this post was submitted on 17 Sep 2024
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Today I Learned

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[–] jettrscga 37 points 2 months ago (20 children)

If submerged land can be called continents, where's the line between what is and isn't a continent?

[–] owatnext 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

That's a debate that transcends culture. Some cultures say there are seven, some say six, and yet others say five.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Seven is wrong no matter your definition of continent, unless you count New Zealand or "because racism."

Depending on your definition there are between four and nine continents, but the definition that includes Europe to make a total of seven necessitates India being its own continent without racism being the primary reason why Europe is a continent and India is not.

(Also if it transcended culture it wouldn't depend on culture for the answer)

(Also some people do say there are seven, because India is a continent with a land barrier and a tectonic plate and Europe is not)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Isn't all of Asia and Europe and Africa connected? I count 4.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 months ago

And that's valid, if your definition is just continuous land masses. However, some definitions incorporate ideas of notable narrowings such as the African and Central American connections and continental plates, or even projected drift.

For example, some day the Americas and Africa/Eurasia will separate from continental drift. Some even argue the Americas already are separated thanks to the Panana Canal, humans just hurried the process along.

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