We were taught at that there were nine , but now there are eight (scientists said Pluto is not a planet). Now we may have to change our about how many continents there are. We are taught there are seven continents - Asia, Africa, North America, South America, , Europe, and Australia. Geologists (people who study the and the earth) now say there is an eighth continent - Zealandia. This is a , largely underwater landmass in the southern Pacific Ocean. Six per cent of this landmass is above and is what we know as New Zealand and New Caledonia. Around 94 per cent of it is under the ocean. In , it measures five million kilometres, which scientists say is big to be a continent.
Geologists explained they think Zealandia is a continent. They wrote a research and published it in the Geological Society of America's Journal. They argue that the land does not have to be above water for it to be a continent. They said four points make Zealandia a continent. It is a lot than the surrounding area, it has a geology, it is easy to find the of the continent, and it is a lot thicker than the ocean floor. Nick Mortimer, a geologist at GNS Science in New Zealand, 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. However, it may take some before agree that there are eight continents.
