Africa Europe area coastline length indentations

Africa is three times Europe's size but has a shorter coastline

26,000 vs 32,000 km

Africa covers roughly three times as much land as Europe, yet its coastline is shorter. Europe's shores are broken up by peninsulas, bays and inland seas, while much of Africa has a comparatively smooth outline. A continent's size therefore tells you surprisingly little about how much coast it has.

European diseases devastated Indigenous populations in the Americas

After 1492, diseases including smallpox, measles and influenza spread through populations with little previous exposure to them. Epidemics contributed to catastrophic mortality across the Americas, alongside warfare, displacement and colonial exploitation. The scale varied greatly between regions, and estimates of the overall population decline remain debated.

Polynesian navigators crossed thousands of kilometers without compasses

Long before European explorers reached the Pacific's remote islands, Polynesian voyagers traveled enormous distances in ocean-going canoes. They navigated using stars, swells, winds and knowledge passed between generations. Their settlement of islands scattered across the Pacific was one of humanity's most remarkable achievements in long-distance navigation.

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Africa Europe area coastline length indentations

Africa is three times Europe's size but has a shorter coastline

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