General Knowledge for IAS Exams (Continents of the World)

General Knowledge for IAS Exams (Geography of India and The World)

Continents of the World

Continents (by Size)

  • Asia 44,579,000 sq km
  • Africa 30,065,000 sq km
  • North America 24,256,000 sq km
  • South America 17,819,000 sq km
  • Antarctica 13,209,000 sq km
  • Europe 9,938,000 sq km
  • Australia/Ocenia 7,687,000 sq km

Continents (by Population)

  • Asia 3,879,000,000
  • Africa 877,500,000
  • Europe 727,000,000
  • North America 501,500,000
  • South America 379,500,000
  • Australia/Oceania 320,000,000
  • Antarctica 0

Continents by the Number of Countries

  • Africa 53
  • Europe 46
  • Asia 44
  • North America 23
  • Oceania 14
  • South America 12

Highest Points on the Continents

  • Highest Mountain in the World (and Asia): Everest, Nepal, China: 29,035 feet/8850 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in Africa: Kilimanjaro, Tanzania: 19,340 feet/5895 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in Antarctica: Vinson Massif: 16,066 feet/4897 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in Australia: Kosciusko: 7310 feet/2228 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in Europe: Elbrus, Russia (Caucasus): 18,510 feet/5642 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in Western Europe: Mont Blanc, France-Italy: 15,771 feet/4807 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in Oceania: Puncak Jaya, New Guinea: 16,535 feet/5040 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in North America: McKinley (Denali), Alaska: 20,320 feet/6194 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in the 48 Contiguous United States: Whitney, California: 14,494 feet/4418 metres.
  • Highest Mountain in South America: Aconcagua, Argentina: 22,834 feet/6960 metres.

Lowest Points on the Continents

  • Lowest Point in the World (and Asia): Dead Sea shore, Israel-Jordan: 1369 feet/417.5 meters below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in Africa: Lake Assal, Djibouti: 512 feet/156 metres below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in Australia: Lake Eyre: 52 feet/12 metres below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in Europe: Caspian Sea shore, Russia-Iran-Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan: 92 feet/28 metres below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in Western Europe: Tie: Lemmefjord, Denmark and Prins Alexander Polder, Netherlands: 23 feet/7 metres below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in North America: Death Valley, California: 282 feet/86 metres below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in South America: Laguna del Carbon (located between Puerto San Julian and Comandante Luis Piedra Buena in the province of Santa Cruz): 344 feet/105 metres below sea level.
  • Lowest Point in Antarctica: The Bentley Subglacial trench is approximately 2540 meters (8,333 feet) below sea level but is covered with ice; if Antarctica’s ice were to melt, exposing the trench, it would be covered by sea so it is a quasi-lowest point and if one ignores the reality of the ice, it is the lowest point “on land” on the earth.

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