The shape of the earth and its surface

However, the Earth actually takes the form not of an apple or a ball. It's more of a huge pumpkin: a ball, flattened on two sides. Protruding ribs and flattened make Earth look like a rugby ball. But the geography of the earth is called the geoid (n - Earth, eidos - form). And it is because our planet has a specific shape, which is difficult to convey in comparison. Although one can often hear this: the planet Earth is in the form of an ellipse. But it should be remembered here that any comparison with respect Well, what is the Earth's surface? And what did she like? If we had climbed high above the ground and looked out upon its surface, we would see that most of it covered with water. Much smaller areas are free of water. These sites are called the dry land. Land of the globe consists of continents and islands, mainland - it is a large land mass the earth's surface above the level of the ocean. According to its geological origin differ in six continents. Sometimes they are called continents. It Eurasia, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica. But earlier, when people did not know the exact number of continents, and only started to take the first steps in the discovery, each new land they called part of the world. Therefore, some have survived and even the names of the continents on the parts of the world: Europe, Asia, Africa, America (but originally a long time it was known as the West Indies because Columbus discovered it, I thought that sailed to India) Australia Oceania. And the last was discovered Antarctica.