FatSuperman
Well-known member
- Feb 25, 2016
- 2,830
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[Travel] Is Australia a continent?
- Thread starter Juan Albion
- Start date
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #22
Exactly. There is no correct answer to this question, only opinions, since there is no agreed standard definition of what a continent is. Politicians might have one answer, geologists quite another. In the case of Australia, different parts of the world teach different things.
As for New Zealand, there are a couple of suggestions. One is that it is not part of a continent at all (possibly it is a micro-continent in the same way Pluto is a dwarf planet, not a real planet). Another is the aforementioned Zealandia, which is largely under water. Another is that it is part of Oceania, with Aus, Fiji etc.
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #24
And certainly some argue that tectonic plates/continental shelves should be used to define continents. I prefer that myself in some ways.
FatSuperman
Well-known member
- Feb 25, 2016
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Haha yeeaaahh! **** you Iceland! You get two continents. Iceland Left and Iceland Right sounds good to me.
New Zealand is screwed no matter how we classify it. I honestly think the best approach is to either ignore it and delete from continental maps. Or just mutter it under your breath as the continents are listed.
“Oh yeah I know them all; Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica... andstupidlittlefkinnewzealand, crying in the corner with Pluto the dwarf”
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #26
I tried that but got viciously assaulted by a keyboard warrior on YouTube from a country where they disagree with that list. I tried saying if it is a good enough list for NASA, it is good enough for me. But he started waffling on about Easter Island and Chile for some unknown reason.
And as for Iceland, he felt the same about Papua New Guinea/West Papua but for different reasons.
Tyrone Biggums
Well-known member
There's the whole flora and fauna that only occur there which also factors into it being its own continent.
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #28
But that would make Madagascar a continent for sure.
Well my understanding was that the above is all wrong. Australia is a continent.
Australasia and Oceana are regions that include New Zealand, and New Zealand is not on any continent.
Tyrone Biggums
Well-known member
As i said its part of the equation. It proves the land mass has been apart from other land masses for a long long time. Madagascar is a lot smaller land mass though. It could fit into mainland Australia 13-14 times.
So land mass in size might play a part as well.
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #31
Yes, there are so many ways it could be done. But none definitive, which is rather surprising.
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #32
A common belief, and my personal opinion too.
Tyrone Biggums
Well-known member
Added I think the indigenous peoples of Australia are a strong case to to put forth in any such discussion as to why it's a continent.
Unlike NZ where it's Islander peoples do share similarities with other Islander nations the Australian Aboriginal is their own unique look.
I've not heard that before. Have you got a link to a definition of 'continent' that says having its own flora and fauna is relevant?
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #35
But Africa is one continent even though the Arabs in the north are very different to many other African nations' peoples. So I'm not sure that works.
FatSuperman
Well-known member
- Feb 25, 2016
- 2,830
I think one of the issues is the number of different names and terms for that area. Australia, Australasia, Oceania, Sahul, Australinea, Meganesia! What we really need is one universal name to rule them all. A new standard, as it were.
I nominate Juan to decide.
I nominate Juan to decide.
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #37
Then I'll just name it "The Leftovers"
sydney
tinky ****in winky
another subject altogether....that is more to do with human migration.
sydney
tinky ****in winky
Juan Albion
Chicken Sniffer 3rd Class
- Thread starter
- #40
Well, exactly, continents move on their tectonic plates, which is why I like to use them when trying to work out what is what. We have to ask ourselves what the continents will look like in a million years time.