Eurasia facts for kids
Eurasia is the combined landmass of the continents of Europe and Asia. It is located in the northern part of the Earth. Eurasia is made of Europe and Asia, which sit on the same large piece of the Earth's crust, called a tectonic plate. Unlike other continents, there isn't a sea dividing them. The word "Eurasia" is made by combining "Eur" (from Europe) with "Asia".
Some geographers (people who study the Earth's surface) think Eurasia is just one huge continent. This is because, unlike the Americas or Africa, Europe and Asia are not separated by a sea. The Ancient Greeks first divided the world they knew into Europe, Asia, and Africa. They used the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara as the border between Europe and Asia. Over time, people continued to talk about Europe and Asia as two separate continents, so it became a tradition.
Countries in Eurasia
The OECD (a group of countries working together) has activities in 13 countries across Eurasia. These countries stretch from the borders of the European Union all the way to the Far East.
- Afghanistan
- Armenia
- Azerbaijan
- Belarus
- Georgia
- Kazakhstan
- Kyrgyzstan
- Mongolia
- Republic of Moldova
- Tajikistan
- Turkmenistan
- Ukraine
- Uzbekistan
- Turkey
Some other continents are also joined together by a thin strip of land called an isthmus. For example, North America and South America are connected this way. However, Europe and Asia are not divided by sea at all.
Parts of Eurasia
Sometimes, Eurasia is divided into two main parts: West Eurasia and East Eurasia. West Eurasia includes Europe and the Middle East. Historians sometimes also add North Africa to West Eurasia. This is because the Sahara Desert divides North Africa from the rest of Africa. Crossing the Sahara Desert can be as difficult as crossing a sea.
Eurasia is the largest continent on Earth. Some people even like to combine it with Africa and call it "Afro-Eurasia" because they are connected.
Images for kids
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The boundary of the 13th century Mongol Empire and location of today's Mongols in modern Mongolia, Russia and China.
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Single markets in European and post-Soviet countries; European Economic Area and Common Economic Space
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ASEM Partners
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Physical map of Asia
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Changes in national boundaries after the collapse of the Eastern Bloc
See also
In Spanish: Eurasia para niños
