Welcome to Africa!

Africa is the second largest continent. The continent is divided into 53 different countries.

Here in Africa you can take a walk in a jungle...

or ride on a camel over the largest hot desert in the world!

The Animals
Many animals live in Africa, both in the jungles and the desert.

Elephants

The Giraffe

The Gorilla

The Zebra

The Lion

The People
In Africa, there are many different groups of people who speak many different languages. Some people live in cities while others live in villages and keep old traditions. Here are some people from two different tribes from the country of Kenya. Notice the different clothing each tribe wears.

The Samburu People

The Masai People

Antarctica
It'Welcome to Antarctica. Antarctica is located at the South Pole. It is the fifth largest continent. There are no countries on this continent.

If you like snow and ice, you will love it here.

Animals Despite the frigid cold, some animals survive here. Here are some animals that love this land.

Adelie Penguins

Emperor Penguins

Crabeater Seal

Leopard Seal

People do not live on this continent. Only groups of scientists will come for periods of time to study this frigid land.

A base for scientists

Scientists getting ready to explore the land.

Asia
Welcome to Asia, the largest continent. Asia is made up of 48 countries. These countries are very different and their cultures have little in common. Asia makes up nearly 1/3 of the Earth's land mass. Asia is on the other side of the world from us. So, when it is day time here, it is night time there. When it is night time here, it is day time there.

The Land
The land of Asia goes as far north as the Arctic Circle. Parts of Russia are very cold all year round. Throughout Asia the land has some of the longest rivers and many mountain ranges. Asia has the highest point on Earth in the Himalayan Mountains and it is called Mount Everest. In the western part of Asia is the Dead Sea, which is the lowest point on earth. The continent goes to the Indian Ocean where it is warm and tropical. Many islands are part of Asia and are in the Pacific Ocean.

The Great Wall of China

Mount Everest in the Himalayan Mountains

The Tajmahal in India

A Rice Paddy in Vietnam

Rice is a very important food for many people in Asia.

The buildings in China have roof tops that curve up on the ends. This is done to keep the evil spirits from entering a home or building.

All the main religions of the world began in Asia. Among the most famous is Buddhism.

A Buddha in China

The People
Asia has more people than any other continent. In fact, 2 out of every 3 people on Earth live in Asia. The 48 countries all have very different cultures and beliefs. The land has many different religions and languages. Some countries are rich with oil and other things they sell to the world. Others are more simple and farm animals and rice.

These are children of China. The girl on the left is wearing a native costume . The children on the right are going to school in Hong Kong.

A young girl carrying rice in Vietnam. Iraq

A Muslim woman of

A Sumo Wrestler in Japan

The Animals
The animals of Asia are very special. One of the most famous is the Panda which is found only in Asia.

The Panda

The Snow Leopard

The Tiger Did you know he could Swim?

The Komodo Dragon

An Asian Eagle

The Orangutan is a lot like a human.

Australia
"Aye, matie" Welcome to Australia, the smallest Continent. Because Australia is in the southern hemisphere, it is often called "The Land Down Under" Australia is the only continent that is its own country.

Remember this before you pack your bag:

Because Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere, our seasons are opposite. That means that when it is winter here, it is summer there. When it is summer here, it is winter there.

The Land
Australia is a flat dry continent made up of 7 states. Ocean surrounds the continent.
In fact, the most famous part of Australia is in the ocean. The GREAT BARRIER REEF is the largest coral reef in the world. It is located on the northeastern coast of Australia (see the map). The Great Barrier Reef.

Another famous part of Australia is called the OUTBACK. The deserts and bush country that make up 85% of Australia is the Outback.

Most people in Australia live along the eastern coast line where the land is more fertile.

The Opera in Sydney

A Park on a Beach in Sydney

The People
The native people of Australia are called ABORIGINES. The Aborigines live in tribes and live mostly in the Outback and Bush country.

Children with their grandpa.

Children in school in the Outback country.

Aborigines dancing for a celebration. In Australia, the Aborigines play a musical instrument called a DIDGERIDOO. It is made of a hollowed out branch which they decorate.

Here is a didgeridoo and a picture of an Aborigine playing a didgeridoo.

The Animals
There are some very interesting animals that live only in Australia. Among the most famous animals of Australia are...

the kangaroo,

the koala bear,

the dingo and the platypus.

Europe
Welcome to the sixth largest continent. This continent is made up of 46 countries.

The Land
The continent of Europe goes as far north as the Arctic Circle and south to the Mediterranean Sea. Russia forms the eastern part of the continent while the island of Iceland is the furthest point west. Each of the 46 countries that make up this continent is rich with its own history and culture. Many famous places are in Europe. That is why Europe is the favorite place for people to travel to on earth. In Europe you can see...

Big Ben in England or The Eiffel Tower in France...

You can walk the rolling green hillsides of Ireland,

climb the Alps in Switzerland or stroll the seaside in Greece. See...

the Kremlin in Russia,

the ruins in Rome, Italy

or take a gondola ride in Venice, Italy.

The People
In Europe, the people of each country have their own language, customs and culture. You can travel from one country to another by train and hear languages like Spanish, Greek, French, German, and Italian to name only a few.

Men in Yugoslavia

Cart riding in Norway Spain

Folk Dancing in

Greek Police

Playing Rugby in Ireland

NORTH AMERICA
Welcome of North America the third largest continent.

North America is made up of three large countries; Canada, Mexico and the United States and the countries of Central America and the Caribbean Islands.

The Land
The land of North America goes from the frigid area of the Arctic Circle to the Tropical rain forest of Central America. In between there are beautiful mountain ranges, deserts, plains and magnificent cities.

Niagara Falls from the Canadian side

Vancouver in British Colombia

The Statue of Liberty and New York City and The Rocky Mountains

The Grand Canyon

Mexico City in Mexico

The Desert in Mexico

The Caribbean

The People
Most of the people on this continent have come from Europe. In Canada, people have come from England and France. In the United States, people have come from all over Europe. Because so many different people from different countries have come to the United States to live, it is sometimes called the "MELTING POT". In Mexico and in Central America, Spanish is the dominant language.

Hockey is very popular in Canada. Dogsled racing is popular in the Arctic region.

Baseball and the Rodeo are very popular in the United States.

The Animals
There are many different animals found throughout this continent. There are Polar Bears and seals in the Arctic, dear and buffalo on the plains and snakes and lizards in the deserts. Here are only a few very special animals of North America.

The Bald Eagle

The American Bison

The Grizzly Bear

The Diamond Back Rattlesnake

South America
South America is the fourth largest continent. There are 13 countries that make up this continent.

From the Amazon Rainforest...

to the deserts and mountains of Chili...

to the coast line of Brazil...

this continent has much to offer.

The People

Some people live in cities...

The city of Soa Paula,Brazil

while others live in poor countries and farm the land and raise animals.

A farmer's market in Bolivia

A Family in Ecuador

In this country, the game of soccer is very popular.

People of Brazil enjoying a soccer game!

Many different animals live on this continent.

The Animals

The rainforest is home to very many different animals!

The Anaconda

The Sloth

Macaws

In the mountains, people raise llamas for their wool.

A llama farm in Chili