What is a continent?

A continent is a large landmass that meets certain geographical conditions. According to most geographers, there are seven continents: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica and Australia. In some parts of the world, Europe and Asia are considered one continent.

Continents can be characterized by geography and by culture. For example, Europe and Asia are technically one landmass, but most geographers consider them to be two separate continents. Many islands are typically considered part of the nearest continent, although there are certain exceptions. Hawaii and New Zealand do not belong to a specific continent even though Hawaii is part of the United States.