Earth’s landmass covers 29.2% of the planet’s surface area and comprises seven continents formed through plate tectonics. The oldest rocks on Earth, with valuable information about the planet’s early history, are over 4 billion years old and found within the continents. The landmass provides essential natural resources such as minerals, fossil fuels, timber, fertile soil, and water. Moreover, it sustains diverse plant and animal life, such as in the Amazon rainforest, that aids in regulating climate, purifying air, and providing habitats. However, human activities such as deforestation and pollution endanger the earth’s ecosystem and species diversity.
Discovering the Secrets of a Vast Landmass on Earth
Earth is a beautiful planet with diverse landscapes. One of the most significant features of earth is its vast landmass. The landmass of Earth spans over 148 million square kilometers, which is about 29.2 percent of the planet’s total surface area. It includes mountains, deserts, plains, forests, and numerous other landforms. The Earth’s landmass holds many secrets that we are still discovering, and in this article, we will explore some of them.
Geological Formation
Understanding the geological formation of the Earth’s landmass is the first step in discovering its secrets. The Earth’s landmass is divided into seven continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. It is believed that these continents formed through the process of plate tectonics. This process involves the movement of the Earth’s crustal plates, which leads to the creation of rift valleys, ocean trenches, and mountains.
The oldest rocks on Earth are over 4 billion years old, and they are found within the continents. These ancient rocks contain valuable information about the early history of our planet. They reveal that the Earth was once covered by a single supercontinent, which was known as Pangaea. Pangaea began to break up about 200 million years ago, leading to the formation of the current continents.
Natural Resources
The Earth’s landmass is a source of abundant natural resources that are essential to human survival. These resources include minerals, fossil fuels, water, and timber. Minerals like iron, copper, and aluminum are used in the production of various goods, including cars, airplanes, and electronic devices. Fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas are used to power our homes and transport systems. Timber is used to build houses and furniture.
One of the most significant sources of natural resources in the Earth’s landmass is the fertile soil. This soil provides the foundation for agriculture, which is the primary source of food for the world’s population. The top ten food crops in the world are rice, wheat, corn, potatoes, cassava, soybeans, sweet potatoes, sorghum, yams, and plantains.
Biodiversity
The Earth’s landmass is also home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life. Each continent has its unique set of species that have adapted to their environment over millions of years. The Amazon rainforest in South America, for example, is the most biodiverse region on Earth, with millions of plant and animal species living within it.
The Earth’s landmass plays a crucial role in maintaining the world’s ecosystem. It helps to regulate the climate, purify the air, and provide habitats for a wide range of species. Many of these species, however, are threatened by human activities such as deforestation and pollution.
FAQs
Q. How much of the Earth is covered by land?
A. The Earth’s landmass covers about 29.2 percent of the planet’s total surface area.
Q. What is the geological formation of the Earth’s landmass?
A. The Earth’s landmass is believed to have formed through the process of plate tectonics.
Q. What are some of the natural resources found in the Earth’s landmass?
A. Natural resources found in the Earth’s landmass include minerals, fossil fuels, water, timber, and fertile soil.
Q. What is biodiversity, and why is it important?
A. Biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal life found on Earth. It is important because it helps to maintain the world’s ecosystem.
Q. What are some of the threats to species diversity?
A. Human activities such as deforestation and pollution are some of the threats to species diversity.
