world geography ( continents , oceans , etc)

How many continents and oceans are there in the world?

7 continents and 5 oceans.

Name the 7 continents.

North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Antarctica (implied by 7 total).

Name the 5 oceans of the world.

Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, Arctic, and Southern Ocean.

What percentage of Earth’s surface is covered by water, and how much of that is in oceans/seas?

About 70% of Earth’s surface is water; 97% of that water is in oceans and seas.

What is the difference between ocean water and river/lake water?

Oceans contain saline (salty) water, while rivers and lakes have fresh water.

What are the key facts about the Pacific Ocean?

Covers more than 1/3 of Earth’s surface; largest and deepest ocean; average depth 4200 m; contains the Mariana Trench, the deepest point on Earth (11,033 m).

What are the key facts about the Atlantic Ocean?

Second largest ocean; has the longest coastline; busiest ocean for trade/commerce, connecting Western Europe, North America, and South America.

What are the key facts about the Indian Ocean?

The only ocean named after a country; deeper than the Atlantic; largest continental islands are Madagascar and Sri Lanka; volcanic islands include Mauritius, Andaman & Nicobar; coral islands include Lakshadweep, Maldives, Seychelles.

What are the key facts about the Arctic Ocean?

Smallest and shallowest ocean; lies within the Arctic Circle (North Pole is in the middle); mostly frozen year-round; average depth 1500 m; has the lowest salinity of all oceans.

What are the key facts about the Southern Ocean?

Encircles Antarctica, lies south of 60°S latitude; has lower surface salinity due to melting Antarctic ice and limited evaporation; bordered by/connects the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans; officially recognized as the 5th ocean by the National Geographic Society in 2021.

What are trenches?

Long, narrow depressions in the ocean floor caused by tectonic activity.

What is the deepest trench in the world, which ocean is it in, and how deep is it?

Mariana Trench, in the Pacific Ocean, 11,033 m deep.

Match each trench to its ocean and depth: Puerto Rico Trench, Java Trench, Arctic Basin.

Puerto Rico Trench – Atlantic Ocean – 8,605 m.

Java Trench – Indian Ocean – 7,125 m.

Arctic Basin – Arctic Ocean – 5,122 m.

What is the largest sea in the world by surface area?

The Philippine Sea, approx. 5 million sq km, located in the western Pacific Ocean (east of the Philippines, north of Indonesia).

List the major seas of the world by area (largest to smallest, from the table).

Arabian Sea (3,862,000 km², Indian Ocean) → South China Sea (3,500,000 km², Pacific Ocean) → Caribbean Sea (2,754,000 km², Atlantic Ocean) → Mediterranean Sea (2,510,000 km², between Europe & Africa) → Bering Sea (2,261,000 km², Pacific Ocean) → Bay of Bengal (2,172,000 km², Indian Ocean)

Which strait separates Russia (Asia) and Alaska (North America)?

Bering Strait.

Which strait separates India and Sri Lanka?

Palk Strait.

Which strait separates Spain (Europe) and Morocco (Africa)?

Strait of Gibraltar.

Which strait separates Malaysia and Sumatra?

Malacca Strait.

What does the 10 Degree Channel separate? What about the 9 Degree Channel?

10 Degree Channel – separates Andaman Islands and Nicobar Islands.

9 Degree Channel – separates Lakshadweep and Minicoy.

Which strait separates Florida from Cuba?

Florida Strait.

Which strait separates UAE and Oman from Iran?

Strait of Hormuz.

Which is the largest lake in the world by area, and where is it located?

The Caspian Sea, 371,000 sq km, located in Asia.

Name the top 3 largest lakes after the Caspian Sea.

Lake Superior (82,100 km², North America), Lake Victoria (68,870 km², Africa), Lake Huron (59,600 km², North America).

Which lake is located in Russia, and what is its area?

Lake Baikal, 31,500 sq km.

What is the longest river in the world, where does it empty, and what is its length?

The Nile, empties into the Mediterranean Sea, 6650 km long.

Which river is the second longest, and where does it empty?

The Amazon, empties into the Atlantic Ocean, 6400 km long.

Which major rivers empty into the Bay of Bengal?

The Brahmaputra (2900 km) and the Ganga (2525 km).

Which river empties into the Arabian Sea?

The Indus, 3180 km long.

Which two rivers empty into the Caspian Sea?

The Volga (3687 km) and the Ural (2482 km).

Which river empties into the Arctic Ocean?

The Mackenzie River, 4241 km long.

Which river empties into the East China Sea, and which into the South China Sea?

Yangtze River → East China Sea (6374 km).

Mekong River → South China Sea (4023 km).