Antarctica Fast Facts

Continent name: Antarctica

Story behind the name: The name is derived from the Greek word antarktiké, meaning “opposite to the Arctic (north).”

Area: 14 million square kilometers, or 5,400,000 square miles

Population: 0 – There are no permanent human residents, nor indigenous inhabitants, but 1,000-5,000 researchers reside at research stations across the continent throughout the year.

Location and Geography: Antarctica is located south of the Antarctic Circle (covering the South Pole) in the Southern Ocean.

The continent boasts the highest average elevation of all continents, though it is made up of 98% ice and 2% rock.

Climate: With an annual precipitation of only 8 inches (200 mm) along the coast, Antarctica is considered a desert. It is the coldest, windiest and driest continent on Earth.

Economy: Antarctica is primarily a research center, not a commercial center. Some fishing is allowed off Antarctica’s coasts, and around 40,000 tourists are allowed to visit the continent every year.

Wildlife: The harsh conditions of Antarctica prevent most wildlife from surviving on Antarctica. A few types of insects and birds dwell on the continent. Marine animals including penguins, some types of whales, squids, and seals are able to survive in Antarctica’s climate.

History and Colonization: Though the existence of a southern land (or Terra Australis) had been speculated since ancient times, Antarctica was not discovered until the 1820s, when Russians Fabian Gottlieb von Bellingshausen and Mikhail Lazarev explored the area and first sighted land. The first recorded landing on Antarctica was American John Davis in 1821.

Even then, Antarctica did not see much activity for some time, because of its conditions and distance from other civilizations. It was not until after World War II that interest in Antarctica increased and several countries began set up scientific research stations around the continent.

In 1959, twelve countries signed the Antarctic Treaty, which prohibits mining and military activities, and supports research and protection of wildlife.

Territories: Argentina, Australia, Chile, France, New Zealand, Norway, and the United Kingdom have all claimed territories on the continent of Antarctica. Some of these territories overlap. Brazil, Peru, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and the United States are all interested in claiming territory on Antarctica, but they are unable to at this time because of the Atlantic Treaty.

Date of Territorial Claims:

• United Kingdom – 1908
• New Zealand – 1923
• France – 1924
• Norway – 1929
• Australia – 1933
• Norway – 1939
• Chile – 1940
• Argentina – 1943

North America Fast Facts

Continent name: North America

Story behind the name: North and South America were named after the Italian explorer, Amerigo Vespucci. First, “America” referred to what is now called South America, but the name soon spread to include North America.

Area: 24,709,000 square kilometers or 9,540,000 square miles

Population: Approximately 528,270,588

Location and Geography: North America is located in the Northern and Western hemispheres. North and South America sometimes are considered subcontinents, with “America” as a single continent.

Four main geographic regions divide the continent:

• West – mountainous, Rocky Mountains, Great Basin, California, Alaska, most of Mexico
• Great Plains – flat lands, mostly prairies in the central United States and Canada
• Canadian Shield – plateau region
• East – varied with Appalachian Mountains, coastal plains, Florida

Highest point: Mount McKinley (Denali), Alaska, United States – 6,194 meters (or 20,320 feet) above sea level

Lowest point: Death Valley, California, United States – 86 meters (or 282 feet) below sea level

Economy and Currencies: The wealthiest countries in North America are Canada and the United States, followed by Mexico and then Central American countries, which are at varying degrees of development.

North American countries and their currencies:

• Antigua and Barbuda – EC dollar (Eastern Caribbean)
• Bahamas – Bahamian dollar
• Barbados – Barbadian dollar
• Belize – Belizian dollar
• Canada – Canadian dollar
• Costa Rica – Colón
• Cuba – Cuban peso
• Dominica – EC dollar
• Dominican Republic – Dominican Republic Peso
• El Salvador – US dollar
• Grenada – EC dollar
• Guatemala – Quetzal
• Haiti – Gourde
• Honduras – Lempira
• Jamaica – Jamaican dollar
• Mexico – Mexican peso
• Nicaragua – Córdoba
• Panama – Balboa
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – EC dollar
• Saint Lucia – EC dollar
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – EC dollar
• Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad and Tobago dollar
• United States – US dollar

Languages: English and Spanish are the most spoken languages in North America, followed by French. Other languages including numerous indigenous languages are spoken in small pockets across the continent.

• English is the predominant language in the United States, Canada, Bermuda, and the Cayman Islands
• English-based or French-based creole languages are spoken in many Caribbean countries
• Spanish is the spoken in Mexico and most of Central America
• Canada’s official languages are English and French
• The United States has no official national language

History and Colonization:

Before European colonization, North America was populated by numerous indigenous peoples, who were separated into groups across the continent. Many Native American groups were nomadic hunter-gatherers, though southern groups developed systems for cultivating crops, especially corn, tomatoes, and squash. The Maya civilization in Central America made advancements in culture and civilization, including a well-developed writing system and calendar.

Once Europeans began to explore North America, native groups were exposed to European diseases, including smallpox and influenza, and their populations declined. Colonists started settling in the New World and began to take control over the land. The first permanent European settlement in North America was

Countries with their Capitals:

• Antigua and Barbuda – St. John’s
• Bahamas – Nassau
• Barbados – Bridgetown
• Belize – Belmopan
• Canada – Ottawa
• Costa Rica – San Jose
• Cuba – Havana
• Dominica – Roseau
• Dominican Republic – Santo Domingo
• El Salvador – San Salvador
• Grenada – St. George’s
• Haiti – Port-au-Prince
• Honduras – Tegucigalpa
• Jamaica – Kingston
• Mexico – Mexico City
• Nicaragua – Managua
• Panama – Panama City
• Saint Kitts and Nevis – Basseterre
• Saint Lucia – Castries
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Kingstown
• Trinidad and Tobago – Port of Spain
• United States – Washington D.C.

Ten top countries by population:

1. United States
2. Mexico
3. Canada
4. Guatemala
5. Cuba
6. Dominican Republic
7. Haiti
8. Honduras
9. El Salvador
10. Nicaragua

7 Continents 7 Natural Wonders

Nature has an unparalleled ability to amaze us, as there are hundreds of natural wonders that make our jaws drop and hearts stop beating. Zeroing in on just seven wonders out of several hundred is courting controversy – it is tough. Uniqueness and top of mind recall were our prime movers as we worked our way through this maze. Every corner was lined with a wonderful surprise and was screaming “Drop me and you are dead!” We have survived:

1. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, Africa – World’s tallest freestanding mountain
2. Mount Everest, Nepal, Asia – Highest point on Earth, 8882 meters
3. Altesch Glacier, Switzerland, Europe – 10,000 years old, largest and longest Alpine Glacier
4. Amazon Basin, Brazil (40%) and French Guinea, Suriname, Venezuela, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia, South America – Over 4 million square miles of rainforest
5. Niagara Falls, Canada and the USA, North America –  3,788 feet wide,  the most spectacular natural border on Earth
6. Great Barrier Reef, Australia, Continent of Australia – 2,900 individual reefs, 1,000 islets and countless expressions of disbelief at nature’s miracle.
7. Antarctica, Continent of Antarctica – Coldest, driest and windiest place on Earth.

Is Russia in Europe or Asia?

Russia may technically be called a Eurasian country, but all indicators state otherwise. It wouldn’t be incorrect to say that Russia is a European country with much of its territory in Asia.

Here’s why:

1. Russia comprises about 40% of the total landmass of Europe.
2. 78% of Russia’s population lives in the European Russia.
3. Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, is the second-most populous city in Europe (after Istanbul).
4. The Revolt against the Mongols started from the state/principality of Muscovy, whose capital was  Moscow.
5. Russians are predominantly East Slavs, and all scholars and historians accept the East Slavs as ethnically Europeans.
6. Russians are largely Orthodox Christians, a legacy of the Byzantine Empire.
7. The Russian language is written in the Cyrillic script, which is an evolved/derived form of an ancient Greek script. Most of the “sounds ” in spoken Russian relate closely with other East European languages. The Cyrillic script and its first documented usage is credited to the First Bulgarian Empire (10th Century AD).
8. Russian cuisine and eating customs are closely aligned with European traditions, and the Franco-Russian Cuisine is a testimony to the similarity in eating habits of the Russians and other Europeans.

We look forward to your comments and counter arguments.

Ref: Map of Russia