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CONTINENTS

Q1. What is Pangaea?
It is the name for the undivided landmass that existed some 250 million years ago, before the process of ' plate tectonics ' separated it into their current configuration.
Q2. What is Continental drifting?
A theory that says that continents are not static but are slowly drifting generally in a westward direction. This theory was advocated in 1915 and says that about 250 million years ago there was only one land mass called ' Pangaea ' which broke into smaller masses and drifted away and thus formed the present continents. The drift continues to take place.
Q3. How many continents are there and what are they?

Seven - 1. Africa;  2. Asia;   3. Europe;   4. South America;   5. North America;   6. Australia   and   7. Antarctica.

Q4. Which are the largest and smallest of the continents?
Largest - Asia; Smallest - Australia;
Q5. The continental divide also called the Great Divide, divides which continent?
North America.
Q6. What is unique about the names of the continents?
Start and end with same letters - A and E.
Q7. Which continent has the most number of countries?
Africa.
Q8. Which is the most populated continent?
Asia.
Q9. Which is the most humid and dry continent?
Antarctica - although covered with 96 per cent ice, it is the most dry continent with an absolute humidity lower than the Gobi desert.
Q10. Which continent does not have a desert?
Europe.
Q11. Which is the driest continent in terms of rain fall?
Antarctica.
Q12. What is Panthalassa?
Vast global ocean that surrounded the super continent "Pangaea" during the late Paleozoic and the early Meso zoic years.

Q13. Populationwise, Asia is the….?
Largest populated continent with approximately 60 per cent of the world population.
Q14. How many countries are there and What are the countries in Asian Continent?
48 countries -- Afghanisatan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, India, Japan, Jordan, Kampuchea, Korea North, Korea South, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mangolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Vietnam, Yemen.
Q15. What is the area of Antartica and how much of the land mass is covered by it?
14 million SQKM - covers 9.6% of land mass.
Q16. Where is Antarctica located?
On the South Pole.
Q17. What is geographically special about Antartica?
Extremely cold and uninhabited place. (for more details on Antartica please see Chapter II:19)
Q18. How the Antarctica region is protected?
Through ""Antarctic Treaty"" of 1989 with 49 countries signing the same. The treaty prohibits military activities, mineral mining, nuclear explosions, nuclear waste disposal etc., Scientific research programmes and structures are allowed. There are around 4000 scientists different nations carrying on research regularly.
Q19. When and by whom Antarctica was first sighted?
1820 by Farien Gottlieb Von Belling Shausen (Russia), Edward Bransfield (Ireland, UK) and Nathaniel Palmer of UK.
Q20. Which is the highest peak in Antarctica?
Vinson Massif, 4892 mtrs above sea level - located on Ellsworth Mountains.
Q21. What is the name for the southern most active volcano located in Antarctica?
Mount Erebus on Ross Island.
Q22. What is the name for the largest subglacial lakes in Antarctica?
Lake Vostok
Q23. Which are the two countries making the largest claims of Antarctica territory?
Norway and Australia.
Q24. When was India's flag unfurled for the first time in Antarctica?
1981
Q25. What are India's permanent research stations in Antarctica?
1.DAKSHIN GANGOTRI: In 1987, this station got buried under ice and remains abandoned.
2. MAITRI: 1988-1989 on the Shirmacher Oasis. Now in Use.
3. BHARATHI: near Lassman Hill. Commissioned from March 18, 2012