We used to believe there were nine , but now there are (Pluto is not a planet). Now we may have to change how continents there are. We are taught are seven - Asia, Africa, North and South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Australia. Geologists now say there is an eighth - Zealandia. This is a big, underwater in the Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of it is above water and is New Zealand and New Caledonia. The is under the ocean. It is five million kilometres, which scientists say is big to be a continent.
Geologists explained why Zealandia is a continent in a paper in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They argue that the does not have to be above water to be a continent. They said Zealandia is a continent of four points: It is a lot than the area around it, it has a geology, it is easy to see its , and it is thicker than the ocean . A geologist said it would be to understand that Zealandia is a continent, "if you could pull the on the world's oceans" and let the water out. It may take for scientists to agree there are eight continents.
