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Why is Antarctica considered the fifth-largest continent?
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Antarctica
Paradise Bay, Antarctica.
Antarctica is considered the fifth-largest continent based on its total land area, which measures approximately 5.5 million square miles (14.2 million square kilometres).1
While there is no single, strict scientific definition for what constitutes a continent, geographers generally categorize them based on a combination of factors, including size, geological distinctions, and biological or cultural characteristics. In the ranking of the world's seven continents by size, Antarctica follows Asia, Africa, North America, and South America, placing it fifth overall.21