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Line 1: − '''Continent''', from [[Latin]] "continere" (to hold together) and ''terra continens'' (the continuous land), is a very large contiguous landmass, often delimited by [[plate tectonics|tectonic]] boundaries, which assist in distinguishing a small '''continent''' (such as Australia) from a large [[island]], such as [[Greenland]]. Continental masses often extend a number of miles out into the ocean, only shallowly submerged; this region is known as the [[continental shelf]]. − The continents of [[Earth]] are [[Eurasia]] (very often divided into [[Europe]] and [[Asia]], which exist on separate sides of the Ural Mountains), [[Africa]] (occasionally included as a part of the Eurasian supercontinent which is then referred to as [[Eurafrasia]], [[America]] (sometimes divided into [[North America]] and [[South America]]), [[Antarctica]] and [[Australia]]; however, there is no standard definition for the number of continents; we could even think in "Arctica" for the land (or sea ice) of the [[Inuit]] in the [[arctic]] [[North Pole|north pole]]. − − Historically (hundreds of millions of years ago), a number of other continents and supercontinents have existed, such as [[Pangaea]], [[Laurasia]] and [[Gondwanaland]]; these have been broken up and reassembled into the currently existing configuration, by the process of [[continental drift]]. − − == See also == − − *[[America (continent)]] − − == External links == − − *[http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/continents.htm Continents] − − − − [[Category:Geography]] − [[Category:Geology]]
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