I may be mistaken here, but I think the concept of a “continental shelf” is pretty well defined geologically. That is: Outside a land mass, the ocean floor extends a certain distance before dropping off to the deep ocean floor. An island would be a piece of land that sticks out of the sea from this continental shelf, while the “continent” includes the entire shelf, and all the land masses that stick out of the ocean on that shelf.
Of course, this seems to break down a bit for e.g. the Europe/Asia divide (and probably a lot more), but the concept of “continents” vs. “islands” can make sense geologically, although the “continents” are then different from the geopolitical borders ones we usually talk about.
Continents is a human made construct that’s later rationalized with tectonic plates and other criteria. Basically, people around the Mediterranean Sea divided the Mediterranean Coast into 3 parts and later extended this concept.
If you go by the geological definition, Australia is a continent, as is Zealandia. That’s right, New Zealand has equal geological footing with the entirety of Eurasia.
Not all continents, no. Islands are bodies of land surrounded by water on all sides, no? Wouldn’t Antarctica and Australia then qualify by that definition?
Does that mean Australia is not the biggest island
Apparently Greenland is considered the largest island. The difference between a continent and island is a little arbitrary.
Are continents islands?
I may be mistaken here, but I think the concept of a “continental shelf” is pretty well defined geologically. That is: Outside a land mass, the ocean floor extends a certain distance before dropping off to the deep ocean floor. An island would be a piece of land that sticks out of the sea from this continental shelf, while the “continent” includes the entire shelf, and all the land masses that stick out of the ocean on that shelf.
Of course, this seems to break down a bit for e.g. the Europe/Asia divide (and probably a lot more), but the concept of “continents” vs. “islands” can make sense geologically, although the “continents” are then different from the geopolitical borders ones we usually talk about.
By definition, a continent and an island are mutually exclusive. Nothing can be both.
Australia isn’t a continent either. It’s in the continent of Oceania, which includes New Zealand.
Antarctica is a continent in its own right. It’s not a country and not a nation.
There is no agreed upon definition or set of continents globally
It might as well be a made up word
All words are made up words…
the just be making up words now
All words are made up
no i’m doesn’t
What will they think of next?
ook
The Australia thing is something we were taught in high school.
I think I remember being told Greenland was the largest island, while Australia was a continent
Something to do with tectonic plates
Continents is a human made construct that’s later rationalized with tectonic plates and other criteria. Basically, people around the Mediterranean Sea divided the Mediterranean Coast into 3 parts and later extended this concept.
Yeah, but so is an island. It’s all human constructs. we see patterns and make up sounds for them.
Yes of cause
If you go by the geological definition, Australia is a continent, as is Zealandia. That’s right, New Zealand has equal geological footing with the entirety of Eurasia.
Probably why they keep getting left off maps, jealousy.
Not all continents, no. Islands are bodies of land surrounded by water on all sides, no? Wouldn’t Antarctica and Australia then qualify by that definition?
I mean every landmass is surrounded on all sides by water though
But most of the land that are considered continents are connected to one or kore other land, and thus couldn’t be defined as an island.
Though, after reading a few other comments, it seems the definition of what makes a continent a continent is apparently subject to debate.
~This is why we can’t have nice things.~