"Counting Continents" Topic

As I mentioned in a different e-mail, my family has travelled a lot – at least collectively.

My wife has been to 49 of the US States on business, plus Mexico, Canada and a few European countries.

My kids have been to several of the states – with and without us, and have been to Europe, Canada and Mexico.

There was a time when I'd been to more countries than states. Now, its probably about even.

But, while "keeping score," we've hit upon a question – what constitutes visiting a continent? I'm pretty sure that my trip to Japan (courtesy the Rotary Club) counts as having been to Asia. But, does setting foot on an island 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela count as having been to South America? My opinion is that since its on the continental plate, it counts. Others disagree.

What's your opinion?

If we can afford it, and if my daughter keeps up with the program, she is likely to visit all 7 continents by the time she is 18. Depending on how one views the quandry above, she's already achieved 3 of them and she'll have a 4th by July.

Wyatt

Continental shelf is good enough, unless the island has a distinctly non-continental culture and for all intents and purposes should be counted to another continent.

3 continents, 24 countries and counting. Oh the joys of Euroland.

currently 3 continents and 22 countries. Wife has 4 continents but only 16 countries. Hope to up that considerably in a few years when I quit work.

Hey, visit Tasmania and that counts as Australia! And it is more than 40 miles off the mainland. What do you count Singapore as? Definitely Asia! And the Philippines would have to count as Asia and they are more than 40 miles form the nearest country.
Count it and tell them to go look at an atlas.

Saw your other post after I answered this one. Are you counting Scotland and Wales as seperate countries? The Isle of Man has its own parliament so that might also count as a seperate country!

As a climber, the 7 Summits (highest mountain on each continent) have two main versions. The original, based on the traditional 7 continents, is also justified by it being on the continental landmass. The mountain in question is Kosciuszko, in Australia.

The alternate (or let's call it silly) option to Kosciuszko is the Carstensz Pyramid is in Indonesia, and on the Australasian continental shelf. But by applying that logic, Asia & Europe would be the same continent.

link has a neat summary of the issue, and includes a third option, but that is all about the highest mountains. It may help you define continents for yourself. For me, the traditional ones do just fine.

5 continents, 16 countries on a quick count (and 4 of the 7 summits)

Hmmm: 3 Continents for me including 2 at the same time (Europe/Asia). With 22 States.

Countries is open to debate. My wife says that an airport layover counts as being "in" a place. I say you must leave the airport.

Yes, the island off Venezuela counts as South America in my book.

The big question is does a layover in an airport count? You do not get to experience any of the real local culture, but you are there nonetheless.

My list:

1 continent, 3 countries and 25 states (including the token stop in Kansas just off of I-44 at the OK-MO border).

This will all change when I hop the pond in two weeks.

Must read Mr. Elmo's post first.

My apologies, Mr. Elmo for duplicating your airport topic.

I don't count states or countries that I pass through without leaving the vehicle/building. You have to actually stop and do more than just use the restroom. By that token, I've been through New Mexico twice, but I don't count it.

Two years ago, we took a cruise that went through the Panama Canal and to Curaçao. You can see Venezuela from the island, and it is a pretty distinct culture of its own. I give it equal status with visiting a country, even though its a colony/territory. Similarly, I also count Scotland and Wales (been to both) as the same way.

Wyatt

Does sitting in a car as you drive through a state let you count it, or does your feet have to touch ground?

But by applying that logic, Asia & Europe would be the same continent.

They are the same continent, our geography books are just written by Eurocentrics. The word is "Eurasia".

A case can be made for the Americas being all one continent, as can one for Europe, Asia, and Africa all being one. There's real no excuse for Europe and Asia being counted seperately, though.

As for the count, I have 48 States (49 in June, woo hoo!), All of Canada except the Yukon, NW Territories, Nunavut, Labrador, and PEI, and a toe over into Mexico.

No overseas/intercontinental travel yet, unfortunately.
-Kle.

Counting islands off of South America, I've been there for my fifth contintent.

Currently I'm at 18 countries on 5 continents. Haven't hit Australia or Antarctica yet. For the US, I think I've been through 38 of them. If you only count the ones that I've driven through (without feet touching the ground) then you can take off 3-4 of those. I've been in an out of Alaska's ports, but never set foot there. I've lived in 10 US states, counting that as long enough to rent an apartment.

How do you even define something as a continent. Europe and Asia could be two separate continents or they could be the same one. Is Australia a continent or an island or both?

What is the limit on the area of a continent?

What continent are the pacific islands a part of?

Adding any areas within countries makes things very vague.

Scotland and Wales I heard someone say? Then why not states of the USA? If so, then maybe also republics within the Russian Federation. What about Bundesländer of Germany? How about counting oddities such as Abkhazia and Transnistria. Before long you'll be counting provinces and city blocks… I guess counting internationally recognised states with UN representation should cause least problems with counting…

2 Continents, 8 countries, 45 states + 1 territory.

Family rules are you have to leave the airport and you have to get out of the car. Wife and I are going for all 50 states and as many countries as we can get.

Is New Zealand part of the continent of Australia?

I agree, that Europe ought to be considered part of Asia; there is no separation except in people's minds.

Continents 3, Europe, N America, Australasia.

Countries 12, I think.

Counting airport stop overs would add Asia and probably a couple of countries.

US States, no idea, but I did a 1 month train trip around much of the US while at uni, so must have covered 20 ish.

But haven't been outside the UK for several years now, don't fancy flying with kids.

Continents – all of them (except Antarctica).
Countries – absolutely no idea, but quite a few. Ran out of fingers and toes.
Have crossed the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, the Equator and the Arctic Circle, tho.
Don't get out much these days, sadly.

Nowhere close to the same level of travel as some, but even I've set foot in ten states and left the continental US (one of the states being Hawaii).

Umm, 3 continents, 11 countries, 25 states. Not exactly a globe-trotter, and not likely to visit many "new" foreign places in my life, sadly.

Dave

"Is New Zealand part of the continent of Australia?"

No. The NZ islands are the result of their own volcanic activity and are not on the Australian plate. Geologically they are much younger than Australia.

4 Continents. I really don't know how many countries. 25+ anyway. It is such a bummer you don't get a stamp in every Euro-country anymore. Though I do not count myself as a globe trotter. Riding through Belgium on the Telus is not much more of an experience than camping at an airport lounge, and five days at the Phuket Hilton is not experiencing Thailand (though it is nice).

Now I am resident in Asia my country count is rising rapidly, though again, an overnighter in Shanghai and a few days in Beijing hardly qualifies as 'seeing' China. Ditto two days in LA is not seeing the US and a week in London is not the UK, or even England.

So much to see…

Everyone here advises me to see Cambodia and (parts of) Vietnam while it is still 'unspoiled' (which I think means nice to look at but not nice to live in. "Hurry up and spoil me dammit!").

Oh…and a subcontinent.

"The NZ islands are the result of their own volcanic activity and are not on the Australian plate. Geologically they are much younger than Australia."

They sit on one edge of the Australian Plate, actually. They are the result of unusual plate boundary conditions.

Either as a "part" of the Australian Continent (for our purposes) or as part of the Pacific Islands, they are certainly "somewhere else" for most purposes.

Talking about islands

I presume the Bahamas count as North America, but does Tobago count as South America?

If the answer to both the above is yes I , much to my surprise, have 5 continents (the others being Europe, Asia and Africa)

Unless Indonesia counts as part of Australasia of course, which would get it up to six!

Update necromancy!

New Zealand appears to be the remnants of a mostly sunken continent distinct from Australia.
link