So it looks like there are just two continents.

Submitted by Swatcat on March 18, 2026
Antarctica is shrinking to islandhood since it’s losing its ice shelves and all, and Australia could be considered an island. ( And Greenland is an island).

North n South America are one continent, and Eurasia-Africa is the other one.

What we call continents are just convenient continent divisions.

One way to look at it.

28 Comments
+2
Level 68
Mar 18, 2026
So are subcontinents sub-subcontinents???
+8
Level 52
Mar 18, 2026
Continents: semicontinents

Subcontinents: demisemicontinents

Countries: hemidemisemicontinent

States/Provinces: Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Counties: Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Townships: Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Zip Codes: Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

+2
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
Atoms?
+2
Level 39
Mar 18, 2026
Quarks?
+3
Level 63
Mar 18, 2026
at that rate and with those assumptions:

Streets: Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Buildings: Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Rooms: Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Objects: Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Compounds: Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Molecules: Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Atoms: Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Atoms: Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Subatomic particles: Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

Fundamental particles: Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-Hemi-Demi-Semi-continent

but it really makes no sense

+6
Level 72
Mar 18, 2026
Sporcle is an unreliable source.
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
This is not from Sporcle. I’m not selling my soul.
+4
Level 61
Mar 18, 2026
If your purpose is to rage bait me... it is working.

Antarctica isn't shrinking, the land mass is still the same. Snow is water.

North America and South America are clearly disconnected by the Panama Canal and the Panama Isthmus.

Africa is clearly not connected to Asia (Different plates)

Australia is not an island as it is way to big to be considered an island by definition.

And Greenland is. well, not an island. You got that one correct.

+3
Level 73
Mar 18, 2026
Well, IMO your reasoning is quite bad. The Panama Canal is completely man-made and that would put the South of Panama with South America, which it is never considered with. Also, just because Africa and Asia are different tectonic plates doesn't mean much, why not consider the Arabian Peninsula, Turkey, and Juan de Fuca their own continents?
+2
Level 61
Mar 18, 2026
Okay I will just give you the basic definition of why continents are different.

"Distinct cultural, historical, and geographical features"

+1
Level 73
Mar 18, 2026
I'm not debating that, it's just your reasons aren't that good.
+1
Level 61
Mar 18, 2026
I know, I was just fixing my reasons.
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
A continent is a giant mass of land. Hence my statement/theory/random thought.
+2
Level 61
Mar 18, 2026
A continent, by definition, is a large, continuous landmass distinguished by its size, geological structure, and often cultural or historical significance. It is not just by a giant mass of land
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
The cultural and historical significance part is not, strictly speaking, a geographical feature of a continent. Europe is Asia’s right arm. It’s the same mass of land.
+1
Level 61
Mar 18, 2026
It is part of the definition of Continent, however.

What divides continents are "oceans, seas, rivers, mountain ranges, and geological processes like tectonic plate movement."

So by this definition, we have 7 continents.

+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
That’s the traditional way to look at it. This is an alternate perspective.

Also, by your definition the Indian sub-continent could be considered a continent. As could Greenland, Iberia and Scandinavia. :/ Just sayin’…

And speaking of different tectonic plates, do we consider Africa two or three continents because of the Rift valley fault?

+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
Because a continent is a large land mass, not a tectonic plate.
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
Please read the last line. This is one perspective.:)
+1
Level 72
Mar 18, 2026
Read this fabulous blog by iharding
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
Great recommendation! Well written brilliant blog!

It just lacks the two-continent theory.. 🙃

+4
Level ∞
Mar 18, 2026
Bro, the Antarctic ice sheet is 2 kilometers thick.
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
I’m talking about the ice shelves, not the ice cover. The ice shelves don’t have land underneath them. So the actual land mass is smaller than it appears even if you allow for Mercator’s projection.

And the ice shelves are melting and breaking away..

Under all that frigid ice, Antarctica is an island that just wants to be loved.

+5
Level 63
Mar 18, 2026
person discovers old world and new world
+1
Level 75
Mar 18, 2026
Americas is a continent

North America is a continent

Europe is a continent

Asia is a continent

Afro-Eurasia is a continent

Australia is a continent

Oceania is a continent

They are all continents

I see nothing wrong with this.

+2
Level 56
Mar 18, 2026
Sure, maybe Asia and Europe are combined into Eurasia, but Africa isnt part of that
+1
Level 78
Mar 18, 2026
Africa is connected via the Sinai area in Egypt to Asia and hence Eurasia. It’s all one massive continent/supercontinent.

Maybe there are two supercontinents. And seven continents.

+1
Level 78
Mar 19, 2026
And. If global cooling happens and causes the Bering strait to become the Bering land bridge/isthmus again, then.. we’ll have one supercontinent.

You could theoretically walk just by land from Cape Horn at the tip of South America, up, via the Bering land bridge, and to the Cape of Good Hope, in South Africa. One way to stretch your legs.