A continent is a large, continuous expanse of land, often including nearby islands, separated by oceans or geographical features. The Earth’s surface is divided by lines of latitude, which help classify the location of these major landmasses. This article identifies which continents are situated entirely above the global divider known as the Equator.
Defining the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
The Equator is a theoretical line that encircles the planet at zero degrees (0°) latitude, equidistant from the North and South Poles. This great circle separates the Earth into two equal halves: the Northern Hemisphere (north of the Equator) and the Southern Hemisphere (south of the Equator).
For a continent to be classified as entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, every point of its landmass and associated islands must be positioned north of the zero-degree line. The Northern Hemisphere contains over two-thirds of the Earth’s total land surface, meaning most continents at least partially extend into this northern half.
The Continents Located Entirely North of the Equator
Only two of the world’s major landmasses meet the requirement of being situated completely above the Equator: North America and Europe. North America, which is the third largest continent by area, is wholly contained within the Northern Hemisphere. Its southern boundary, which connects to South America, is significantly north of the Equator. This positioning ensures that all countries, from Canada down through Central America and the Caribbean islands, are entirely above the zero-degree line.
Europe is the second continent that lies entirely in the Northern Hemisphere. It is bordered by the Arctic Ocean to the north and does not extend southward to the Equator. The continent’s southern coastlines terminate at the Mediterranean Sea, which is well within the Northern Hemisphere. Both North America and Europe are distinct because no part of their land area crosses into the Southern Hemisphere.
Continents That Span Both Hemispheres
The remaining continents either cross the Equator or are found completely in the southern half of the globe. Africa, South America, and Asia all straddle the Equator, meaning they have territory in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
Africa is unique as the only continent that spans all four hemispheres—North, South, East, and West—with the Equator passing nearly through its center. Asia, the largest continent, is predominantly in the Northern Hemisphere, but its southern islands, such as parts of Indonesia, cross into the Southern Hemisphere. South America is mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, but a small northern section, including countries like Ecuador and Colombia, extends above the Equator. Australia and Antarctica are situated completely in the Southern Hemisphere.