Continents

Overview of Earth's continents, major regions, and their geographic characteristics.

Africa is the world's second-largest continent, home to 54 countries, diverse climates, and extraordinary wildlife.

Antarctica is the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth. Covered by a vast ice sheet containing 70% of the world's fresh water, it has no permanent human population and is protected by an international treaty.

Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, covering nearly a third of Earth's land surface and home to over 60% of the world's people.

Europe is a relatively small but densely populated continent of 44 countries, with a varied landscape of mountains, rivers, and coastlines shaped by millions of years of geology and thousands of years of human history.

North America is the world's third-largest continent, stretching from the Arctic tundra of Canada to the tropical forests of Central America, with 23 countries and landscapes ranging from towering mountain ranges to vast interior plains.

Oceania is a vast region of the southern and central Pacific Ocean, made up of Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and thousands of Pacific islands, and is home to some of the world's most unique wildlife and environments.

The Arctic and Antarctic polar regions are among Earth's most extreme environments. They are vital climate regulators, reflecting solar energy and driving ocean circulation. Both are warming faster than any other region on Earth.

South America is the world's fourth-largest continent, home to the Amazon rainforest, the Andes mountains, and some of the most extraordinary biodiversity on Earth.