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Eurasia

geography Maturity 7-9 Next article →

Eurasia is the largest continental area on our planet.

Eurasia (orthographic projection)
Eurasia (orthographic projection)

It is made by joining all of Europe and Asia together. Some scientists say it is one single continent. Others see Europe and Asia as two different places. This idea of two continents is mostly about culture. The borders between them have changed many times throughout history. Even the ancient Greeks had different ideas about these lands. They once thought Africa was part of Asia.

This massive landmass has many different shapes and sizes. It stretches from Iceland in the west to the Russian Far East. In the south, it reaches down to Southeast Asia.

Lisbon to Vladivostok
Lisbon to Vladivostok

It is surrounded by many different oceans and seas. The Arctic Ocean is to the north. The Pacific Ocean lies to the east. The Atlantic Ocean is on the west side. Africa sits near the southwest corner. Eurasia is connected to Africa at the Suez Canal. Some people call the whole area Afro-Eurasia.

Eurasia has a very long and busy history. Many ancient civilizations started here a long time ago. These include groups in Mesopotamia, Egypt, China, and the Indus Valley. In the middle of the first millennium BCE, a belt of civilizations grew across the land. This belt lasted for two thousand years. Later, new sea paths were found in the 1490s. The Suez Canal was also finished in 1869. This helped people travel more easily between different regions.

There are many amazing natural features to see here. All 100 of the highest mountains on Earth are in Eurasia. You can find them in ranges like the Himalaya and the Caucasus.

Eurasia (orthographic projection)
Eurasia (orthographic projection)

Many huge rivers flow through the land too. The Yangtze River in China is one of the longest. The Yellow River and the Mekong are also very large. Eurasia has many islands like Great Britain and Java. Because the land is so big, the weather is very diverse. It has the hottest and coldest places on Earth. It also has many different types of plants and animals.

Today, more than 5 billion people live in Eurasia. That is about 70% of all the people in the world.

Changes in national boundaries after the end of the Cold War
Changes in national boundaries after the end of the Cold War

Many countries work together in this large region. They form groups like the Eurasian Economic Union. These groups help with trade and working together. There are also large groups like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. This group covers three-fifths of the continent. It also includes nearly half of the human population. These connections help keep the huge landmass moving forward.

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🖼️ Images & Media (6)
File:Eurasia (orthographic projection).svg
Eurasia (orthographic projection).svg
File:EEA CES.PNG
EEA CES.PNG
File:ASEM.PNG
ASEM.PNG
File:Eurasian Economic Union.svg
Eurasian Economic Union.svg
File:Lisbon to Vladivostok.svg
Lisbon to Vladivostok.svg
File:Changes in national boundaries after the end of the Cold War.jpg
Changes in national boundaries after the...
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