Landmass

A landmass, or land mass, is a large region of land that stays in one piece and isn’t split up by oceans. We often use this word for lands surrounded by an ocean or sea, like a continent or a big island. In geology, a landmass is a part of continental crust that rises above sea level.

Continents are usually seen as separate landmasses and can include islands on their continental shelf. If many continents connect together, they can be considered one landmass. The biggest landmasses on Earth are (starting with the largest): Afro-Eurasia, Americas, Antarctica, and Mainland Australia. These landmasses cover most of Earth’s land and help shape the world’s weather, animals, and plants.

Continental landmasses

A landmass is a big piece of land that is all connected and not separated by oceans. We often use this word for lands that are surrounded by water, like continents or large islands. In science, a landmass is part of the Earth's surface that stands above the sea.