppe and desert fauna, which survived mainly in the steppes and deserts of Asia, and partially died out in Europe.

In the eastern part of Asia, where climatic conditions did not undergo significant changes during the Cenozoic, many pre-glacial animals found refuge. In addition, through East Asia there was an exchange of animals between the Holarctic and Indo-Malay regions. Within its limits, far to the north, such tropical forms as the tiger, the Japanese macaque, and others penetrate.

The distribution of modern wild fauna across the territory of Eurasia reflects both the history of its development and the features of natural conditions and the results of human activity.

On the northern islands and in the extreme north of the mainland, the composition of the fauna almost does not change from west to east. The fauna of the tundra and taiga forests has minor internal differences. The farther to the south, the differences in latitude within the Holarctic become more and more significant. The fauna of the extreme south of Eurasia is already so specific and so different from the tropical fauna of Africa and even Arabia that they are assigned to different zoogeographic regions.

The fauna of the tundra is especially monotonous throughout Eurasia (as well as North America).

The most common large mammal in the tundra is the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus). It is almost never found in Europe in the wild; this is the most common and valuable domestic animal in the north of Eurasia. The tundra is characterized by arctic fox, lemming and white hare.

Eurasian countries

The list below includes not only states located on the Eurasian continent, but also states located on islands classified as Europe or Asia (an example is Japan).

• Abkhazia
• Austria
• Albania
• Andorra
• Afghanistan
• Bangladesh
• Belarus
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• Brunei
• Butane
• Vatican
• Great Britain
• Hungary
• East Timor
• Vietnam
• Germany
• Greece
• Georgia
• Denmark
• Egypt (partially)
• Israel
• India
• Indonesia (partially)
• Jordan
• Ireland
• Iceland
• Spain
• Italy
• Yemen
• Kazakhstan
• Cambodia
• Qatar
• Kyrgyzstan
• Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Kuwait
• Latvia
• Lebanon
• Lithuania
• Liechtenstein
• Luxembourg Malaysia
• Maldives
• Malta
• Moldova
• Monaco
• Mongolia
• Myanmar
• Nepal
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Pakistan
• State
• Palestine
• Poland
• Portugal
• The Republic of Korea
• Republic
• Kosovo
• Macedonia
• Russia
• Romania
• San Marino
• Saudi Arabia
• Serbia
• Singapore
• Syria
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Tajikistan
• Thailand
• Turkmenistan
• Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
• Turkey
• Uzbekistan
• Ukraine
• Philippines
• Finland
• France
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• Czech
• Switzerland
• Sweden
• Sri Lanka
• Estonia
• South Ossetia
• Japan

(Visited 1 123 times, 1 visits today)

A continent is a large landmass surrounded by seas and oceans. In tectonics, continents are characterized as sections of the lithosphere with a continental structure.

Mainland, continent or part of the world? What is the difference?

In geography, another term is often used, denoting the mainland - the continent. But the concepts of "mainland" and "continent" are not synonymous. AT different countries various points of view on the number of continents, called continental models, have been adopted.

There are several such models:

• In China, India, as well as in the English-speaking countries of Europe, it is customary to consider that continents 7 - Europe and Asia, they consider separately;
• In Hispanics European countries, as well as in the countries of South America, they imply a division into 6 parts of the world - with a united America;
• in Greece and some countries of Eastern Europe, a model with 5 continents is adopted - only those where people live, i.e. except for Antarctica;
• in Russia and the countries of Eurasia adjacent to it, they traditionally designate 4 - continents united into large groups.

(The figure clearly shows different representations of 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. - the 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 - the Isthmus of Panama.

Continents

The difference is that the continents do not have a 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 a scientific meaning, but the term "part of the world" divides the land on a historical and cultural basis. There are 6 parts of the world, only unlike the continents, Eurasia differs by 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

Speaking of parts of the world, they mean the islands adjacent to them.

The difference between the mainland and the island

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

1. Size. Even the smallest continent, Australia, is much larger in area than the world's largest island, Greenland.

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

2. Education. All continents have a tiled origin. According to scientists, there was once 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 both by geological surveys and by the shape of the continents. Many of them can be put together like a puzzle.

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

3. Habitability. All continents are inhabited, even Antarctica, which is harsh in terms of climatic conditions. Many islands are still uninhabited.

Characteristics of the continents

- the largest continent, occupying 1/3 of the land. Two parts of the world are located here at once: Europe and Asia. The border between them runs along the line of the 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 the oceans. The coastline is indented, it forms a large number of bays, peninsulas, islands. The mainland itself is located immediately on six tectonic platforms, and therefore the relief of Eurasia is incredibly diverse.

Here are the most extensive plains, the highest mountains (the Himalayas with Mount 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.

¾ of the world's population lives on the mainland, 108 states are located here, of which 94 have the status of independent.

- the hottest continent on Earth. It is located on an ancient platform, so most of the area is occupied by plains, mountains are formed along the edges of the mainland. Africa is home to the longest river in the world, the Nile, and the largest desert, the Sahara. Climate types presented 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 of tectonic plates was a heavily indented coastline of the mainland, with a huge number of bays, straits, bays and islands. The largest island is in the north (Greenland).

The Cordillera Mountains stretch along the western coast, and the Appalachians along the eastern coast. The central part is occupied by a vast plain.

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

The indigenous people are Indians and Eskimos. Currently, 23 states are located here, of which only three (Canada, the United States and Mexico) are on the mainland itself, the rest are on the islands.

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

This is the rainiest continent, since most of it is located in the equator zone. Here is the largest and most abundant river in the world - the Amazon.

The indigenous people are the Indians. Currently, there are 12 independent states on the territory of the mainland.

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

Australia - unique mainland, which has the largest number of animals and plants - endemic. The indigenous people are Australian Aborigines, or Bushmen.

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

Most of the mainland is occupied by an icy desert, life is glimmering only on the coasts. Antarctica is also the coldest continent. In winter, temperatures can drop below -80 ºC (record -89.2 ºC), in summer - up to -20 ºC.

Eurasia- the largest of the Earth's continents, its area is $ 54 million km ^ 2 $, or just over a third of the entire land area on the planet.

The mainland is made up of two parts of the world: Europe and Asia. According to one version, the names of these parts of the world are given according to ancient Assyrian words meaning "west, sunset" and "east, sunrise."

There is also a version that the names of the continents are associated with Greek mythology. According to legend, Europe is the daughter of the Phoenician ruler Agenor. Zeus kidnapped her in the guise of a bull and took her to the island of Crete, where Europe set foot for the first time on this part of the world. Asia was the name given to the province between the Aegean and Caspian seas where the Scythian tribes of the Asians lived.

The border between Europe and Asia is historically conventionally drawn along the Ural mountain range (eastern slopes), the Emba River, the coast of the Caspian Sea (north-western), the Kuma River, the Kumo-Manych depression, the river. Manych, the Black Sea (eastern and southern coasts), the Bosphorus, the Sea of ​​Marmara, the Dardanelles, the Aegean, the Mediterranean and the Strait of Gibraltar. There is no sharp natural border between the parts of the world, and the land is continuous throughout the entire continent. The unity of the continent is also ensured by the consolidation of tectonic and climatic processes. The areas of Europe and Asia are related as $1:4$. Of the area of ​​the mainland, about $3 million km^2$ falls on the islands.

Ready-made works on a similar topic

• Coursework 460 rubles.
• abstract Mainland Eurasia. The geographical position of the mainland, the history of the study 240 rub.
• Test Mainland Eurasia. The geographical position of the mainland, the history of the study 190 rub.

Geographical position

The Eurasia mainland is located between $9$ and $169°W. e.$ mainly in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the islands belonging to this mainland are located in the Southern Hemisphere. The extreme western and eastern points of Eurasia are located in the Western Hemisphere, and the mainland is mainly located in the Eastern. The length of Eurasia from east to west is about $18,000 km$ and about $8,000 km$ from north to south. In the total area of ​​the mainland of $54 million km^2$, about $3 million km^2$ falls on the islands.

Extreme points of Eurasia

The extreme continental points of Eurasia are:

• Cape Chelyuskin ($77°33' N.W.$) is the northernmost continental point, which is located on the territory of Russia;
• Cape Piai ($1°16’ N.W.$) is the southernmost mainland point located in Malaysia;
• Cape Roca ($9°31'W) is the westernmost inland point located in Portugal;
• Cape Dezhnev ($169°42'W) is the easternmost continental point, which is also located on the territory of Russia;

The island points of the mainland are:

• Cape Fligeli, ($81°52" N.W.$) - the northernmost island point, located in Russia;
• South Island ($12°4" S.W.$) - the southernmost island point, which is the territory of the Cocos Islands;
• rock Monchik ($31º16" W. $) - the westernmost island point located in the Azores;
• Ratmanov Island ($169°0" W. $) - the easternmost island point, on the territory of Russia.

Peninsulas of Eurasia

The coastline of Eurasia is heavily indented, forming a large number of bays and peninsulas.

The largest peninsulas of Eurasia are:

• Arabian Peninsula (area $3,250 thousand km^2$);
• peninsula of Indochina ($2,410.612 thousand km^2$);
• the Hindustan peninsula ($2,000 thousand km^2$);
• Scandinavian Peninsula (about $800 thousand km^2$);
• Iberian Peninsula ($600 thousand km^2$);
• peninsula of Asia Minor ($560 thousand km^2$);
• Balkan Peninsula ($505 thousand km^2$);
• the Taimyr Peninsula (about $400,000 km^2$);
• the Kamchatka peninsula ($270 thousand km^2$);
• peninsula of Korea ($220.8 thousand km^2$);
• the Malay Peninsula ($190 thousand km^2$);
• Apennine Peninsula ($149 thousand km^2$);
• the Yamal Peninsula ($122 thousand km^2$);
• Chukotka Peninsula ($110 thousand km^2$);
• Kola Peninsula (about $100 thousand km^2$);
• Crimean Peninsula (Crimean Peninsula) ($27 thousand km^2$).

Eurasia is immediately washed by $4$ oceans - the Arctic in the north, the Atlantic in the west, the Indian in the south and the Pacific in the east. This also distinguishes Eurasia from other continents. The seas of the oceans washing Eurasia are deepest in the south and east of the mainland.

History of discovery and exploration of Eurasia

Eurasia is the most populated and explored of all continents. In particular, many regularities and processes were discovered on the example of the territory of Eurasia.

On the territory of the mainland formed and developed ancient civilizations planets. Many regions (India, China, Assyria, Mesopotamia) are the cradles of knowledge modern world. The main directions of geographical research were formed in Ancient Greece and ancient Rome.

In the Middle Ages, the travels of Europeans to China, India, Siberia and Central Asia, as well as the search for sea and land routes to distant countries, significantly expanded knowledge about the geography and nature of Eurasia. In the following centuries, expeditions contributed to the growth of knowledge about the continent.

The most famous milestones in the history of the study of Eurasia are the travels of Marco Polo, Semyon Dezhnev, Afanasy Nikitin and others. The Tibetan Plateau and other hard-to-reach regions of Central Asia were described in the expeditions of P. P. Semyonov Tyan-Shansky, N. M. Przhevalsky, V. I. Roborovsky, P.K. Kozlov. S.P. Krasheninnikov described the nature of the Kamchatka Peninsula in the $XVIII$ century. No less intensively than the distant corners of the mainland, various parts of Europe were studied - the Carpathians, the Alps, the Scandinavian mountains, the East European and Central European plains.

Remark 1

Despite many centuries of expeditions and improvements in technology, many hard-to-reach areas, for example, the interior of Tibet and Arabia, the Gundukush and Karakoram mountains, the Indochina peninsula and the Indonesian islands, are poorly explored.