World Basics · Reading the map
Continents, oceans, and the chokepoints markets care about
7 continents, 5 oceans, then the handful of narrow straits that a big share of world trade and oil has to squeeze through. Click the map.
Step 1 of 5 · 1. Explore the map25 min read ·
1. Explore the map
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| Continent | Note |
|---|---|
| Asia | Largest by area (~30% of land) and population |
| Africa | 2nd largest; 54 countries |
| North America | Includes Central America & Caribbean |
| South America | Amazon basin |
| Antarctica | No permanent population |
| Europe | Industrial Revolution started here |
| Australia/Oceania | Smallest continent |
Oceans: Pacific (largest, about a third of Earth's surface), Atlantic, Indian, Southern (around Antarctica; National Geographic recognized it in 2021), Arctic (smallest).
Next: 2. Chokepoints: where geography meets markets