Overview
Asia is the largest and most populous continent on Earth, covering approximately 44.6 million square kilometers and home to roughly 4.7 billion people, about 60 percent of the world's population. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Indian Ocean in the south, and from the Mediterranean and Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east.
Geography and Physical Features
Asia contains the world's highest mountain range, the Himalayas, including Mount Everest at 8,849 meters. The continent has enormous geographic diversity, including the Gobi and Arabian Deserts, the Siberian taiga, the Tibetan Plateau, and the tropical archipelagos of Southeast Asia. The Caspian Sea, the world's largest enclosed body of water, lies within its boundaries.
Significance
Asia is the cradle of several of the world's oldest civilizations, including those of Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley, and ancient China. It is the birthplace of all major world religions and remains an economic and political powerhouse, with major economies including China, Japan, India, and South Korea.
Notable Facts
Asia includes both the highest point on Earth, Mount Everest, and the lowest land point, the Dead Sea shore at about 430 meters below sea level. It produces about 90 percent of the world's rice and is home to the megacities of Tokyo, Delhi, Shanghai, and Mumbai.