continents and ocean(s)

conchubhar1

when did the belief that there are seven continents come about?

when did the belief that there are several oceans come about?

looking at a globe there are 3 continents and one ocean? with lanlocked seas
no?

Victor

conchubhar1 wrote: »

looking at a globe there are 3 continents and one ocean?

Africa
North America
South America
Antarctica
Asia
Australia
Europe

Where does it say that oceans and continents can't join at their borders?

Hagar

When I went to school we were taught that there were five continents. The Olympics Flag with five rings was intended to represent the five continents.

Africa, America, Asia, Australia and Europe.

conchubhar1

i am not disputing that people are thaught that there are seven continents or five

but africa, asia and europe are joined
americas are joined

all oceans are interconneced - with some seas inland

Hookey

A geologist would tell you there are nine continents (actually he'd tell you there were 15, but six are almost entirely underwater), and that Europe isn't one of them; its part of Eurasia, but north and south America are two different continents. (its Africa, Eurasia, North America, South America, Australia, India, Arabia, Antarctic, Caribbean).

conchubhar1

okay

but the americas are one and are attached

afro eurasia would be one


when did the belief change and what was given to distinguish and justify those beliefs

Hookey

conchubhar1 wrote: »

okay

but the americas are one and are attached

afro eurasia would be one


when did the belief change and what was given to distinguish and justify those beliefs

Plate tectonics. Its actually irrelevant if a continent looks physically joined above sea level, as sea level has a tendency to change very quickly in geological terms. North and South America are on separate plates, with a third (Caribbean) plate squeezed inbetween. Europe and most of Asia is one plate.

conchubhar1

ah that gets further to explaining it

but what about the oceans - there is really only one? artent they all connected?

BossArky

The theory goes as follows:

Initially there was one huge continent: Panagea.

Panagea split in two: a northern continent Laurasia and a southern one called Gondwana (spelling?).

Gondwana was Africa + India + Australia joined together. Australia floated off eastwards, whilst India went flying off upwards and eastwards... ramming into the Asia.... which causes the Himalayas to form.

The continents we know nowadays came from the plates they float around on.

Apparently plates move at roughly the speed that your nails grow.

conchubhar1

ah - thought it was the landmasses not the continents

cheers

on the ocena issue - they are all connected?

is it just a naming issue