Asia is the largest Continent covering about 1/3rd of the land surface on Earth with about four billion people residing on it. However, before the continents were formed, earth had one single mass of land referred to as Pangaea. Movement of tectonic plates and drifting of land over billions of years led to the formation of separate continents.

Here are some interesting facts about Asia for kids.

• Asia being so large a continent is often referred to in sub-divided parts including Northern Asia, Central Asia, Middle East, South East Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

• The smallest landmass located in the Southern Hemisphere, Australia is also included within the Asian continent.

• The total area of Asia is said to exceed the total surface area of the Moon.

• The name ‘Asia’ was invented by the Greeks just like the name ‘Europe’.

• Asia is the birthplace of religions like Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity and Islam and many ancient civilisations like the Chinese, Indus Valley and Harappan civilisations.

• Having so many nations within the Asian continent, Asia exhibits great diversity in race, culture and languages including religions of Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Buddhism.

• Two of the world’s most populated countries China and India are both situated in Asia.

• Water bodies bordering the Asian continent include the Pacific Ocean, South China Sea, Arctic Ocean, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal, Bering Sea and Yellow Sea.

• Primary water bodies in the Asian continent are the Caspian Sea, Aral Sea, Lake Baikal, Yangtze River, and Ganges River.

• The Himalayan Fold Mountains, Ural Mountains, the World’s tallest peak Mount Everest (part of the Himalayan range), Thar Desert, Kunlun Mountains, Takla Makan Desert, Island of Japan, Gobi Desert, and Siberia are all notable geographical landscapes located on the continent of Asia.

• The Caspian Sea is the world’s largest lake; Mount Everest is the world’s highest peak and Yangtze River the longest River in Asia.

• Major animals of the Asian continent include reticulated Pythons, one-horned Rhinoceros, elephants, Panda, Tigers etc.

• Japan is the largest economy of Asia and the continent alone is said to be the third largest contributor to the GDP of all continents combined after North America and Europe.

• North Korea, a part of Asia, has their version of celebration of Christmas where Kim Jong II’s birthday is celebrated.

• Some of the major Asian countries include Azerbaijan, Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Japan, Afghanistan, Malaysia, Kuwait, North and South Korea, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, UAE etc.

• Bangladesh in Asia is one of the most densely populated nations in the world; the population comprising approximately of 85% Muslims and 15% Hindus.

• There is more number of Muslims living in South Asia than in the whole of Middle East but they comprise a mere 15% of the whole population.

• There are over 7000 islands in the Philippines alone for tourists to explore.

• Mining contributes greatly to the GDP of Asian countries and is an important activity; Asia is also said to be rich in a variety of mineral resources.

Tectonic movements continue even today which result in earthquakes and tsunamis. Scientists believe that continents continue to be drifting at the rate of 7cm apart every year.