WHAT SEPARATES ONE CONTINENT FROM ANOTHER? - GEOGRAPHY - 2025

The continents are separated from each other through geographical boundaries that can be seas, mountains, oceans, straits or imaginary lines. These delimitations are pure human creation that have been modified over the centuries. In fact, there are different opinions as to the number of continents that make up the world.

While some consider that there are seven (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and Antarctica), others assert that there are four (America, Afro-Eurasia, Oceania and Antarctica).

In this sense, there are borders between Europe and Asia, between Europe and Africa, between Africa and Asia, between North America and South America, between Asia and Oceania, between Europe and North America, and between Asia and North America.

Borders between different continents

Europe and Asia

The division between Europe and Asia is marked by the Aegean Sea, the Turkish Straits, the Black Sea, the Caspian Sea, the Ural River, the Ural Mountains and the Arctic Ocean.

According to the aforementioned boundaries, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia are geographically in Asia; however, they belong to the Council of Europe.

For their part, Russia and Turkey are transcontinental nations, since they have territories in both Europe and Asia.

Europe and africa

The territories of Europe and Africa are not contiguous, but are separated by the Mediterranean Sea.

The shortest distance that separates these continents is the 13 kilometers of the Strait of Gibraltar, located between Spain and Morocco. It remains to be determined which islands belong to the European continent and which to the African.

Azores belongs to the European continent.

The Canary Islands and Madeira are usually associated with Africa, since they are closer to this continent.

Malta belongs to Europe.

Lampedusa and Pantelleria are two Italian islands, so they belong to Europe. However, these are found on the African plate and can be considered part of Africa.

Africa and Asia

Currently, the separation between Africa and Asia is considered to be marked by the Isthmus of Suez.

According to this delimitation, the Sinai Peninsula belongs to Asia, while Egypt is a transcontinental nation.

Similarly, the island Socotra should be part of the African continent; however, it belongs to Yemen, a country in Asia.

North America and South America

The division between North America and South America is located on the Isthmus of Panama, which separates this territory at the border between Panama and Colombia.

Most of the Caribbean islands are part of North America; however, Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire are in the south. On the other hand, Isla Aves (Venezuela) and San Andrés y Providencia (Colombia) are in the north but are part of South America.

Asia and Oceania

These continents are separated by the Wallace Line, which crosses the Malay Archipelago.

Europe and North America

Europe and North America are separated by the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the fact that Europe borders the Atlantic to the west, Iceland and the Azores archipelago (located between Europe and America) are considered part of the European territory.

Asia and North America

Asia and North America are separated by the Bering Strait and the Bering Sea.

References

1. Why is Europe considered a separate continent from Asia? Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from quora.com.
2. Why Europe and Asia are considered separate continents? Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from straghtdope.com.
3. Boundaries between the continents of Earth. Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org.
4. Eurasia's Boundaries. Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from voices.nationalgeographic.com.
5. Why is Europe considered a separate continent? Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from.gamespot.com.
6. Why are Europe and Asia Separate Contients? Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from youtube.com.
7. Continent. Retrieved on June 12, 2017, from en.wikipedia.org.