Presentation on the topic "geographical discoveries of continents." Who discovered Australia? Who discovered the continent

In what sequence the continents were discovered by Europeans, you will learn from this article.

In what centuries were the continents discovered?

The discovery of continents was consistent and natural. It is known that there are 6 continents on our planet. The largest of them is Eurasia. The second continent in terms of territorial size is Africa. Its shores are washed by two oceans - the Atlantic and Indian. The two subsequent continents, South and North America, are connected by the small Isthmus of Panama. The fifth continent is Antarctica, which is covered with a thick shell of ice. This is the only continent of all 6 continents where there are no permanent residents. A large number of polar stations have been created on it; scientists regularly visit them and conduct observations. Australia is the last and smallest continent on the planet.

How did the continents get their names?

The continents were named by the Europeans who discovered them. There is no exact date for the discovery of Eurasia and Africa. What is known is that even the ancient Greeks knew and distinguished Eurasia into Asia and Europe. Europe is the part of the territory that was located to the west of Greece, and Asia was on the eastern side. Africa became known to the world after the Romans conquered the southern part of the Mediterranean coast.

At the end of the 15th century - the beginning of the 16th century, namely in 1492 he made a long sea expedition and discovered America.

In the 17th century Dutch navigators discovered a fifth continent, which they called Terra Australis Incognita. It stands for Unknown Southern Land. The fifth continent was Australia.

Antarctica is a mystery continent that attracts travelers with its secrets. How did the discovery of Antarctica happen? What mysteries does this kingdom of the Snow Queen hide? And what fate awaits her in the future?

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Who discovered Antarctica?

The discovery of Antarctica occurred back in 1820, it was made by Russian navigators Bellingshausen and Lazarev. However, they only witnessed the existence of a new continent during their journey. The first to set foot on the mainland were the American navigators of the ship "Cecilia" almost a year after the discovery of the mainland by Lazarev and Bellingshausen. After the discovery of Antarctica by Russian sailors, many travelers became interested in the mysterious continent. What seafarers have not rushed to the cold depths of the Southern Arctic Circle. Charles Wilkes, Jules Dumont-D'Urville, James Ross, Carsten Borchgrevink and many others from all over the world contributed to the exploration of Antarctica.

In the mid-20th century, the study of Antarctica began to attract industrial interest. At this time, various meteorological and geological studies were carried out. The legal status of Antarctica determined that this continent does not belong to any country, so sailors from any country could and can freely visit it and conduct the necessary research and study of the territory. The history of the exploration of the mainland is replete with a mass of discoveries and research - the territory of the mainland is divided into so-called “lands” and each “land” is named after the traveler who discovered it, or some famous person. So, there you can find Queen Elizabeth Land, Alexander I Land, William II Land and many others.

The discovery of Antarctica is accompanied by a lot of interesting facts and mysteries. For example, in 1991, information appeared that the remains of Cryolophosaurus, a dinosaur of the Early Jurassic era that once lived in the vastness of Antarctica, had been discovered on the territory of Antarctica. Antarctica is located in an area of ​​extremely unfavorable natural conditions for human life, this explains the fact why it was discovered later than all the continents.

So, what is the importance of the discovery of such a mysterious and atypical continent as Antarctica? It is unique and is of serious interest for studying the nature of many phenomena that are possible only in the climate of Antarctica. The mainland is the most valuable find among the discovery of all lands and continents. The discovery of Antarctica became the greatest and most important milestone in the history of the study of our planet, which gave impetus to scientific research and initiation of humanity into many secrets of the universe.

Discovery of Antarctica by Bellingshausen and Lazarev

For a long time, Antarctica remained in the darkness of mystery and was inaccessible to humanity. But everything secret is destined to become clear, and one day, thanks to Russian navigators, the secret of this amazing continent was revealed to humanity. The first Russian Antarctic expedition, which took place in 1819, was aimed at searching for a continent that could theoretically exist in the Antarctic region. Which Russian navigators accomplished this geographical feat?

Two Russian admirals (at that time - captain of the second rank and lieutenant), conquerors of the seas and oceans, fearless knights of the helm and dagger - Lazarev and Bellingshausen on two ships - "Vostok" and "Mirny" - set off to conquer the South Pole. The sailors made careful preparations for such an important event. In July 1819, the expedition finally set out from Kronstadt and headed for the island of South Georgia, then the ships headed east. In January 1820, the expedition approached the shores of Antarctica. Due to the onset of the Antarctic winter and, as a consequence, unfavorable conditions, the navigators who discovered Antarctica went to the Pacific Ocean, where they discovered a number of islands and, with the onset of the Antarctic summer, returned to exploring Antarctica.

The journey of Bellingshausen and Lazarev became a major milestone not only in the history of geographical discoveries, but also in the history of all mankind. Their journey was the last major geographical discovery and ended the era of great discoveries. The discovery of the mainland allowed scientists around the world to begin studying this unique territory with unusual climate and weather conditions. Leaders of the expedition 1819-1821 Antarctica and twenty-six islands were discovered, invaluable research and observations were carried out, and sketches of the continent's species and living animals were made. The feat of the seafarers is difficult to overestimate. They made an invaluable contribution to science and the development of all humanity.

Date of discovery of Antarctica

The year 1820 is written in golden letters in the history of mankind. This is the year when the greatest geographical discovery was made - the discovery of the sixth continent on planet Earth - Antarctica. This event marked the beginning of large-scale research activities and knowledge of the secrets of the mysterious land - Antarctica. The year of the discovery of the continent became the starting point for the start of even more significant research. What date is considered the day of the discovery of Antarctica? What century was the turning point in its history? When did the veil of secrecy lift over this unique land, where no human had set foot until the eighteenth century?

There is no clear answer to this question. The first ship crossed the Antarctic Circle back in 1599. In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, navigators discovered a number of islands around Antarctica, such as South Georgia, Bouvet and others. And only in 1819, the Russian navigators Bellingshausen and Lazarev purposefully set off towards the South Pole in order to discover the continent, which, according to the navigators’ assumptions, could be there. And their hypothesis was justified - as a result of two years of wandering across the vast expanses of the ocean, the continent of Antarctica and several dozen islands were discovered. This marked the beginning of massive expeditions to the mainland, a series of studies and discoveries, the value of which for humanity is simply limitless.

The unique climate of Antarctica has attracted scientists from all over the world. Despite the harsh climate of the mainland, the flora and fauna of this territory is very rich and diverse. The mainland is home to seals, birds, penguins and many others. Plants include mosses, lichens and ferns. Today, several dozen scientific stations around the world operate in Antarctica. At the end of the last century, scientists concluded that the flora of the continent is changing, the number of plants is increasing, which indicates climate change and global warming. This is also evidenced by the melting ice of Antarctica. This sad fact can lead to rising sea levels, which means flooding of territories and even entire cities.

And in general, climate change will lead to the death of plants and animals, which in turn will have a detrimental effect on human life. On the other hand, a softening of the climate to a more comfortable one could even lead to the settlement of Antarctica and its more active development, which, undoubtedly, could be a unique experience for humans. In any case, Antarctica still holds a lot of mysteries and can surprise humanity with various metamorphoses. It is quite possible that in 100-200 years this kingdom of the Snow Queen will appear before us in a completely unusual and unexpected form.

The discovery and exploration of South America is closely associated with the name of the Spanish navigator Christopher Columbus. It was thanks to him that the world learned about new, previously unexplored lands. However, this discovery turned out to be accidental, since the main task of Columbus's expedition was to find a short route to India.

History of the discovery of South America

Until the 15th century, the territory of South America was inhabited by indigenous people - Indians, who had their own unique culture, traditions and customs. Their civilization developed in a closed territory, without any outside influence.

The long-term isolation of the American Indians was broken on October 12, 1492, when the expedition of Christopher Columbus accidentally stumbled upon one of the Bahamas. After a month of wandering around the Atlantic Ocean, his ships Santa Maria, Niña and Pinta landed on a land that the navigator mistakenly took for the west coast of India. After a superficial exploration of the islands and coastline of the northern coast of South America, the navigator returned to his homeland.

Rice. 1. Christopher Columbus

After reporting his discovery to the King of Spain, Columbus received significant financial support, and with 17 ships returned to the West Indies - the Western Indies - as he continued to count. The purpose of this expedition was simple - to search for gold in new lands. This is how Haiti was conquered and developed. Subsequently, Christopher Columbus made two more expeditions to the shores of South America, but he never realized his mistake.

The real discovery of South America as a new continent occurred in the 16th century thanks to the Italian navigator Amerigo Vespucci. Having landed on the shores of the West Indies, the experienced sailor quickly realized that Columbus was mistaken.

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Rice. 2. Amerigo Vespucci

Vespucci dubbed the discovered and described lands the New World, and subsequently the continent was christened in his honor - this is how the name “America” appeared. However, Christopher Columbus also did not go unnoticed - one of the South American countries - Colombia - was named after him.

Table “Discoverers of South America”

Geographical exploration of South America

Columbus's discovery of America forever changed people's understanding of the globe. This event became one of the most important in the history of all mankind.

Having learned that new lands had been discovered by the Spanish navigator, a stream of lovers of easy money poured there. Travelers dreamed of the countless treasures that could be found in the New World. Such people - invaders from Portugal or Spain - were called conquistadors.

Rice. 3. Conquistadors

In a blind pursuit of wealth, they mercilessly destroyed local residents, plundered their settlements, and devastated the occupied territories. However, along with this barbarism, new lands were explored: maps of the mainland and coast, descriptions of nature and relief were created.

One of the most famous researchers of his time, the German scientist Alexander Humboldt, made a great contribution to the study of the continent. For 20 years, he carefully studied South America: its flora and fauna, indigenous people, and geological features. The book he wrote subsequently became almost the only complete and reliable source of information about the New World.

What have we learned?

While studying one of the interesting topics in 7th grade geography, we learned who discovered South America, how the process of its conquest and exploration took place, and how the discovery of this continent influenced the idea of ​​​​medieval people about the structure of our planet.

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Man's acquaintance with the continents of the planet lasted throughout an entire historical period. The acquisition of important geographical information and a number of important finds began to be called the Age of Discovery. This knowledge of the Earth continued for two centuries.

Instructions

• One of the most striking and exciting is the discovery of a new world - America. The navigator Christopher Columbus set out in search of a sea route from the European part of Eurasia to the Indian shores. In 1492, the ship landed on the shore of a picturesque island. Columbus believed that the crew had arrived on the Indian coast. Because of the confidence of the navigator, the natives of America - the Indians - got their name. Columbus and his team of sailors were terribly disappointed in their find. Trade with the locals was not promising. And only at the beginning of the 16th century, the navigator Amerigo Vespucci discovered a new world for the inhabitants of Europe. He guessed that Columbus, on his expedition, mistakenly mistook America for the coast of India.
• Getting to know the African continent was less intriguing. Residents of Eurasia have known about the existence of Africa from time immemorial. Vasco da Gama is considered the first European pioneer in Africa. In 1497, the navigator's ship left Lisbon towards India. The navigator was the first European to sail across the sea to India, circumnavigating the African continent. Along the way, Vasco da Gama explored the coast of Africa and made a lot of discoveries.
• In November 1605, the navigator Willem Janszoon set off on his ship towards the island of New Guinea. Approaching the coast, the traveler did not notice anything strange. At first he thought he had reached the right island. But, having stepped onto the damp, swampy shore, the navigator suspected that these lands were not at all what he was looking for. The indigenous population of the island greeted the uninvited guests, to put it mildly, unfriendly. Then the sailors realized that they had landed on the shores of a completely foreign land. The island that received travelers hostilely turned out to be New Zealand. Willem Janszoon is recognized as the first European to visit Australian shores.
• Having made an incredible number of significant discoveries during the era of the Great Geographical Discoveries, humanity did not even think that there were unknown continents left on the planet. However, in January 1820, an expedition of Russian explorers under the command of Thaddeus Bellingshausen sailed towards the south pole of the earth. Unexpectedly for themselves, the members of the expedition discovered a hitherto unknown continent. The continent, covered with a thick crust of ice, seemed dead to the sailors. The last discovered continent of our planet was named Antarctica.
• The Magnificent Epoch undoubtedly became one of the most significant in the human exploration of the Earth's expanses. Talented sailors and researchers have made an invaluable contribution to the development of science and the worldview of all mankind.

Most of the continents are located in the Eastern Hemisphere of the Earth: Eurasia (with the exception of a small part of Chukotka), most of Africa, Australia and part of Antarctica.

Eurasia

Most of Eurasia is located north of the equator. Eurasia is the largest of the Earth's continents. Its area is 36% of the entire earth's landmass - 53.593 million km². It is not only the largest, but also the most populated continent; ¾ of humanity lives here.

The coastline is heavily indented, there are many bays and peninsulas, the largest of which are Hindustan and the Arabian Peninsula. In contrast to other continents, mountains in Eurasia are located mainly in the central part, and plains are located in coastal areas.

Eurasia is the only one that represents all the climatic zones of the Earth: equatorial, tropical, subtropical, temperate, subarctic and arctic.

Eurasia is washed by all four oceans: the Arctic in the north, the Indian in the south, the Pacific in the east and the Atlantic in the west.

Africa

Africa occupies the second largest area among the continents - 29 million km², and approximately 1 billion people live here.
The equator divides Africa in half, and its location makes it the hottest continent. In the central part of the continent the climate is equatorial, to the south and north it is tropical and subtropical. In the Sahara - the largest desert not only in Africa, but also on Earth - the highest temperature on the planet is recorded: +58 degrees.

The coastline is slightly indented, there are no large bays or peninsulas.

The relief of Africa is represented mainly by high plains, cut in some places by deep river valleys.
The coasts of Africa are washed by the Atlantic and Indian oceans, as well as the Mediterranean and Red seas.

Australia

Australia is located much south of the equator. Because of this geographical location, Europeans discovered it later than other continents - 100 years after the discovery of America.

Australia is the smallest continent on Earth, with an area of ​​only 7,659,861 km². For this reason, geographers for some time considered Australia an island, but it is now classified as a continent because Australia is located on a separate tectonic plate.

Most of the continent is semi-desert and desert, but the climate of the southwestern part of the continent resembles the Mediterranean. The most interesting feature of Australia's climate, associated with its location south of the equator, is the “reverse” seasons: the warmest month is January, the coldest month is June.

The fauna of Australia is unique. This continent separated from the others before marsupial mammals were replaced by placentals, and became a true “nature reserve” for these animals.

Australia is washed by the Indian Ocean in the north and east, and the Pacific Ocean in the south and west.