Asia

The largest and most populous continent

Asia is the biggest continent on Earth. Uzbekistan, where we live, is in Asia too! It has the tallest mountain, Everest, the largest lake, the Caspian, and more than half of all the people in the world. Pandas, tigers and elephants live in Asia.

Asia covers about 30% of Earth's land and is home to more than 4.7 billion people. Together with Europe it forms one landmass, Eurasia; the border runs conventionally along the Ural Mountains. Asia's climate is hugely varied, from Siberian permafrost to Indian monsoons and Arabian deserts. The oldest civilisations (Mesopotamia, Indus, China) arose here, and the Great Silk Road crossed it — Uzbekistan's cities Samarkand and Bukhara were at its heart.

Fun facts

• All 10 of the world's tallest mountains are in Asia.
• More than 2,300 languages are spoken in Asia.
• Lake Baikal is the deepest lake on Earth (1,642 m) and holds 20% of the planet's fresh water.
• Uzbekistan is one of only two 'doubly landlocked' countries: its neighbours have no coastline either!