The Earth is located in the solar system, and the third from the Sun, the eight planets that compose it. The "blue planet" as it is also known, is covered in more than 70% for water in the oceans, without considering the rivers and seas that are in the dry part of the planet. Comprising five continents, dry area has 148 647 000 Km2. Since the oceans have an estimated 361 million Km2 area, harboring various forms of life, aquatic animals and plants. It is the only planet that has living creatures have news.
In spatial level, has a very important feature that there is life inside: the existence of atmosphere. It is composed of several gases, the nitrogen, oxygen and argon three main atmospheric gases. It serves a number of purposes, among them, protect the Earth from ultraviolet rays and provide oxygen for respiration of living organisms. The Earth performs translational movements, which is the movement around the Sun, lasting 365 days (one year) and the rotation motion around its own axis, which lasts about a day (24 hours).
The Earth has several layers inside. The crust is the outermost layer and where we live. She, along with a layer above the mantle is called the lithosphere, which is totally solid. Below the mantle there is a composite of silicon, iron and magnesium layer. The inner core is having a liquid portion and a solid, even though at very high temperatures.
Lithosphere in the region is that the tectonic plates are located. These plates are pieces of the lithosphere along the whole earth. The earth has seven major tectonic plates and many smaller ones. They get a "fitted" into the other and this area is that between a plate and the other are the points of occurrence of earthquakes and volcanoes. This is because when a "rub" the other plate results can be active volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunami and others.
Its shape is not perfectly round, but slightly flattened and inclined about 23 degrees. This inclination indeed influences, with the translation, to determine the seasons (winter, summer, fall and spring). It has a mass of approximately 5,973.1024 and volume of around 1,083. 1012 is the largest of the solid planets, since other planets bigger than Earth, the solar system are gaseous. Itself has several imaginary lines, such as the tropics of Capricorn, Cancer, the equator (the line that cuts the earth in half dividing it into north and south) and the Greenwich meridian (also stains the earth in half, but this time vertically, dividing into east and west) sides. Not only are these lines, there are several tropics and meridians, helping, for example, to set the time zone in different cities of the world.
But to get at the planet we live on and for him to gain such training were formative years. According to evolutionists were over 4.6 billion years. For creationists were 6-10 thousand years. The differences between these two currents do not stop there: how the Earth formed, how life originated and how life might possibly end up also matters that the two lines of reasoning found no common point.
History of Earth
There are two theories to explain the formation of planet Earth. The known discrepancy between the creationist and evolutionary theory still yields discussion worldwide.
The first, a creationist, believes that a higher being responsible for the origin of life. For them God made the whole planet, as well as plants and celestial bodies.
Earth, according creationism would thus have between 6-10 thousand years ago, having been created over a period of six days, according to the book of Genesis, chapter 1 of the Bible. Regarding biological formations of the Earth is believed to have been caused by the flood occurred in it, which would have destroyed all but Noah, his family and the animals that were in the ark.
The other version for the formation of the Earth part of a possible explosion, very powerful, there are 13 billion years old, dubbed the Big Bang. This explosion gave rise to the matter of the universe. The Earth would have formed approximately 4.6 billion years old, resulting from a dust and gas left over from the spatial formation of the Sun. Having its start in a molten state, time, and other factors, made a part stay dry, separating that portion of the water. This portion of the dry land was grouped in a sort of supercontinent, which was later called "Rodinia". Then, with separations and reunifications of land, others were formed "supercontinents" called Panótia and then Pangéeia.
From the solidification of the earth around the waters and the formation of "supercontinents" were divided were to organize periods of great change on earth. Geological Eras calls are divided into Archeozoic, Proterozoic, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, Cenozoic era.
The first was Archeozoic, occurred the formation of the earth's crust, the crystalline shields and magmatic rocks. Began probably some 4 billion years ago.
The Proterozoic Era was the period in which it had first evidence of oxygen in the atmosphere. In addition, fossils are dated with unicellular organisms that time. Many volcanoes have been active in this period. This caused the existing smear was within the earth outwardly and cause the formation of many metals, such as, for example, manganese. Began around 2.5 billion years ago and ended 550 million years.
Paleozoic Era, which lasted between 542 and 251 million years ago, was the era in which there were the two extremes of the development of life on the planet: in the beginning there was the so-called Cambrian explosion, which was the growth and diversification of various species of animals. At the end there was a severe extinction of animal life, being the cause of this extinction still unknown. Like animals, plants also had a great development in this period. Species such as shark and the spider appeared at that time.
Since the Mesozoic Era, which occurred 500,000 years ago, was the era of the rise of the dinosaurs (Jurassic in this phase) and also division of Pangea on two continents: the Laurasia and Gondwana. Animals and other small mammals also born in this period, as well as taller trees. However, in the same Mesozoic Era, dinosaurs, who had dominion over the earth, have been extinct for a cause still unknown. Among the most prominent theories is that the collision of a comet with the Earth has been the cause of this event. With that mammals "inherited" the conditions of the dominant land.
Finally, the Cenozoic Era began about 65.5 million and lasts until today. It is a period marked by changes in the Earth's crust, causing even the mountain ranges such as the Andes. Also there was the formation of the continents as they are today, the divisions of the oceans and the birth of the human species. Also other mammals and primates began in the Cenozoic Era.
The Continents
Continents are large tracts of land that house different forms of life, vegetation, climate, geography, being surrounded by water. There are two ways of defining a continent. The first is to say that a continent and a number of countries. The second is to consider the continent as a whole piece of land larger than the largest island in the world: Greenland. In the case of Oceania, the first definition is better accepted, as this continent is also formed by islands and archipelagos. There are five continents political and four physical continents. The difference between the two is in the act of political divisions have policies of countries (such as Brazil, France, Belgium and others). Already the physical division is based on physical structure in territories of area territory. The continents in the physical division are: America, Eurafrásia, Australia and Antarctica. Already the political division has America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and Antarctica.
The American continent has around 42 million km2 and a population of over 900 million people. This continent has the distinction of having two large continental masses, connected by an isthmus (a quantity of land surrounded by water on two sides and connecting two areas of land). The two land masses are South America and North America. Already this isthmus is called Central America. North America consists of three countries: United States, Mexico and Canada. Of the three, the largest in scope is Canada, with 9,984,670 km2. Central America has the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Panama, Dominican Republic, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago. Its largest country in extension is Nicaragua. Already South America consists of 12 countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay and Venezuela. Of these, the largest area is in Brazil, with 8,514,877 km2.
Being present in the northern hemisphere and South America, has a good variety of climates and vegetation. The predominant climates, mainly in northern South America, Central America and Mexico are the tropical and temperate climates. North America has areas of icy arctic climate (such as Alaska and Greenland). Other areas, such as the United States and Canada, has well-defined seasons of the year, and harsh winter. With varying climates, the variance of vegetation is inevitable. While in North America, Canada and the United States and pine trees more resistant to low temperatures are characteristic, in Mexico, the vegetation is required in order endure high temperatures. In South America, is located the largest forest ecosystem and the world: the Amazon rainforest, dominated by large trees with wet weather and high temperatures. The relief of the continent began to be formed in the Paleozoic Era (especially in North America). The Mesozoic Era was one of great change for the South American continent, being the date of separation of the landmass that would become North America.
Europe is the second smallest continent in the world, only being larger than Oceania. Its length is approximately 10,180,000 km2, less than 7% of the dry part of the planet. It has 50 countries, and, among these, the largest in territory, is Russia, with 75,075,200 km2. The countries that make up this continent are: Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, the Netherlands (Holland), Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia and San Marino.
Its climate is linked to the fact of being in the temperate belt of the planet. Account with the Gulf Stream to leave your "less cold" climate, since the current heats Europe even in its winter cold. Though small, the European continent has variety of reliefs. Alps, Switzerland, Germany Plains, peninsulas ... The terrain is actually quite varied. Generically, the European south tends to be more mountainous, and in the north, the land will "decreasing". Just as soils, vegetation Europe is also varied. Some of the continent are found in the steppe, temperate forest, tundra, coniferous forests and others.
Asia is the largest continent in area, in the world, occupying 30% of the dry land on the planet and 9% of the surface of all the earth. Are 49 countries, only one country less than Europe, and some of them participate simultaneously in Asia and Europe. This explains the fact that Russia is the largest country in extent, these two continents. Countries on the continent are Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, China, Cyprus, North Korea, South Korea, Egypt, UAE, Philippines, Georgia , Yemen, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kuwait, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Mongolia, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Singapore, Syria, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The relief of the continent is marked by being extreme: home to the highest point on earth (Mount Everest) and the largest absolute depression of the earth (the Dead Sea). The high points are related to the ridges, of which the largest is the Himalayan. The early formation of this continent was in the Precambrian Era, taking the Paleozoic Era new change that resulted in large sedimentary basins. In the following eras, as the Mesozoic in which there was an increased sedimentation, and the Cenozoic also were changes that resulted in the current Asian relief. The climate varies according to the extensive Asian territory extends: in the far north, the polar climate is predominant; in the center, without the maritime influence, the climate is temperate continental characteristic. To the far south, because of the ridges prevent the passage of moisture from the ocean, remains the arid and semiarid region.
Africa has 30 million km2, representing 20% of the land on the planet. It is the third largest continent in size and the second most populous. Has 54 countries, Sudan being the largest, with 2,505,813 km2. Its relief, mostly consists of plateau with an average altitude of 750 meters, and the coastal plains presents. In the east, however, there is a sequence of hills and depressions that result in large lakes. But the climate of the continent is marked, at least in the south and north, the arid, semi-arid and desert climates. Example is the Sahara Desert, located in the north of the continent. The rainfall is concentrated in the "central" region of the continent, which passes the imaginary equator. Its relief is one of the oldest in the world, was still forming in the Precambrian.
The countries that make up this continent are: South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Chad, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Congo, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Algeria Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda
The planet's smallest continent, Oceania is composed of 14 countries and 14 domain areas of other countries, between islands and archipelagos. Basically formed by Australia and Pacific Islands. The independent countries forming the continent are: Australia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Western Samo, Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Those of the larger area is Australia.
Its climate is based on the intertropical and temperate climatic zones. Because they are not physically connected, each region of this continent has its own characteristics of geological formation and vegetation.
The Oceans
Oceans are large portions of brine, separating the continents and occupy approximately 71% of the land surface. The mention of Yuri Gagary that "the earth is blue" is due to the immense amount of water on our planet. The division for this area is water in five oceans: Pacific, Atlantic, Indian, and Atticus Glacial Glacial Antarctic. Not every body of water is called ocean: there are seas, canals, gulfs, etc. The differences between each linked to their shape, location, and in the case of the ocean, its salinity. Much of this area is over 3,000 meters deep; therefore, are not well explored. The ocean is still an area that man not fully explored.
The Pacific Ocean is named for being a calmer ocean to navigate than the Atlantic. This "baptism" was conducted by Ferdinand Magellan, Portuguese navigator, approximately in 1520 is the largest ocean on earth in extent with more or less 180 million km2 of water mass and represents one third of the planet. Of all the oceans is one of the deepest and therefore one of the least explored, with over 80% of its waters below 3000 meters. Is located between the Americas, Australia, Asia and Antarctica. A "peculiar" feature of the Pacific Ocean is the great amount of volcanoes that exist due to the Pacific Tectonic Plate, which is linked to the tectonic plates of the Philippines, Eurasian, Indian, North American and the Nazca plate. Because of all these cards together, and their friction and and many volcanoes earthquakes occur in the Pacific Ocean. Another major focus is the Pacific seas: large seas are connected to the Pacific and the Sea of Japan, Sea Coral, Java Sea and others.
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest ocean in the world and is located between the American continents Europe, Africa and having a format of letter "S". Its name comes from the mythological deity "Atlas", a Titan would have been the first king of the city, also mythological Atlantis. Later, Atlas was condemned by Zeus to carry the heavens forever. Although not the largest ocean, is what is connected to more countries, including Brazil. By being connected to the great powers of maritime expansion, occurred in commercial revolution in the fifteenth century to the eighteenth, was sailed the ocean for the first existing trade routes, such as Portugal to India and Brazil.
The Atlantic Ocean occupies about 17% of the land area and 26% of the planet occupied by water in the area. Its length is about 106 200 000 Km2. Inside there is a mid-ocean ridge resulting from friction between the South American tectonic plate and the African plate. From every ocean is the saltiest, the second in extent and that bathes most countries. The higher temperatures are this ocean near the equator and arrive at 30 ° C, since the lower revolve around -2 ° C, in winter, near the Southern Ocean. Its greatest depth is located in the Puerto Rico Trench, reaching 8605 meters.
The third largest ocean in the world is Indian. It is located between the African continent, Asia, Antarctica and also with Australia and Indonesia. It has an approximate area of 74 million km2, less than half the area of the largest ocean, the Pacific. Its greatest depth is 7455 meters, located in the pit of Java. Its highest recorded temperature is in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea area, reaching 32 C. Since low temperatures sit at the boundary with the Antarctic Ocean, the -1ºC.
This ocean has high economic importance: supplies the consumption of fish and shrimp exports to Asia and serves as a route for oil from the Persian Gulf and Indonesia, the large amount of oil that houses plus many minerals that are obtained in this ocean . To be a lot calmer than the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific, is preferred to make trade routes, since they are more easily navigated.
Being composed of the waters bordering the Antarctic continent, the Southern Ocean is just ahead of the Arctic Ocean in extension. Are 20.327 million km2. It is the only one who can encircle the entire planet, forming ma full circle. It is also the most "new" as it was officially recognized in 2000 by the International Hydrographic Organization, which determined their limits, inclusive, are treated the same as the Arctic. Both the ocean and the continent of Antarctica is used for peaceful purposes and research by countries like France, New Zealand, South Africa, United States and Brazil. Home to more than 80% of the world's freshwater. Its highest depth is around 5000 meters. Its average temperature ranges from 10 degrees above zero and -2 degrees. A curious detail is that this ocean is the largest chain in the world: the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which always moves eastward.
The smallest ocean is the Arctic. It is located in the northern hemisphere between countries: Canada, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland and Russia. Its greatest depth is 4 km, being the shallowest between oceans. Since its area is 13 million km2. It is also less salty by low evaporation that happens in your back and err on the large amount of fresh water circulating in their midst. Its temperature does not vary much and is always close to the temperature of 0C.
Planet Earth
Last Update:29/03/2015
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