What are the 10 largest countries in the world? In Curious Planet we introduce you to the countries with a greater territorial extension. The largest on the planet.
1. Russia (17,125,200 square kilometers)
Russia is the largest country in the world. It covers almost twice the territory of Canada, which is the second largest.
It extends throughout northern Asia and the eastern third of Europe. It spans 11 time zones. Russia contains Europe’s longest river, the Volga, and its largest, Ladoga. Russia also has the deepest lake in the world, Baikal.
[Aquí lee las curiosidades sobre Rusia, sus ‘extrañas’ costumbres y tradiciones]
2. Canada (9,984,670 square kilometers)
Canada is the second largest country in the world by area (after Russia), occupying approximately two-fifths of northern North America.
Despite its large size, Canada is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. It has beautiful dream landscapes. Canadians have created what many consider a model multicultural society, welcoming immigrant populations from all other continents.
3. People’s Republic of China 9,572,900 square kilometers)
China is the largest of all Asian countries and is the country with the largest population in the world. It occupies almost the entire landmass of East Asia and covers about one fourteenth of the Earth’s land area. It is almost as big as all of Europe.
4. United States of America (9,525,067 square kilometers*)
The United States of America is the fourth country in the world. Its main characteristic is perhaps its great variety. It has arctic, subtropical zones, jungles and desert, mountains and grasslands.
Although the total population is high compared to other countries, its overall population density is relatively low. The country encompasses some of the world’s largest urban concentrations, as well as some of the largest sparsely populated areas.
*Excluding territorial waters, according to Britannica.
5. Brazil (8,502,728 square kilometers)
The Federative Republic of Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world and occupies half of the continental mass of South America. It forms a vast irregular triangle that encompasses a wide range of tropical and subtropical landscapes, including wetlands, savannahs, plateaus, and low mountains. Brazil contains most of the Amazon River, which has the world’s largest river system and the largest virgin forest on the planet.
6. Australia (7,688,126 square kilometers)
Australia is the smallest continent and the sixth largest country (by area) on our planet. It is located between the Pacific and Indian oceans. Most Australians are of European descent. The highest point in the country is Mount Kosciuszko in the Australian Alps and the lowest is Lake Eyre. There are many islands and reefs along the coast including the Great Barrier Reef, Melville Island, Kangaroo Island and Tasmania.
25 Curious Facts about Australia.
7. India (3,287,469 square kilometers)
The Republic of India occupies most of South Asia. With about one sixth of the world’s total population, India is the second most populous country, after China. India remains one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. The Taj Mahal, located in India, was designated a World Heritage Site in 1983.
8. Argentina (2,791,810 square kilometers)
Argentina is the eighth largest country in the world. It occupies an area larger than Mexico and Texas combined. It has diverse ecosystems, spanning plains, deserts, tundra, and forests, as well as high mountains, rivers, and thousands of miles of ocean coastline. Argentina also claims a portion of Antarctica and several islands in the South Atlantic, including the British-ruled Islas Malvinas (Falkland Islands). The name Argentina comes from the Latin word for silver, argentum. In fact Argentina is a great source of valuable minerals.
9. Kazakhstan (2,724,900 square kilometers)
The Republic of Kazakhstan, is the largest country in Central Asia and the ninth largest in the world. The lowlands make up one third of Kazakhstan’s vast expanse, the mountainous plateaus and plains make up nearly half, and the lowland regions make up about a fifth.
10. Algeria (2,381,741 square kilometers)
Algeria has the largest land area on the African continent. The coast has numerous bays and the country’s rivers are small and generally seasonal. The north of Algeria is mountainous and is crossed from east to west by the Atlas Mountains. Its highest point is Mount Chélia which rises to 2,328 m. In central and southern Algeria lies much of the north of the Sahara.
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
